Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is appealing a federal court ruling that allows Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to keep his name on the presidential ballot despite his withdrawal from the race.
Kennedy is seeking to remove his name from ballots in support of Donald Trump in his effort to challenge Vice President Kamala Harris, as The Federalist reports, and is the process of pursuing appeals where possible.
The legal dispute began when Michigan's Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, refused to remove Kennedy’s name from the ballot. Kennedy had withdrawn from the race last month, but Benson, a Democrat, argued that his name should remain due to concerns over ballot deadlines and the potential inability of the Natural Law Party to replace him.
U.S. District Court Judge Denise Hood ruled against Kennedy, denying his request to prevent Benson from listing him on the ballot. In her decision, Hood stated that the potential harm to the Natural Law Party and Michigan voters outweighed the harm to Kennedy himself.
Kennedy filed a complaint on August 30, arguing that keeping his name on the ballot violated his constitutional rights and would confuse his supporters. He sought a preliminary injunction to prevent the distribution of ballots with his name, but the court rejected his request.
In her ruling, Hood noted that Kennedy had not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of his case. She also pointed out that printing new ballots at this late stage would cause delays and burden election officials.
After the federal court ruling, Kennedy informed Judge Hood of his intention to appeal to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. This appeal is part of a broader legal effort by Kennedy to remove his name from ballots across multiple states.
Benson's office argued that Kennedy delayed raising his concerns, leaving insufficient time to meet ballot deadlines. The Michigan Supreme Court had previously allowed Benson to keep Kennedy’s name on the ballot, citing legal ambiguity surrounding the issue. Judge Hood's ruling aligns with Benson's stance that Kennedy’s name should remain, particularly in light of the Natural Law Party’s concerns that they might not have a candidate in place before November.
Kennedy’s campaign contends that listing him on the ballot will cause confusion among voters, as many of his supporters may not realize that he has withdrawn from the race. Kennedy himself has voiced frustration, claiming that his name’s presence on ballots violates his rights. Benson, however, has maintained that minor party candidates cannot withdraw after a certain point in the election process. She emphasized that the decision to keep Kennedy on the ballot was made in the interest of ensuring the integrity of the election.
Other states have encountered similar legal battles involving Kennedy’s withdrawal, adding to the complexity of the election landscape. The ongoing disputes have raised concerns about the potential impact on other candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris.
Kennedy's decision to withdraw from the presidential race and support former President Donald Trump is part of a strategic move aimed at influencing the general election. Kennedy has positioned himself as an alternative to Harris, whose candidacy he has been critical of in recent months.
In Michigan, Benson’s refusal to remove Kennedy’s name reflects the broader political landscape, where election law and party strategies are often intertwined. While Kennedy’s campaign insists that his name should be removed, Benson remains firm in her position.
The Detroit News reported that Kennedy is now shifting his focus to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to overturn Hood’s ruling and secure the removal of his name from Michigan’s ballots.
