A federal judge has ruled that Cornel West, a left-wing presidential candidate, will remain off the Pennsylvania ballot, despite concerns that his constitutional rights were violated. Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan acknowledged the harm done to West by Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State Al Schmidt but stopped short of overturning the decision due to the short amount of time left before the election.
Ranjan noted that the removal of West’s candidacy likely infringed on his First Amendment rights, but the proximity of the election left the court with little room to maneuver. Mail-in voting has already begun, with over one million ballots sent out and more than 137,000 returned. Changing the ballot at this point, Ranjan explained, would disrupt the election process and confuse voters.
In his decision, Ranjan pointed out the unequal treatment of minor-party candidates like West. He specifically noted the $4,200 filing fee required of West, which is not imposed on Republicans or Democrats. The court hinted that Pennsylvania’s election laws might unfairly target independent candidates, though it did not overturn Schmidt’s actions due to time constraints.
Ranjan cited previous Supreme Court rulings that discourage federal courts from changing state election rules so close to Election Day. The judge stated that election laws must be clear and settled well before voting begins to ensure fairness and prevent confusion. Given that Pennsylvania’s election process is already underway, the court chose to leave Schmidt’s decision in place.
West’s campaign responded by announcing plans to appeal. Campaign spokesman Edwin DeJesus condemned the ruling, calling it an attack on voter choice and the democratic process. He added that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent for future independent candidates who may face similar challenges in accessing the ballot.
Democrats, concerned that West’s candidacy could pull votes away from Kamala Harris, have actively worked to block his ballot access in multiple states. In Pennsylvania, where West’s appeal to progressive voters could hurt Harris’ chances, the legal battle is expected to continue as the election draws nearer.
