Cornel West Not Allowed on Pennsylvania Ballot

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Independent presidential candidate Cornel West faced a setback on Friday as a Pennsylvania court ruled against his attempt to secure a spot on the state’s ballot. Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer upheld the Secretary of State’s office's decision, which stated that West's campaign failed to provide the necessary affidavits for 14 of his 19 presidential electors. The ruling emphasized that minor-party electors are considered candidates and must comply with affidavit requirements, a stipulation not applied to major-party electors. The legal battle reflects ongoing partisan efforts to influence the participation of third-party candidates in the upcoming election. With the November 5 election looming, Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes are crucial, making the state a focal point for both Republican and Democratic strategies aimed at minimizing the impact of independent candidates who could potentially siphon votes from major party nominees. In a related development, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his withdrawal from Pennsylvania's ballot, stating he would suspend his presidential campaign to support Donald Trump. Kennedy plans to remain on ballots in states where he believes his presence will not significantly affect the election outcome. Meanwhile, other third-party candidates, including Jill Stein of the Green Party and Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party, have successfully submitted petitions to appear on the Pennsylvania ballot. The Party for Socialism and Liberation is also contesting a ruling that removed its candidate, Claudia De la Cruz, from the ballot.