Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a legal battle against North Carolina’s board of elections after they refused to remove his name from the ballot, arguing that the decision violates his free speech rights. The lawsuit, filed on Friday in Wake County Superior Court, accuses the board of compelling him to remain a candidate in the critical swing state against his wishes.
The lawsuit comes in response to a narrow 3-2 vote by the North Carolina elections board, which has a Democratic majority. Kennedy’s legal team contends that the board’s refusal to remove his name from the ballot is unconstitutional and has caused him irreparable harm by forcing him to participate in an election he no longer wishes to contest.
Karen Brinson, the executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, explained that the state had already printed 1.73 million ballots across more than 60 counties, including special ballots for overseas military members and disabled voters, making it impractical to accommodate Kennedy’s request at this point in the election process.
Kennedy, who suspended his presidential campaign on August 23 and endorsed President Donald Trump, had intended to remove his name from ballots in key battleground states like North Carolina while remaining on ballots in less competitive states. However, North Carolina is not the only state to deny his request — both Michigan and Wisconsin have also refused to remove his name from their ballots.
Polling from the Hill and Decision Desk HQ suggests that Kennedy’s presence on the ballot could shift the dynamics of the race in North Carolina. In a head-to-head matchup between President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, both candidates are tied at 48.1%. However, when Kennedy’s name is added to the ballot, Trump’s support decreases to 43.5%,
