North Carolina judge rejects RFK Jr’s legal bid to remove name from state ballots
IndependentSep 16
RFK Jr. Wins Removal From Ballot in Two Swing States
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The Facts
Former independent candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday had his request to have his name removed from the ballot in North Carolina and Michigan granted by separate court rulings.
In North Carolina, the intermediate-level Court of Appeals — a three-judge panel — ordered the state to stop mailing ballots with Kennedy's name on them and requested a trial judge order the State Board of Elections to distribute ones without Kennedy's name on them. A similar court in Michigan ruled Kennedy's name should be removed from that state's ballots.
The Spin
Republican narrative
This is a triumph for Kennedy and justice. If someone doesn't want to be included on a ballot, it's their right. In this case, Kennedy is admirably trying to avoid being a spoiler to his candidate of choice, Trump. Democrats — who fought Kennedy's access to the ballot in the first place — want to keep him on because it's politically advantageous to them, but their argument falls flat in contrast to election laws.
Democratic narrative
Kennedy is only fighting to get off the ballot in places he thinks he can help Trump. This isn't about his individual rights, but his political games — after he fought so hard to get on the ballot in many states. Aside from the impact he could have on Harris' chances, he's exacting an undue administrative burden on states and creating problematic chaos where there need not be any.