The Wisconsin Elections Commission made decisions regarding various presidential candidates on Tuesday. The commission voted to keep Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the presidential ballot, even though he had requested to be removed. Additionally, the commission rejected a Democratic attempt to remove independent candidate Cornel West from the ballot. Efforts to keep Green Party candidate Jill Stein off the ballot failed after the Wisconsin Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Democrats against her.
In total, the commission approved eight presidential candidates to appear on the ballot in Wisconsin. These candidates include Democrat Kamala Harris, Republican Donald Trump, Randall Terry of the Constitution Party, Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party, Claudia De la Cruz of the Socialism and Liberation Party, as well as Kennedy, West, and Stein. One candidate, independent Shiva Ayyadurai, was removed from the ballot due to not meeting the constitutional requirement of being a natural-born U.S. citizen.
Kennedy had previously suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump, leading to a request to remove his name from the ballot, which the commission debated. The commission ultimately deadlocked on the decision, leading to Kennedy, West, and De la Cruz being placed on the ballot as independents, despite opposition from some Republican members.
The commission also faced challenges regarding Stein’s qualification for the ballot, with two Democratic members voting against her approval. The presence of independent and third-party candidates on the ballot could play a significant role in Wisconsin, a state where presidential elections have been decided by narrow margins in recent years.
Democratic and Republican efforts to influence the inclusion of certain candidates on the ballot reflect strategic moves to potentially sway the outcome of the election. Democrats have expressed concerns about third-party candidates like West potentially drawing support away from their nominee, while Republicans may see an opportunity for these candidates to impact the race in their favor.
The commission also addressed the candidacy of Ayyadurai, who was ultimately removed from the ballot. A challenge to West’s ballot status was rejected by the commission. West, known as a left-wing academic and progressive activist, is involved in legal and political battles as both parties navigate the implications of third-party candidates in the election.
