A Wisconsin judge has ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will stay on the presidential ballot, despite suspending his campaign in August and subsequently endorsing Donald Trump. Kennedy's attempt to remove himself from the key battleground state's ballot was denied by Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke, who stated that candidates must remain on the ballot unless they die. The judge affirmed that Wisconsin law clearly mandates that validly nominated candidates cannot be taken off the ballot.
Kennedy had hoped to withdraw his candidacy in battleground states like Wisconsin while still allowing supporters to vote for him in states where the outcome wouldn't be affected. He argued in his lawsuit that independent candidates face unfair treatment compared to Republicans and Democrats, who have different deadlines for withdrawing their nominations. Nonetheless, Ehlke dismissed the request, citing the already ongoing process of ballot printing and potential logistical complications.
Kennedy's attorneys floated the idea of clerks covering his name using stickers, as is done in the event of a candidate's death. Ehlke balked at the idea, labeling it a logistical nightmare that had the potential to cause issues with the tabulating machines. He also pointed out it could lead to a legal challenge if clerks didn't fully cover his name on every ballot.
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The case drew attention due to its potential impact on the closely contested state of Wisconsin, where presidential races have been determined by narrow margins in recent elections. Candidates like Kennedy could influence the outcome significantly, as seen in 2016 when Green Party nominee Jill Stein's votes exceeded Donald Trump's winning margin, prompting some Democrats to claim she contributed to Trump's victory. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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