Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has filed a lawsuit against North Carolina’s board of elections after the swing state refused to remove his name from the ballot, despite his request. The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court on Friday, argues that the board’s decision violates Kennedy’s free speech rights by compelling him to remain on the ballot against his will.
The legal action follows the board’s 3-2 vote on Thursday, which denied Kennedy’s request to withdraw his name. The board, which has a Democratic majority, voted along party lines. The lawsuit claims that by refusing to honor Kennedy’s statutory rights, the board has caused him irreparable harm and has manufactured an issue that could have been avoided.
Karen Brinson, the executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, explained that the state had already printed 1.73 million ballots across more than 60 counties, and special ballots had been prepared for overseas military members and the disabled, making it “impractical” to remove Kennedy’s name.
Kennedy, who suspended his presidential campaign on August 23 and endorsed President Donald Trump, intended to stay on the ballot in non-competitive states but sought removal in key battlegrounds like North Carolina. However, North Carolina is not the only state to deny his request — Michigan and Wisconsin also refused to remove his name from their ballots.
Polling data shows that the presence of Kennedy’s name on the ballot could potentially affect the outcome of the race in North Carolina. In a head-to-head matchup between President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, both candidates are tied at 48.1%. However, when Kennedy is included, Trump’s support drops to 43.5%, while Harris’s support increases slightly to 48.8%.
Kennedy’s lawsuit highlights the legal and political complexities surrounding ballot access and the potential impact on the 2024 presidential election in this pivotal swing state. As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could have significant implications for both Kennedy and the broader electoral landscape.
