The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s requests to be removed from presidential ballots in Michigan and Wisconsin after he dropped out of the race and endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Ever since Kennedy suspended his presidential campaign this summer, he has looked to remove his name from the ballot in key swing states in order to avoid drawing votes from Trump, while also attempting to remain on ballots in Democratic-heavy states such as New York. He first saw rejection over his bid in the Empire State, and the rejection in two swing states marked his third high court defeat this year.
In two brief orders, the Supreme Court rejected Kennedy’s separate emergency requests, in which he argued he was being forced by state officials to keep his name on the ballot in violation of his First Amendment free speech rights.
Justice Neil Gorsuch, an appointee of Trump, dissented from the Michigan decision and said he would have granted Kennedy’s request. He did not do the same with the Wisconsin case.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Michigan Supreme Court both ruled against Kennedy last month. Wisconsin contends the law requires candidates who are on the ballot to be withdrawn only if they die.
Michigan’s top court said it was too late for state ballot changes to be made.
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“Plaintiff does not explain how to unring the bell at this juncture without great harm to voting rights and the public’s interest in fair and efficient election administration,” a federal judge in Michigan wrote in rejecting Kennedy’s subsequent request for a restraining order.
Earlier this year, the high court rejected a petition by Green Party candidate Jill Stein to obtain ballot access in Nevada.
