Is Kanye's presidential run over? Rapper kicked off Illinois ballot, won't have enough electoral votes for bid
Kanye West suffered a fresh setback to his presidential campaign after he was kicked off the ballot in Illinois for failing to get the requisite number of signatures to qualify as an independent candidate. MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) previously reported how an official review of his nomination petition had found that the Chicago native could only muster 1,200 signatures when he needed at least 2,500 - down from the required 25,000 after a federal judge determined that the reduction was necessary amid the coronavirus pandemic. While West had submitted 412 pages of signature sheets, a preliminary examination had determined that at least 60 percent were invalid. However, the rapper had retained some hope since the results had to be presented to a hearing officer who had the final say on whether West should stay on the ballot.
But on Friday, August 21, it was revealed that the hearing officer had recommended to the Illinois State Board of Elections that West not be allowed to compete. NBS Chicago reported that the decision was confirmed by Matt Dietrich, a spokesman for the board, who said they voted unanimously, 8 to 0, that the rapper be removed from the ballot.
West's campaign can still appeal the election board's ruling in court, but it looks increasingly unlikely that his name will feature on the ballot in Illinois. It's a development that will no doubt be celebrated by Sean Tenner, the 46th Ward Democratic committeeperson who had challenged his filing in the state. He had been joined in his challenge by Rev Mitchell Johnson, of South Holland, Denise Bradley, of Englewood, Charles Morris, of South Shore and Steve Spagnolo, of Albany Park.
Tenner had moved to dispute West's filing after the rapper's highly-controversial speech at his first presidential rally in South Carolina on Sunday, July 19, where he spoke ill of Civil War-era abolition activist Harriet Tubman. West had claimed Tubman "never actually freed the slaves" and "just had the slaves go work for other white people."
"Celebrity or not, everyone has to follow the rules," Tenner had said of West failing to get the required number of signatures. "He didn’t come close."
"We need more education about Harriet Tubman’s legacy in this country — not mistruths about her," Johnson similarly opined. "We were saddened that West disrespected her legacy and then disrespected the laws of our state in a doomed effort to get on the ballot."
The ruling in Illinois came on the same day that the Ohio secretary of state’s office tossed the rapper from the battleground state's ballot due to botched paperwork. A day earlier, the Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5-1 to leave his name off the presidential ballot after he missed the 5 pm deadline on August 5 to submit the required 2,000 Wisconsin voter signatures to qualify.
So far, West has qualified for the ballot in Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, and Vermont, but following the latest rulings, will not not be appearing on the ballot in enough states to gain the 270 electoral votes needed to run a successful campaign for the presidency.