Supreme Court rejects push to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from ballot in two swing states
SUMMARY
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s request to remove his name from the presidential ballots in Michigan and Wisconsin. Kennedy argued that remaining on the ballot misrepresented his intentions and infringed on his First Amendment rights. Both Michigan and Wisconsin officials opposed his removal due to practical challenges, noting that early voting was already in full swing. Michigan reported that over 1.5 million absentee ballots had been returned, with 264,000 early voters, while Wisconsin had over 858,000 absentee ballots returned. Removing Kennedy’s name, they argued, would disrupt the voting process. Lower court rulings similarly cited tight timelines, with Wisconsin’s judges noting that only a candidate’s death could allow for a name’s removal at this stage. Justice Neil Gorsuch dissented in the Michigan case, arguing that Kennedy’s request was not filed so late as to be automatically denied.
