The state of Virginia just reversed course on a decision not to allow leftist, independent presidential candidate Cornel West onto the presidential ballot this year.

On Friday, the Virginia Department of Elections said they “reconsidered” their previous ruling to keep Cornel West off the ballot and confirmed that his name will appear.

Cornel West announced on X:

We’re celebrating today — Virginia has officially welcomed us onto the ballot after surpassing the signature threshold! Immense gratitude to our dedicated volunteers and passionate supporters whose tireless efforts made this possible.

This achievement in Virginia, along with… pic.twitter.com/0A9RuLcC4E

— Cornel West (@CornelWest) September 7, 2024

The Washington Examiner confirmed:

Independent candidate Cornel West was cleared to be on the Virginia presidential ballot after the state reversed its decision on Friday.

In a letter to West’s campaign, the Virginia Department of Elections said it “reconsidered” its decision to bar West from the ballot and now he and Melina Abdullah, his running mate, will be on the ballot in November.

The Virginia Department of Elections previously denied West due to a problem with forms required for submission in the state. West’s campaign told CBS News it was due to challenges on the validity of their elector forms.

“The Department has confirmed that the campaign did submit paperwork in April but was not made aware of a new form that would be required after July 1 regarding the electors’ citizenship and residency,” the letter said.

The reversal from Virginia comes nearly two weeks after West secured a legal victory in a case over his ballot eligibility in Michigan, a key battleground state. In that case, Michigan Court of Claims Judge James Redford ruled that the state erred in disqualifying West from the ballot after it had cited technical problems with the candidate’s petition.

CBS News added:

Sources within West’s campaign tell CBS News this was due to challenges around the validity of their elector forms.

The Department has confirmed that the campaign did submit paperwork in April but was not made aware of a new form that would be required after July 1 regarding the electors’ citizenship and residency,” the letter states.

In a statement to CBS News, the West-Abdullah campaign confirms they received the letter and will appear on the ballot in Virginia.

“Virginia voters will now have the opportunity to choose a candidate, Dr. Cornel West, who represents their values,” a spokesperson for the West-Abdullah campaign said.

West now joins former President Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris, Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver, Independent Claudia De la Cruz and Green Party candidate Jill Stein on the ballot in Virginia.

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy removed his name from the ballot in the Old Dominion after he announced he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump.

The West-Abdullah campaign has tried to gain ballot access in several battleground states.

Though Virginia is not considered a battleground state by CBS News, the Trump campaign has attempted to put the commonwealth in play this cycle by holding several campaign rallies there. President Biden won Virginia by 10 points in 2020. 

As well as Virginia, West and Abdullah will also appear on the ballots of the battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Georgia, and could potentially have minor impacts on the outcome of the presidential race.

Note that second-to-last sentence ^

“Though Virginia is not considered a battleground state by CBS News, the Trump campaign has attempted to put the commonwealth in play this cycle by holding several campaign rallies there. President Biden won Virginia by 10 points in 2020.”

This is a HUGE WIN for MAGA, and here’s why:

RFK Jr. has been taken off the ballot in Virginia.

He did this strategically, to help Trump. The idea is that people who would have voted for RFK Jr. in Virginia will vote for Trump instead.

Now, Cornel West is a different story.

His name being on the ballot means that left-wingers can cast their vote for him instead of Kamala…

This is a big deal.

It gives Trump the potential to FLIP Virginia, which he lost by 10 points in 2020.

Virginia is in play, folks!

Virginia is in play for Trump…!

Cornel West will be appearing on the ballot, which will pull many votes from Harris.

We are working towards all 50 states by whatever legal means necessary! pic.twitter.com/jMY2H5NrtR

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 7, 2024

This could be very well be the determining factor in this year’s election results!

Kamala probably isn’t too happy right now…

Virginia just certified Cornel West to be on the ballot in November. Thank you to the Youngkin Administration for stopping the Dems ballot interference scheme to block Kamala’s competition.  

The GOP is the only party standing up for voting rights.https://t.co/pORkfnNDKP

— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) September 7, 2024

🚨 JUST IN: Leftist Presidential candidate Cornel West WILL be appearing on the ballot in Virginia.

A HUGE BLOW FOR KAMALA AND THE DEMOCRATS… pic.twitter.com/9Fd0FSpnpm

— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) September 7, 2024