Cornel West’s Presidential Bid Denied in Pennsylvania Court

The Court's Decision on Cornel West

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania: Independent presidential candidate Cornel West lost a legal challenge Friday in his bid to get on the ballot in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer, in a 15-page opinion, sided with the Secretary of State’s office under Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in rejecting West’s candidacy paperwork.

The Secretary of State’s office reported that West’s campaign lacked the required affidavits for 14 of West’s 19 presidential electors. Jubelirer, a Republican, confirmed that minor-party presidential electors must file affidavits, unlike major-party electors.

Political Maneuvering in Pennsylvania

The court case reflects ongoing partisan legal maneuvering surrounding third-party candidates. Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’s supporters strive to undermine third-party candidacies that may dilute their voting base.

With the Nov. 5 election looming, Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes are critical, and the state is poised for a tight race. Additionally, West’s lawyer did not indicate plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court immediately.

In related news, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to withdraw from Pennsylvania’s ballot. He expressed his intention to support Trump while remaining on ballots in states with minimal potential to influence the results.

• The Green Party’s Jill Stein and the Libertarian Party’s Chase Oliver filed petitions to join Pennsylvania’s presidential ballot without encountering challenges.
• Meanwhile, the Party for Socialism and Liberation intends to appeal a ruling that removed its presidential candidate, Claudia De la Cruz, from the ballot.