The Michigan Court of Claims has ruled in favor of independent presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West, a far-left academic and political activist, in his fight to appear on the state’s ballot. The decision, announced Sunday, clears the way for West to appear on Michigan’s 2024 general election ballot, dealing a major setback to the Michigan Democrat Party’s efforts to block his candidacy.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by the Michigan Democrats and the party’s chair Lavora Barnes, sought to prevent West and his running mate, Melina Abdullah, from being listed on the ballot. The Democrats argued that West had failed to meet the legal requirements for ballot access, including deficiencies in his affidavit of identity (AOI). However, the court decisively ruled that West and Abdullah were not required to file AOIs, invalidating the Democrat Party’s challenge.
The ruling, delivered by Judge James Robert Redford, accentuated the complex dynamics at play in the 2024 election, particularly in key swing states like Michigan. West, a former Harvard professor and vocal critic of the Democrat establishment, is seen as a genuine electoral threat by the party. By pursuing legal action to block his candidacy, the Michigan Democrat Party effectively acknowledged the potential impact West could