A Michigan judge on Tuesday rejected Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s bid to get his name removed from the state’s November presidential ballot.
Kennedy, who dropped out of the 2024 presidential race last month, has attempted to pull himself off the Michigan ballot, previously filing a notice of withdrawal, but was first denied by state election officials.
In response on Friday, Kennedy filed a lawsuit in Michigan’s Court of Claims, suing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
In a post on X earlier in the day, Benson cited Michigan law while saying that candidates who are nominated and accept a minor party’s nomination “shall not be permitted to withdraw.”
Kennedy argued in the lawsuit that his notice of withdrawal was timely and the electorate’s votes could be “diminished and rendered invalid” if he remains on the ballot.
Judge Christopher P. Yates on Tuesday affirmed that Benson was correct in rejecting Kennedy’s bid to withdraw.
In his ruling, Yates said: “Elections are not just games, and the Secretary of State is not obligated to honor the whims of candidates for public office.”
Tuesday’s decision echoes similar rulings in other states, including Wisconsin, where officials also refused Kennedy’s withdrawal request last week.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks on August 23 in Phoenix, Arizona. A Michigan judge on Tuesday denied Kennedy’s bid to get his name pulled from the state’s presidential ballot.
Rebecca Noble/Getty Images
Kennedy, who endorsed former President Donald Trump instead of Vice President Kamala Harris, has been aiming to withdraw from “about 10 battleground states” where he could be a “spoiler” candidate.
Newsweek has reached out to Kennedy’s spokesperson via email for comment on Tuesday.
Before withdrawing from the race, Kennedy’s name was set to appear on the ballot in at least 23 states. He had already withdrawn his name from Arizona’s ballot late last month, while in New York, a judge previously removed his name from the ballot due to a dispute over his listed residence.
In the other 25 states, the Kennedy campaign launched petitions to put his name on the ballot. While the campaign did not acquire enough signatures to appear on the ticket in Kentucky, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Wyoming, petitions were pending in 21 of the states, according to CBS News.
It was unclear which 10 battleground states Kennedy was referring to last month when he mentioned withdrawing his name. Of the states where his name was confirmed to appear, only Michigan and North Carolina are considered by most to be swing states. Kennedy filed a lawsuit in the Tar Heel State on Friday.
The battleground states, including Michigan, will play a key role in determining the result of this year’s election.
Deadlines to withdraw candidacy have already passed in some states, including Pennsylvania, although withdrawals could likely still be achieved via court order.
