Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has just secured two significant wins over Democrats on behalf of President Donald Trump.
Since ending his own independent campaign, Kennedy has requested the removal of his name from the ballots in several swing states.
Kennedy opted to remain on the ballots in solid blue or red states to give his supporters room to cast a protest vote against both major party candidates.
In some swing states, RFK Jr. draws more votes from Trump and, in turn, helps Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
However, in an apparent effort to hurt Trump, Democrat officials in the battleground states of North Carolina and Michigan refused to remove Kennedy’s name from their ballots.
In response, RFK Jr. filed lawsuits to get his name forcibly removed.
On Friday, Kennedy secured major back-to-back victories when the courts sided with him.
North Carolina’s Democrat-controlled State Board of Elections denied Kennedy’s request to remove his name from the state ballot.
On Thursday, in response to Kennedy’s lawsuit, a judge ordered that his name should remain on the ballots.
However, the judge gave RFK Jr. until noon on Friday to appeal that decision.
Kennedy did appeal the ruling.
On Friday morning, the North Carolina Court of Appeals reversed the prior decision.
The appeals court ruling states:
By unanimous vote, the motion for temporary stay and petition for writ of supersedeas filed in this cause by petitioner Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on 5 September 2024 are allowed as follows: The Petition for Writ of Supersedeas is allowed and the “Order on Plaintiff’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order, and, in the Alternative, an Expedited Preliminary Injunction” entered on 5 September 2024 by Judge Rebecca Holt is hereby stayed.
Respondents are hereby enjoined from disseminating ballots listing petitioner as a candidate for President of the United States.
The stay and injunction will remain in effect until the disposition of petitioner’s appeal or until further order of this Court.
This cause is remanded to the Superior Court of Wake County for entry of order directing the State Board of Elections to disseminate ballots without the name of petitioner Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. appearing as a candidate for President of the United States.
North Carolina Board of Elections General Counsel Paul Cox has since ordered county elections boards throughout the state to hold the mail-in ballots that were supposed to be sent out.
The ballots will be held until the state board determines whether or not to appeal the decision.
“Our attorneys are reviewing the order and determining how to move forward,” Cox said.
“No decision has been made on whether this ruling will be appealed.”
A similar scene played out in Michigan.
Michigan’s Democrat Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson refused to remove Kennedy’s name after he requested that she do so.
Benson rejected Kennedy’s request despite arguing that left-wing independent presidential candidate Cornel West should be removed from the ballot.
West only draws votes from Harris and not from Trump.
Kennedy again filed suit against Michigan Democrats.
On Friday morning, a panel of three judges ruled in his favor.
The conclusion of their three-page decision was as follows:
“Plaintiff sought to have his name withdrawn from the ballot in advance of the upcoming general election.
“While the request was made close to the deadline for defendant to give notice of candidates to local election officials, it was not made so late that laches should apply.
“Additionally, we conclude that the absence of any statutory authority prohibiting his withdrawal gave plaintiff a clear legal right to have his name removed from the ballot.
“[Secretary of State Benson] had no ability to disregard that request.
“And, at this point, no other remedy aside from mandamus is available to plaintiff, given the impending deadline for defendant to send notice to local election officials. …
“Accordingly, we hold that plaintiff is entitled to mandamus relief and that defendant shall remove plaintiff’s name from the ballot, as requested.”
Kennedy still remains on the ballot in Virginia and Wisconsin, meanwhile.
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