Why is RFK Jr. still on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin? Who else is still running third party?
In Wisconsin, voting is now underway for the Nov. 5 election, with Wisconsinites receiving their absentee ballots and lining up at polling places for early voting.
At the polls, voters might notice there are multiple independent candidates in addition to Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump throwing their name into the Nov. 5 race.
Here's a look at what you'll see on the ballot, plus more information about why Wisconsin's ballot includes candidates who've since withdrawn from the race.
Why is RFK Jr. on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin?
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot with his running mate, Nicole Shanahan even though Kennedy has dropped out of the race. State law prohibits a candidate that has qualified for office from withdrawing from an election.
According to Wis. Stat. § 8.35: "Any person who files nomination papers and qualifies to appear on the ballot may not decline nomination. The name of that person shall appear upon the ballot except in case of death of the person."
According to the Wisconsin Election Commission, the nomination paper process does not apply to President Joe Biden, and therefore Biden isn't required to be included on the Nov. 5 ballot. "Candidates affiliated with a party with ballot status in Wisconsin, such as Biden or former President Trump, are not required to turn in nomination papers."
Additionally, the Democratic National Committee did not certify Biden's name to the Wisconsin Election Commission because he withdrew from the race before the Democratic National Convention.
RELATED: How could keeping RFK Jr's name on the Wisconsin ballot impact on 2024 presidential results?
What candidates are on the ballot for president of the United States in Wisconsin?
Vice President Kamala Harris, along with running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will face former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance in the upcoming Nov. 5 election. In addition to the Democratic and Republican candidates, Wisconsin voters will also see multiple third party candidates on their ballot. Here's a look
Randall Terry/ Stephen Broden (Constitution)
Known for often graphic anti-abortion ads, pro-life activist Randall Terry is running on the Nov. 5 election under the Constitution Party with running mate Stephen Broden. According to his website, he argues that "if you vote for Biden and baby-killing democrats, you have blood on your hands. It's like voting for someone who would kill Jesus in the womb."
The Constitution Party states it affirms "the God-given legal personhood of all human beings from fertilization to natural death, without exception."
Chase Russell Oliver/ Mike ter Maat (Libertarian)
Chase Oliver, a former Democrat, won the Libertarian Party nomination over RFK Jr. and Trump in May. He is a 38-year-old openly gay anti-war activist who has called for abolishing the Federal Reserve and opposes Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Oliver has run for office unsuccessfully before in a special election for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District in 2020 and for U.S. Senate in 2022. In the latter, he received enough of the vote (2%) to force a runoff between Sen. Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker.
Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware (Wisconsin Green)
Jill Stein, 73, is a physician and environmental activist who has run for president as a member of the Green Party in both 2012 and 2016. She announced her 2024 run in November 2023.
Democrats have argued that she contributed to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2016 election after Stein garnered more votes than the margin of Trump’s victory in three swing states, something a new DNC ad doubles down on.
Stein has called for abolishing student and medical debt. On her website, she includes a “pledge to stop genocide,” referring to Israel-Hamas war. A September report showed that Stein was leading both Harris and Trump among Muslim voters in the swing states of Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Claudia De La Cruz/ Karina Garcia (Party for Socialism and Liberation)
On the Nov. 5 ballot, Claudia De La Cruz is running under the Party for Socialism and Liberation with running mate Karina Garcia. Aiming to "end capitalism before it ends us," De La Cruz calls for "a mass political movement independent from the two party system of the ruling class," according to her website.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation was founded under the premise that "capitalism cannot and will not solve the crises that threaten to destroy humanity: catastrophic war with Russia and China, climate change and unmanaged artificial intelligence that will replace millions of jobs."
Cornel West/ Melina Abdullah (Justice for All)
Cornel West, 71, originally launched his presidential campaign in June 2023 under the People’s Party, a third party led by a former Sen. Bernie Sanders campaign staffer. However, he has since announced that he is running as an independent.
West is a philosopher, activist, and author who has taught at Harvard and Yale universities, along with other institutions. He is currently a professor of philosophy at Union Theological Seminary. A progressive activist who has criticized former President Barack Obama, he has promised to end poverty and guarantee housing. He has also been a vocal critic of Israel for its part in the conflict in the Middle East.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr./ Nicole Shanahan (We the People)
Despite withdrawing from the race in August, Robert Kennedy Jr will still appear on the Nov. 5 ballot with running mate Nicole Shanahan. After suspending his campaign, Kennedy threw his support behind Trump.
Kennedy filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Election Commission earlier this fall claiming that independent candidates are treated unfairly because they have difficult deadlines that differ from the deadlines for party-aligned candidates.
More information on how to vote in Wisconsin:
You can information on how to register to vote in Wisconsin and where to find your polling place here.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Presidential election 2024: Who is running third party in Wisconsin?
