Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name is likely to remain on the ballot in key states in November in what could inadvertently threaten former President Trump despite the independent candidate suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump.

Kennedy said he would push to be removed from the ballot in battlegrounds that will help determine who wins the White House, but as of now, officials say voters will see him appear as a candidate in Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina when they head to the polls.

Polls had shown Kennedy draining support from Trump before he suspended his bid, raising the likelihood that his presence in certain states could impact the results even where he’s no longer running.

“If a candidate is on the ballot, someone will vote for them regardless,” said Christopher Thrasher, a ballot access consultant who analyzes third-party campaigns. “The primaries showed as much this year on both sides. How many votes is anyone’s guess at this point.”

Republicans have delighted in Kennedy’s embrace of Trump. Ahead of the endorsement deal, many wanted to make sure he would help Trump defeat Vice President Harris and not the other way around. Kennedy’s decision to remove himself from swing states while staying on solidly blue state ballots was his attempt at showing loyalty to Trump and helping assert his defiance of the Democratic Party.

Kennedy and Trump confidants see his decision as a win-win. By technically staying on the ballot in Democratic strongholds, Kennedy leaves open the possibility that some voters who don’t want the Harris-Walz ticket could still vote for him and make liberals sweat.

Those allied with Kennedy say he is hoping to put Democrats on defense to have to spend more money in safe blue states, dollars that would otherwise go to battlegrounds.

“He will now counter-attack the Democratic Party and force them to spend money on states they weren’t counting in states like........

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