Trump’s campaign is constantly under attack from the Left. And things are heating up.
And a major Trump supporter has been hit with a massive court ruling that could end the whole campaign.
In a pivotal decision that could influence the upcoming presidential election, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Ehlke ruled on Monday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name must remain on the ballot in the battleground state of Wisconsin.
Despite Kennedy’s recent endorsement of Republican candidate Donald Trump and his subsequent efforts to remove his name from ballots, Judge Ehlke declared that state law offers no provision for voluntary removal after nomination papers have been submitted—except in the case of a candidate’s death.
This ruling is a significant development in the high-stakes 2024 presidential election, where Wisconsin is expected to play a key role in determining the outcome. The decision reflects a broader legal battle that Kennedy has faced across the country as he seeks to have his name stricken from ballots in key states following his decision to drop out of the race as an independent and throw his support behind Trump.
In his ruling, Judge Ehlke emphasized the clarity of Wisconsin’s election laws. “The statute is plain on its face,” he stated.
According to Wisconsin law, once a presidential candidate has submitted the required nomination papers, their name cannot be removed from the ballot unless they have died. In Kennedy’s case, having already filed as an independent candidate for president, he was unable to voluntarily withdraw his name despite his recent political decisions.
“Mr. Kennedy has no one to blame but himself if he didn’t want to be on the ballot,” Ehlke added, suggesting that Kennedy’s legal maneuvering came too late in the process. While Kennedy and his legal team argued that his change in political alignment should allow for his name to be removed, the judge firmly rejected this reasoning.
Kennedy is now facing a tight timeline to appeal the decision, with clerks preparing to print Wisconsin’s election forms by Wednesday.
The Wisconsin elections commission had previously turned down his request for removal by a five-to-one margin, citing the same statute that Judge Ehlke relied on. Now, Kennedy’s legal team is expected to take their case to a state appellate court for a final decision.
The Wisconsin ruling is part of a larger legal effort by Kennedy to have his name removed from presidential ballots in several battleground states after deciding to endorse Trump.
Since Kennedy announced his departure from the race as an independent and aligned with Trump, he has sought to remove his name from ballots in at least 10 key states.
However, his efforts have been met with mixed results. In some states, Kennedy’s legal team has succeeded in their bid to have his name removed, while in others, courts have ruled against him.
Just last week, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kennedy, ordering his name to be removed from state presidential ballots. The 4-3 decision was seen as a victory for the Kennedy-Trump alliance, with Kennedy’s supporters celebrating the removal as a step toward consolidating conservative voters behind Trump.
In contrast, the Michigan Supreme Court recently ruled against Kennedy, deciding that his name must remain on the state’s presidential ballots. Michigan’s decision was a blow to the Kennedy campaign, as the state remains one of the most critical battlegrounds in the 2024 election.
With the potential to split the conservative vote, Kennedy’s name on the ballot could siphon crucial votes away from Trump, complicating the Republican candidate’s path to victory.
The ruling in Wisconsin takes on added significance given the state’s importance in presidential elections. As one of the most fiercely contested battleground states, Wisconsin has been a focal point of both Republican and Democratic campaigns. In 2016, Donald Trump narrowly won the state by fewer than 23,000 votes, but in 2020, President Joe Biden flipped the state back to the Democrats by a similarly slim margin.
With both Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris expected to face a tight race in Wisconsin, Kennedy’s presence on the ballot could have profound implications. Although Kennedy has endorsed Trump, his name on the ballot as an independent could lead to voter confusion or even split the conservative vote—an outcome that could ultimately benefit Harris.
This possibility has been a concern for Trump’s campaign, which had hoped that Kennedy’s endorsement would unify right-leaning voters. By remaining on the ballot in Wisconsin and other battleground states, Kennedy risks drawing votes away from Trump and complicating the Republican nominee’s efforts to secure victory.
Judge Ehlke’s ruling also highlights the importance of election integrity and adherence to the rule of law. While Kennedy’s legal team argued for flexibility in allowing his name to be removed from the ballot, the judge’s decision underscores the need for clear and consistent election laws. Once a candidate has followed the process to qualify for the ballot, they cannot simply change course without adhering to the established rules.
This legal clarity is crucial in battleground states like Wisconsin, where even minor discrepancies in the election process can have significant consequences. As the nation continues to debate issues of election integrity, the case of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. serves as a reminder of the importance of following the rule of law, even in the face of unexpected political developments.
With Wisconsin clerks preparing to print election ballots this week, Kennedy’s legal team will need to move quickly if they hope to appeal the ruling and remove his name from the ballot. The state appellate court has yet to weigh in on the matter, but time is running out.
For Trump’s campaign, the stakes couldn’t be higher. With Kennedy remaining on the ballot in key states like Wisconsin, Trump risks losing votes to a candidate who has already dropped out of the race. This outcome could give Kamala Harris and the Democrats an advantage in what is shaping up to be a close and fiercely contested election.
While Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump may have bolstered conservative enthusiasm, his continued presence on the ballot poses a significant risk to Republican unity. As the election draws closer, both Kennedy and Trump will need to navigate the legal and political challenges posed by this unexpected turn of events.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
