Independent Candidate Cornel West Wins Access to Michigan Ballot

Activist and independent presidential candidate Cornel West is eligible for Michigan’s ballot, after the state Supreme Court declined to touch lower judges’ rulings on the matter.

The justices issued two short orders Monday saying they wouldn’t review the Michigan Court of Appeals’ Aug. 30 ruling that West and running mate Melina Abdullah weren’t required to file “affidavits of identity.” The office of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) had zeroed in on alleged problems with the affidavits the pair submitted as a basis for disqualification. The court’s ruling is a blow to state Democrats, who sued to keep West off the ballot even before Benson’s office made the disqualification decision.

• The court also declined to take up a case which sought to overturn a Board of State Canvassers’ decision that said West submitted the required number of signatures for ballot eligibility.
• The Court of Appeals in that case declined to vacate the board’s decision but said it must finish an investigation into fraud allegations concerning the signature petition gatherers West used.
• The rulings came the same day the Supreme Court said withdrawn third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will remain on Michigan’s ballot.

The Michigan Democratic Party and its chair are represented by Clark Hill PLC, while a separate challenging voter is represented by Goodman Acker PC. West and related parties are represented by Dickinson Wright PLLC and John J. Bursch of Caledonia, Mich. The state defendants are represented by the Department of Attorney General.

The cases are Michigan Democratic Party v. Sec’y of State, Mich., No. 167515, 9/9/24, Holliday v. Sec’y of State, Mich., No. 167516, 9/9/24, and Holliday v. Board of State Canvassers, Mich., No. 167517, 9/9/24.