In a surprising reversal, Democrats are now fighting to keep Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on ballots in key battleground states after previously attempting to keep him off. This shift comes after Kennedy suspended his presidential campaign in August and endorsed President Donald Trump, leading Democrats to see him as a potential spoiler that could split conservative votes.
The North Carolina Board of Elections recently appealed a court decision that removed Kennedy from the ballot. The state’s Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that his name should be taken off, but the board swiftly filed an appeal to keep him on. New ballots are being printed without Kennedy’s name, but the Democrats’ last-minute legal efforts could delay their distribution.
Kennedy initially planned to stay on ballots in red and blue states, but not in swing states where his candidacy could impact Trump’s chances. However, in recent weeks, Kennedy urged voters in all 50 states to back Trump, making his removal from battleground ballots crucial for the GOP’s success.
Ironically, the same Democrats who once fought to block Kennedy’s candidacy are now working to keep him in the race to split Trump’s voter base. Kennedy himself acknowledged the irony, telling Chris Cuomo in an interview, “The Democrat Party, which was suing us to keep us off the ballot… is now suing us to force us to be on the ballot.”
As Democrats push to keep Kennedy on ballots, their motivation is clear — they are determined to protect Harris’ path to the presidency by ensuring Trump faces vote-splitting in crucial states.
