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In North Carolina, the State Board of Elections had already printed over 2.9 million absentee and in-person ballots ahead of the upcoming election. The Associated Press reported that the state’s first absentee ballots were set to be mailed on Friday, but this process was put on hold following the court’s decision. Paul Cox, the attorney for the State Board of Elections, instructed election directors across the state’s 100 counties to delay sending the ballots until further notice.
Although the court ruling has thrown a wrench into the state’s election process, Cox indicated that no decision has been made yet on whether North Carolina will appeal the ruling.
In Michigan, a three-judge Court of Appeals also ruled in favor of RFK Jr., stating that there was no legal basis for denying his request to remove his name from the ballot. The judges noted, “While the request was made close to the deadline for defendant to give notice of candidates to local election officials, it was not made so late that laches should apply.” The court further emphasized, “Additionally, we conclude that the absence of any statutory authority prohibiting his withdrawal gave plaintiff a clear legal right to have his name removed from the ballot.”
Kennedy’s request had initially been denied by Michigan’s Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office. However, after the appellate court’s ruling, Angela Benander, a spokeswoman for Benson’s office, revealed that state election officials were “still reviewing” the decision. She added that they had not yet decided whether to appeal the ruling to the Michigan Supreme Court, where Democratic-nominated justices hold a slim 4-3 majority.
Kennedy’s decision to back Trump comes at a crucial time. Polling data shows that RFK Jr.’s endorsement is likely to benefit Trump more than Harris. Although Kennedy’s national support has dipped slightly since President Joe Biden exited the race and Harris became the Democratic candidate, Kennedy is still drawing a substantial portion of his remaining support from voters who lean toward Trump.
A survey conducted by the New York Times/Siena College found that 41% of RFK Jr. supporters would back Trump in a two-way race, while only 27% would choose Harris. Meanwhile, Emerson College polling showed an even wider gap, with 64% of Kennedy’s supporters favoring Trump and just 36% favoring Harris in a head-to-head matchup. This shift could potentially deliver a 1-2% bump in Trump’s favor in crucial swing states.
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Given how closely contested states like North Carolina and Michigan are, with recent polls showing Trump and Harris separated by less than one percentage point, Kennedy’s endorsement may play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the election.
With Kennedy off the ballot in a growing number of key battleground states, Harris’ chances of securing a victory in these regions have diminished. The endorsements from Kennedy not only cut into her potential voter base but also signal a significant consolidation of Trump’s support as the election draws nearer.
As the campaigns intensify, it remains to be seen whether the Democratic Party will find a way to regain the upper hand in these crucial states or whether the loss of RFK Jr.’s supporters will tip the balance in Trump’s favor. Either way, this development has injected new uncertainty into an already contentious race for the White House.
