Cornel West, RFK Jr. to stay on Michigan presidential ballot

Independent presidential candidates Cornel West and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will stay on Michigan’s ballot for the upcoming presidential election. The decision follows a string of legal challenges involving the candidates and Kennedy’s withdrawal from the race this summer.

Kennedy suspended his presidential bid on Aug. 23 and endorsed former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate. He cited media censorship and Democratic Party opposition as reasons for his decision, saying he no longer saw a realistic path to victory. Kennedy and Trump have reportedly discussed possible future collaboration, including a role for Kennedy in a second Trump administration. Members of the Kennedy family condemned the endorsement.

Before suspending his campaign, Kennedy polled around 4.5% in Michigan and 3.3% nationally. 

After he announced his intention to withdraw from the election, Kennedy fought in court to have himself removed from Michigan’s ballot. He lost the case, with the court referring to Act 116 of 1954,  which prohibits minor party candidates from unilaterally withdrawing.

Denise Page Hood, U.S. District Court judge, issued an additional ruling Wednesday saying that Kennedy should have raised these concerns during his first filing and that he is not entitled to remove himself from Michigan’s ballot.

“(Kennedy) had the opportunity to bring his additional constitutional claims at the time that he filed his initial complaint with the Court of Claims,” the ruling read. “(Kennedy) now pleads before this Court seeking a second bite at the apple, to which he is not entitled.”

Aaron Siri, Kennedy’s attorney in the Michigan lawsuit, told the Associated Press in a written statement that keeping Kennedy’s name on the ballot is against election integrity.

“We agree with the judge that elections are not games, and that is precisely why the court should have let Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. withdraw from the ballot,” Siri wrote.

As of Sept. 20, Kennedy said he plans to appeal the decision.

West also experienced campaign-related challenges in court, but rather to remain on the ballot. The Michigan Democratic Party lost a case against West and running mate Melina Abdullah. Multiple plaintiffs sought to disqualify West and Abdullah from appearing on the ballot, arguing that their Affidavits of Identity and petitions were defective. The court ruled that the candidates had met the required signature threshold and that the affidavits were unnecessary for independent presidential candidates under state law.

Historically a major critic of the two-party system, West emphasizes justice across health care, education and economic systems in his 2024 campaign. Key initiatives include addressing Black maternal health disparities, supporting disability rights, advocating for a $27 minimum wage and ensuring universal access to education.

West said in a press release that the ruling was important for democratic principles and voter choice, and recognized the campaign’s effort to represent all Americans.

“This ruling is not just a legal victory—it is a moral victory for everyone who believes in the sanctity of the democratic process,” the press release read. “Our campaign submitted over 26,000 signatures, significantly more than required, which the court recognized as a legitimate expression of the people’s will. We are grateful for this affirmation and promise to continue championing the rights of all voters.”

In an interview with The Michigan Daily, LSA sophomore Viviano Anastassi, co-president of U-M Students for Harris, said third-party candidates often serve to protest the American two-party system rather than attempting to win the presidency.

“I think third-party candidates primarily exist, and they have existed in American history primarily as protest candidates, as an outlet to express people’s discontent or disaffection with the candidates of choice for the two parties,” Anastassi said.

In an interview with The Daily, LSA senior Jason Selvin, vice chair of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, said he believes Kennedy is more of a threat to Democrats than Republicans in the presidential election.

“For me, (Kennedy) has no appeal, and I think for 95% of traditional Republicans, there’s no appeal there,” Selvin said. “There might be some independents who are skeptical of both parties and might see someone like that as a potential candidate, but I don’t think anyone who can identify themselves as a conservative Republican or a Republican could ever work their way into saying ‘I’m a Kennedy type.’”

Selvin said he remains concerned about how Kennedy’s candidacy might impact the race because of the likelihood of a close presidential election.

“There’s always that concern because this is a very marginal race, and if polling is any indication, this thing’s going to come down right to the wire,” Selvin said.

Daily Staff Reporters Shane Baum and Arnav Gupta can be reached at smbaum@umich.edu  and arnavgup@umich.edu.

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