In Lansing, Michigan, a judge ruled that Independent presidential candidate Cornel West should be included on the ballot in Michigan, a crucial battleground state. The decision came after West was initially disqualified, with the judge determining that West’s campaign had indeed submitted the required number of signatures for ballot qualification. Moreover, it was highlighted that presidential candidates are not mandated to file affidavits of identity. The ruling contradicted the Michigan Bureau of Elections’ decision on August 16th, which had deemed West uncertifiable due to an improperly notarized affidavit of identity.
Judge James Robert Redford also dismissed the state’s claim that West’s affidavit had been notarized incorrectly. West, known as a leftist academic and progressive activist, has found himself in the midst of various legal and political disputes as both Democrats and Republicans strategically consider the potential impact of third-party candidates siphoning votes from their respective parties. In Michigan, the Democratic Party, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and a voter supported by a Democratic-aligned political action committee had challenged West’s candidacy.
Benson’s office has stated intentions to appeal the ruling made by Judge Redford. West’s campaign welcomed the decision as a triumph for democratic principles and voter choice, expressing gratitude for the affirmation and pledging to continue advocating for the rights of all voters. This legal development in Michigan occurred shortly after West’s unsuccessful attempt to secure a place on the Pennsylvania ballot. Additionally, it coincided with independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to halt his White House campaign and endorse Republican Donald Trump.