(Reuters) – The Michigan Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name will remain as a presidential candidate on the state’s ballots for the Nov. 5 election, despite his request to be removed, in a potential blow to Republican Donald Trump.
Kennedy dropped out as an independent candidate in the presidential race last month and endorsed Trump, the Republican nominee and former president, who is running against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Kennedy has sought to remove his name from ballots in political swing states such as Michigan and Arizona to avoid being a spoiler in the race.
His presence on the ballot in Michigan could hurt Trump in the politically divided state if Kennedy supporters back him rather than voting for the former president as Kennedy now hopes.
The state Supreme Court’s decision reversed an earlier ruling by the state’s Court of Appeals, which had allowed Kennedy’s name to be withdrawn from the ballot.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Leslie Adler)