The Democrat Party, once fighting to keep Robert F. Kennedy Jr. off the ballot, is now reversing its position in a bid to keep him on. This shift comes as Kennedy, who previously ran as an independent, suspended his campaign and endorsed President Donald Trump. Democrats are working hard to ensure Kennedy remains on the ballots in battleground states, a move widely seen as an effort to split conservative votes and secure a victory for Vice President Kamala Harris.
In North Carolina, the Board of Elections filed an appeal just hours after the state’s Court of Appeals ruled that Kennedy’s name must be removed from the presidential ballot. The decision has temporarily halted the distribution of absentee ballots, as new ones are being printed without Kennedy’s name. This reversal from the Democrats reveals their changing strategy — once trying to block Kennedy’s candidacy, now fighting to keep him in the race.
Kennedy, aware that his presence on the ballot could siphon votes from Trump, recently shifted his focus. He initially planned to stay on ballots in some states while avoiding key battlegrounds like Arizona and Pennsylvania. However, he now urges voters nationwide to support Trump, emphasizing that remaining on the ballot would harm Trump’s chances in swing states.
Kennedy’s remark about the Democrats’ strategy captures the irony of the situation: “The Democrat Party, which was suing us to keep us off the ballot in those states, is now suing us to force us to be on the ballot,” he told NewsNation.
Democrats’ efforts to keep Kennedy on the ballot, despite his endorsement of Trump, highlight their intent to manipulate the race in Harris’ favor by splitting conservative votes — a move that could decide the election.
