Kanye West to be removed from Virginia ballot, judge rules

Ruling comes days after lawsuit filed to keep West off ballot

FILE - Kanye West answers questions during a service at Lakewood Church Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Houston. West says he is no longer a Trump supporter. The rapper, who once praised President Donald Trump, tells Forbes in a story published Wednesday that he is taking the red hat off a reference to Trumps trademark red Make America Great Again cap. West also insisted that his weekend announcement that hes running for President was not a stunt to drum up interest in an upcoming album. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File) (Michael Wyke, Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

RICHMOND, Va. – A judge on Thursday ordered rapper Kanye West’s name removed from presidential ballots in Virginia.

West was disqualified because he failed to meet a requirement that 13 people pledge their support for his campaign, Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Taylor said.

Recommended Videos



Taylor ruled that 11 of the 13 “Elector Oaths” the West campaign submitted were invalid, including some that were “obtained by improper, fraudulent and/or misleading means.”

Earlier this week, a law firm with ties to prominent Democrats sued on behalf of two people who said they were tricked into signing such an oath.

An attorney for West did not respond to an email seeking comment.

West announced a presidential bid in July, saying he’s seeking the nation’s highest office on a ticket he calls the “Birthday Party.” His quixotic campaign has led to lawsuits in several states over whether his name should be on ballots.

Democrats claim Republicans are pushing West’s candidacy in swing states to siphon Black votes from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.


Recommended Videos