Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate who recently suspended his campaign, has been officially removed from Nevada's general election ballot. A Carson City judge approved a court order on Tuesday, effectively nixing Kennedy's spot on the ballot after he failed to comply with state law regarding signature submissions for his candidacy and subsequently threw his support behind former President Donald Trump. In an announcement last Friday, Kennedy endorsed Trump at an Arizona rally, escalating the political drama surrounding his short-lived presidential bid, as per KTNV.
Despite missing the legal deadline to withdraw his name from the contest—a deadline set at seven days after the last day to file, not counting holidays and weekends, which put the cutoff before August 20—Kennedy will not appear on the Nevada ballot. A lawsuit filed by two Nevada voters sought to keep JFK Jr. off the ballot, but it was dismissed following Kennedy's announcement to suspend his campaign. This dismissal was later signed by former Carson City District Court Judge William Maddox, according to FOX5.
The dispute over Kennedy's candidacy stirred speculation about the potential impact of his independent run on the upcoming election. With Kennedy's endorsement of Trump and subsequent removal from the ballot, political analysts anticipate that this move might benefit both Trump and the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. The reasoning being that with one less alternative candidate, voters unsatisfied with the major party nominees may have fewer options to cast a protest vote.
Nevada voters will, however, still have the option to select from Libertarian, Independent American, and Green party candidates, or to choose "None of these Candidates" when they head to the polls in November. The finalization of the ballot came when the judge signed a stipulation to officially dismiss the case, affirming that Kennedy and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, will indeed be omitted from the ballot, as reported by KTNV. With the legal challenge put to rest, Nevada's election officials are now to ensure the ballots are up to date and accurately reflect the roster of presidential candidates vying for the White House.
