Kennedy suspended his campaign last Friday and endorsed former President Donald Trump. He said he intended to remove his name from the ballots in 10 competitive states while leaving his name on other state ballots in a maneuver to pull votes away from Vice President Kamala Harris. 

However, the Democratic majority on North Carolina’s board of elections foiled Kennedy’s plans.

According to the board’s executive director, Karen Brinson, North Carolina has already printed 1.73 million ballots in over 60 counties, and special ballots have already been prepared for overseas military members and the disabled. 

Polling from the Hill and Decision Desk HQ shows Trump and Harris tied in North Carolina at 48.1% in a head-to-head race, but adding Kennedy’s name actually takes support away from Trump, dropping him down to 43.5% and giving Harris 48.8%. North Carolina is considered to be one of the most pivotal swing states in this election.

Wisconsin and Michigan are the other battleground states that denied Kennedy’s request to be removed from the ballot. Like in North Carolina, his name on the ballot in Wisconsin and Michigan is expected to hurt Trump and give Harris a boost.

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Even if Kennedy won just 1% of the vote in states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, it might be very influential. Trump previously won Michigan in 2016 by just a 0.2-point lead, and Biden won Wisconsin by a 0.6-point lead in 2020.

While Kennedy may have endorsed Trump, 64% of voters said it did not have any impact on how they see Trump.