A federal judge ruled that Cornel West, a progressive presidential candidate, has suffered “irreparable harm” after being denied a spot on Pennsylvania’s ballot. Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan stated that the harm was caused by Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, whose actions appeared to violate West’s First Amendment rights. Despite acknowledging this, the court ultimately decided not to reinstate West on the ballot due to the short time left before the election.
Ranjan noted in his decision that West “unquestionably” faced irreparable harm, emphasizing that the loss of First Amendment rights cannot be reversed. However, the judge pointed out that Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting process is already in motion, with over one million ballots distributed and more than 137,000 returned. With Election Day just weeks away, making changes to the ballot now would cause too much disruption and voter confusion.
The judge also raised concerns about Pennsylvania’s election laws, which impose more stringent requirements on third-party candidates like West. West’s campaign was required to pay a $4,200 filing fee to gain ballot access—a burden not imposed on Democrats and Republicans. The court highlighted this as a key factor in the harm caused to West’s campaign.
Despite the clear constitutional concerns, the court ruled against reinstating West on the ballot, citing previous Supreme Court rulings that discourage federal courts from intervening in state election processes so close to Election Day. Ranjan explained that the need for clear and consistent election rules outweighs the potential harm of keeping West off the ballot at this late stage.
West’s campaign responded by announcing plans to appeal the ruling. Campaign spokesman Edwin DeJesus condemned the decision, calling it an assault on voter choice and the democratic process. DeJesus argued that the ruling could have long-term consequences for future independent candidates, as it sets a precedent for limiting ballot access in favor of major-party candidates.
Democrats have been particularly active in blocking West from the ballot, as they worry his candidacy could pull votes from Kamala Harris in key battleground states like Pennsylvania. The legal battle is part of a broader effort by Democrats to prevent third-party candidates from gaining ground and threatening Harris’ electoral prospects. West’s campaign is expected to continue fighting the ruling as Election Day approaches.