Kennedy Sues to Remove His Name from Ballot, Fearing Spoiler Role in Elections

In a surprising turn of events, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has filed a lawsuit in North Carolina's Wake County Superior Court, seeking to have his name removed from the ballot for the upcoming elections. The decision to pursue legal action stems from his belief that his candidacy could inadvertently benefit Democratic candidates in critical battleground states, a concern he has voiced since suspending his presidential campaign. Kennedy's legal challenge comes after North Carolina's majority-Democratic Board of Elections denied his request earlier this week. The board argued that removing his name would be impractical, given that many counties have already begun printing absentee ballots. They further indicated that a reprint would incur significant costs, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In contrast, the two Republican members of the board expressed disagreement with the decision, suggesting that the state could feasibly delay the statutory deadlines for absentee ballot distribution. In his lawsuit, Kennedy asserts that the state has "irreparably harmed" him by denying his removal from the ballot, claiming it infringes on his right to free speech. He emphasizes the urgency of his situation, pointing out that with ballot deadlines approaching, he has "no choice but to turn to this Court for immediate relief." The outcome of this legal battle could determine whether his name remains on the November ballot in North Carolina, where his presence could potentially sway votes in a tightly contested race. Kennedy's efforts to remove his name from ballots are not isolated to North Carolina. He has made similar requests in other pivotal states like Michigan and Wisconsin, which have also been denied. This shift in strategy marks a notable departure from earlier in the year when Kennedy actively defended his candidacy against legal challenges aimed at removing him from ballots in states such as Pennsylvania and Nevada. The 70-year-old political figure, who has a long history with the Democratic Party, has now realigned his support with former President Donald Trump. Following his withdrawal from the race, Kennedy has indicated that he intends to work against the Democratic Party in key states, expressing concern that his candidacy could act as a spoiler—ultimately handing the election to Democrats on issues he passionately opposes. Interestingly, while he fights to remove his name from ballots in battleground states, Kennedy is still pursuing his candidacy in New York, a traditionally Democratic stronghold where he believes his presence would be less impactful in altering the election's outcome. As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications of Kennedy's requests could resonate beyond North Carolina, potentially affecting the dynamics of the upcoming elections as both parties navigate the complex interplay of voter sentiment and strategic campaigning in a highly polarized political landscape.