Cornel West Wins Legal Battle to Appear on Michigan Presidential Ballot

Cornel West’s battle to appear on Michigan’s presidential ballot has taken a crucial turn. Just about a week after being disqualified, West took the matter to court—and won. A judge ruled in favor of the independent candidate, ensuring his place on the ballot in this key battleground state. Court of Claims Judge James Robert Redford, in a decision released on Saturday, made it clear that West’s campaign submitted the proper number of signatures to qualify for the ballot. He further clarified that presidential candidates are not required to file affidavits of identity. This ruling came after the Michigan Bureau of Elections informed West on August 16th that he would not be certified because the affidavit of identity he submitted was not properly notarized. In a sharp rebuke to the state’s initial decision, Judge Redford also rejected findings that West’s affidavit was incorrectly notarized. The ruling is a significant win for West, who has been at the center of several legal and political battles as the major parties try to navigate the potential impact of third-party candidates in the upcoming election. West, a leftist academic, progressive activist, and long-shot presidential candidate, has been viewed by many as a wildcard in the...