The Democratic National Committee is fighting to keep Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wisconsin’s ballot, despite his request to be removed after suspending his campaign and endorsing President Donald Trump. A Dane County judge recently ruled that Kennedy must stay on the ballot due to state election laws, sparking a legal battle with just days left before overseas ballots are sent out.
Kennedy’s attorneys are appealing the decision, arguing that the state’s election laws are unfair to third-party candidates. They point out that Wisconsin allows major party candidates like Joe Biden to withdraw, as Biden did earlier this year before being replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris. Kennedy’s legal team claims this discrepancy in rules places an unfair burden on independent candidates and favors Democrats and Republicans.
The urgency of the case stems from the fact that ballots are being printed and distributed soon. Kennedy’s legal team has requested an injunction to prevent his name from appearing on the ballot, arguing that his continued presence could confuse voters and hurt Trump’s chances in the critical battleground state.
Democrats, meanwhile, are eager to keep Kennedy on the ballot, believing his name could siphon votes away from Trump and give Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), an advantage in Wisconsin. At the same time, the Democratic Party has been working to disqualify Green Party candidates from the ballot, aiming to consolidate left-wing voters behind Harris.
This legal fight underscores the Democrats’ tactics of using third-party candidates to their advantage while limiting their own competition. The case highlights broader concerns about election fairness and the double standards applied to major and third-party candidates under state law.
