Michigan Supreme Court rules RFK Jr to stay on state's presidential ballot

[September 10, 2024]  (Reuters) - The Michigan Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s name will remain as a presidential candidate on the state's ballots for the Nov. 5 election, despite his request to be removed, in a potential blow to Republican Donald Trump.  

Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gestures during Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump's rally in Glendale, Arizona, U.S., August 23, 2024. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo

Kennedy dropped out as an independent candidate in the presidential race last month and endorsed Trump, the Republican nominee and former president, who is running against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Kennedy has sought to remove his name from ballots in political swing states such as Michigan and Arizona to avoid being a spoiler in the race.

His presence on the ballot in Michigan could hurt Trump in the politically divided state if Kennedy supporters back him rather than voting for the former president as Kennedy now hopes.

The state Supreme Court's decision reversed an earlier ruling by the state's Court of Appeals, which had allowed Kennedy's name to be withdrawn from the ballot.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Leslie Adler)

[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.