RFK Jr.'s attempt to remove his name from the state ballot is rejected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on September 27 that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name will stay on the state’s presidential ballot in November, even though he has suspended his independent campaign. The court found that Kennedy’s legal team did not sufficiently argue that the lower court had misinterpreted the law, which allows candidates to be removed from the ballot only in the event of death.

The court also stated that Kennedy’s briefs were inadequate for reviewing the claims and the lower court’s decision to deny his request for a temporary injunction, which would have removed his name from the ballot. The ruling emphasized that Kennedy had not demonstrated that the lower court acted unreasonably in making its decision.

The lower court had concluded that Kennedy was not harmed since he had willingly submitted his nomination papers. Additionally, the court said that removing his name could create logistical issues and high costs, such as reprinting ballots.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court clarified that it was not making its own legal conclusions but rather was unable to do so due to the insufficient arguments provided. Therefore, the court upheld the lower court's ruling.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Rebecca Bradley, joined by Chief Justice Annette Ziegler, agreed with the decision but pointed out concerns about the challenges candidates like Kennedy face due to the timelines set by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC). She also raised concerns about voter confusion, noting that having a withdrawn candidate on the ballot could mislead voters and affect the election outcome.

Kennedy had dropped out of the race in late August and endorsed former President Donald Trump, seeking to remove his name from the ballot to avoid splitting the conservative vote. After the WEC refused his request, he filed a lawsuit in early September, claiming that independent candidates faced stricter deadlines than those from major parties. However, a lower court denied his request, citing that ballots with Kennedy’s name had already been sent for printing.