Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to suspend his presidential campaign and endorse Donald Trump has hit a snag in Michigan, where he remains on the ballot despite his efforts to withdraw. According to WKAR, Kennedy’s name will appear on the Michigan ballot in November, potentially influencing the outcome of the election in this critical swing state.
Kennedy had sought to remove himself from the ballot in 10 key states, but Michigan’s election rules have thwarted his attempt. As the Natural Law Party’s nominee, Kennedy was bound by the party’s convention, which has already taken place. With the deadline for minor parties to hold state conventions having passed on August 6, Kennedy’s options are limited.
The Michigan State Department, citing press secretary Cheri Hardmon, confirmed that the deadline for minor parties to hold state conventions has expired. This development has significant implications for the November election, particularly in Michigan, where the margin of victory is often razor-thin.
In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden won Michigan by a mere 154,188 votes, or 2.8 percentage points, over Trump. Four years earlier, Trump carried the state by an even narrower margin of 10,704 votes, or three-tenths of one percentage point. With Kennedy’s presence on the ballot, the outcome of the 2024 election in Michigan could be similarly unpredictable.
Kennedy’s decision to suspend his campaign and endorse Trump was motivated by a desire to avoid spoiling Trump’s chances against Vice President Kamala Harris. However, his continued presence on the ballot in Michigan may ultimately benefit Trump, according to a recent poll.
In July, when Biden was still the presumptive Democrat nominee, Kennedy told Dr. Phil McGraw that 57 percent of his supporters would flock to Trump if he exited the race.
However, a survey conducted by Fabrizio Lee & Associates and Impact Research for AARP found that Trump performed better against Harris in a three-way race, with Kennedy on the ballot, than in a head-to-head matchup.
The poll, which sampled 600 likely voters and had a margin of error of ± 4 percentage points, showed Trump leading Harris 45% to 43% in a three-way race, with Kennedy garnering 6% of the vote. In a two-way contest, Trump and Harris were tied at 48% each. These findings suggest that Kennedy’s presence on the ballot may actually help Trump in Michigan, a development that could have significant implications for the outcome of the presidential election.
