Michigan judge overrules decision to block Cornel West from state's ballot

A Michigan judge overturned a decision Saturday that blocked independent candidate Cornel West from appearing on the state’s ballot.

Michigan Court of Claims Judge James Robert Redford said in an order on Saturday that the Michigan Bureau of Elections must qualify West and his running mate for the ballot if they’ve submitted enough valid signatures. He wrote that Michigan’s secretary of state and the director of the Bureau of Elections “misapplied the law in finding otherwise.”

The Michigan Bureau of Elections director had notified West’s campaign earlier this month that West was disqualified from the ballot due to “defects in the notarization” of his affidavit of identity (AOI), according to the order. The order said that the AOIs filed “cannot serve as a mechanism to exclude them from the ballot.”

West celebrated the court’s decision in a statement.

"This ruling is not just a legal victory—it is a moral victory for everyone who believes in the sanctity of the democratic process,” he said. “Our campaign submitted over 26,000 signatures, significantly more than required, which the court recognized as a legitimate expression of the people’s will.”

“We are grateful for this affirmation and promise to continue championing the rights of all voters,” he added.

West’s campaign announced in June that it had secured enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in Michigan. The recent decision comes as West clears enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in numerous states, including Maine earlier this month.

Although he continues to gain ballot access in several states, West still is a long-shot bid for the White House as he struggled to gain much traction. He has received about 1 percent in most polling.

The Hill has reached out to Michigan’s secretary of state office for comment.