Cornel West Gains Virginia Ballot Access After State Reverses Decision

Cornel West, an independent candidate for president, will officially appear on the Virginia ballot after the state reversed an earlier decision to disqualify him. West and his running mate, Melina Abdullah, received word from the Virginia Department of Elections on Friday, informing them of the change.

The reversal came after the department initially barred West due to issues with elector forms. According to the campaign, the problem stemmed from changes in state requirements that took effect after the campaign had already submitted some paperwork. The campaign argued they weren’t notified of a new form requirement that went into effect on July 1.

West’s victory in Virginia follows a similar battle in Michigan, where he successfully challenged the state’s attempt to keep him off the ballot. A Michigan court ruled in West’s favor, stating that the state had made an error in disqualifying him. This win in a key battleground state could give his campaign a needed boost.

While Virginia isn’t considered a battleground, some political analysts see it as a potential opportunity for Republicans to make gains, especially considering President Joe Biden’s narrow lead in 2020. Recent polling shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading President Donald Trump 48% to 44% in Virginia. However, with independent candidates like West and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. factored in, Harris’ lead shrinks to 44%, with Trump at 40.5% and West receiving 1%.

West’s presence on the ballot could influence the dynamics of the race as November approaches.