Cornel West Earns Maine Ballot Access

Independent presidential candidate Cornel West faced mixed fortunes in his bid for ballot access. In Pennsylvania, a court ruled against West, stating his campaign failed to submit the required affidavits for 14 of his electors, amid concerns that third-party candidates could affect the close race in the battleground state. Conversely, Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows allowed West to appear on the ballot despite acknowledging some fraudulent signatures, emphasizing the importance of protecting valid signatures. Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his withdrawal from the presidential race but remains on Indiana's ballot due to a missed withdrawal deadline. The presence of multiple third-party candidates, including West, is seen as potentially significant in states like Maine, which employs ranked choice voting. This situation reflects broader concerns among political parties about the impact of third-party candidates in the upcoming election.