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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can’t take away himself from the poll within the two key battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin, regardless of discontinuing his unbiased run for president and the dynastic Democrat endorsing former President Trump days in the past.
Kennedy will stay on the poll in Michigan as a candidate for the Pure Legislation Social gathering, which nominated him for president throughout their conference this yr.
“Minor celebration candidates can’t withdraw, so his identify will stay on the poll within the November election,” Cheri Hardmon, senior press secretary for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, stated in a press release to NBC Information.
The Wisconsin Elections Fee, in the meantime, voted Tuesday to maintain Kennedy on the presidential poll, regardless of his request to be eliminated, and in addition rejected a Democratic try to oust unbiased candidate Cornel West. A transfer by Democratic elections commissioners to maintain Inexperienced Social gathering candidate Jill Stein off the poll additionally failed.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former President Donald Trump shake arms throughout a marketing campaign rally at Desert Diamond Area on Aug. 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Kennedy introduced that he was suspending his presidential marketing campaign. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Photographs)
Trump added Kennedy and former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard to his transition staff on Monday.
Kennedy’s marketing campaign despatched the Wisconsin Elections Fee a letter dated Friday asking that his identify be faraway from the poll.
Though Kennedy has stated in his speech formally dropping out of the race Friday that he would attempt to take away his identify from the poll in battleground states the place his candidacy could possibly be a spoiler, he added that he wasn’t formally ending his bid and stated his supporters might proceed to again him within the majority of states, whether or not pink or blue, the place they’re unlikely to sway the end result.
“In about 10 battleground states the place my presence can be a spoiler, I’ll take away my identify, and I’ve already began that course of and urge voters to not vote for me,” Kennedy stated. “Our polling constantly confirmed by staying on the poll within the battleground states, I’d doubtless hand the election over to the Democrats, with whom I disagree on probably the most existential points.”
Republican members of the fee in Wisconsin pushed to grant Kennedy his want to not be on the poll after he suspended his marketing campaign final week and endorsed Trump. The fee was deadlocked underneath opposition from Democrats, who pointed to Wisconsin state regulation that claims as soon as a candidate has filed for workplace, they need to stay on the poll except they die.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens throughout a marketing campaign rally for former President Donald Trump at Desert Diamond Area on Aug. 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Photographs)
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“We all know Trump and Kennedy are enjoying video games,” Democratic elections fee member Mark Thomsen stated, in accordance with the Related Press. “No matter video games they’re enjoying, they should play them with Kennedy on the poll.”
“The statute actually says, ‘Any one who recordsdata nomination papers and qualifies to look on the poll could not decline nomination. The identify of that particular person shall seem upon the poll besides in case of dying of the particular person,'” Ann Jacobs, the chair of the fee, stated, in accordance with video of the proceedings revealed by the nonprofit public affairs community often called the WisconsinEye.
“You are giving me this touchy-feely: ‘I really feel like this should not be the regulation.’ The regulation on this case is crystal clear,” she added. “I do not disagree with you — it is bizarre, however I do not see now we have any discretion right here.”
Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. offers remarks on the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Resort on Aug. 23, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Photographs)
Republican commissioner Don Millis stated he struggled with the state regulation requiring candidates to be on the poll as soon as they’ve filed. After his movement to take away Kennedy failed on a 3-3 vote, Millis and one different Republican commissioner sided with all three Democrats in voting to position Kennedy, West and Claudia De la Cruz of the Socialism and Liberation Social gathering on the poll as independents.
In the end, the fee accepted eight presidential candidates for the poll in Wisconsin: Democrat Kamala Harris; Republican Donald Trump; Randall Terry of the Structure Social gathering; Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Social gathering; De la Cruz, Kennedy, West and Stein.
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The presence of unbiased and third celebration candidates on the poll could possibly be a key think about a state the place 4 of the final six presidential elections have been determined by between 5,700 votes and about 23,000 votes.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a breaking information and politics reporter at Fox Information Digital. Story suggestions may be despatched to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on X: @danimwallace.
RFK Jr. can’t take away identify from ballots in 2 key battleground states
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