Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may have suspended his presidential campaign, but his name will still appear on Michigan’s 2024 ballot.
In a recent Phoenix press conference, Kennedy ended his campaign and endorsed President Trump, yet his strategic maneuvering isn’t over. Kennedy plans to remain on the ballot in states where his presence could hurt Kamala Harris while withdrawing in states where he might harm Trump’s chances, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.
Kennedy explained, “In about 10 battleground states, where my presence would be a spoiler, I’m going to remove my name. And I’ve already started that process and urge voters not to vote for me.”
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His move is clearly aimed at influencing the election’s outcome, showing his intent to disrupt the left’s chances by siphoning votes that might otherwise go to Harris.
However, Michigan’s Democrat Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, is not allowing Kennedy to back out so easily. A spokesperson for Benson told Axios that state law prohibits minor party candidates like Kennedy from withdrawing their names from the ballot. “Minor party candidates cannot withdraw, so his name will remain on the ballot in the November election,” the spokesperson stated.
🚨 JUST IN: The Michigan Secretary of State is REFUSING RFK Jr’s request to remove his name from the ballot
This is merely an attempt to help Kamala win Michigan, as RFK Jr. believes remaining on the ballot in swing states would hurt Trump.
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Kennedy is running in Michigan as the nominee for the Natural Law Party. This minor party has already held its convention and selected electors for Kennedy, and according to Benson’s office, it’s too late to change those electors now.
“The Natural Law Party held their convention to select electors for [RFK Jr.]. They cannot meet at this point to select new electors since it’s past the primary,” the spokesperson elaborated. This means Michigan voters will still see Kennedy’s name on the ballot, regardless of his campaign suspension.
The key implication here is how Kennedy’s name on the ballot might influence the outcome in this battleground state. Political observers suggest that Kennedy’s supporters are likely to shift their votes to Trump, given his endorsement.
This possibility might explain why Michigan’s Democrat Secretary of State is determined to keep Kennedy on the ballot—it could be a tactic to split the conservative vote and weaken Trump’s chances.
As the election draws closer, Kennedy’s unexpected presence on the Michigan ballot serves as a stark reminder of how third-party candidates can significantly impact major elections.
His decision to stay on the ballot in some states while withdrawing from others is a calculated move, clearly aimed at influencing the election’s outcome in favor of the GOP. By strategically targeting battleground states, Kennedy is positioning himself as a spoiler for the Democrats, hoping to tip the scales and ensure a Republican victory.
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