Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secured a major legal victory on Friday as courts in Michigan and North Carolina ruled that his name could be removed from the ballot. Kennedy, who endorsed President Donald Trump in late August, has been working to withdraw from the race in several battleground states to prevent his candidacy from splitting conservative votes and helping Vice President Kamala Harris.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, opposed Kennedy’s efforts, arguing that his withdrawal came too late. Benson’s office maintained that Kennedy’s nomination by the Natural Law Party required him to remain on the ballot. However, the courts ruled in favor of Kennedy, allowing his name to be removed just weeks before the election.
Kennedy’s decision to withdraw comes as both he and Trump aim to avoid a scenario where his candidacy siphons votes away from Trump, giving Harris an advantage in key states. Polls have shown Harris leading Trump in Michigan, and Kennedy’s removal is seen as a necessary step to ensure Trump can consolidate his support.
This legal win is part of a broader effort by Kennedy to withdraw from ballots in other battleground states, including Wisconsin, where he is still fighting Democrats who want his name to remain. Kennedy’s team has argued that Democrats are trying to split the conservative vote to secure a victory for Harris.
With Kennedy’s name removed from the ballot, Trump’s campaign gains an advantage in key states like Michigan and North Carolina, improving his chances as the election nears.
