Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has secured a place on the ballot in the battleground state of Michigan, state officials confirmed Thursday, elevating his potential to affect the November election.
Quick Read
- Ballot Access in Michigan: Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has successfully secured a spot on the Michigan ballot through the Natural Law Party, adding to his placement in Utah.
- Concern Among Major Parties: Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, as the leading candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties respectively, are worried that Kennedy’s notable last name and support base could influence the election outcome.
- Family Endorsements for Biden: Amid concerns about Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy, Biden is set to receive endorsements from over 15 Kennedy family members in an effort to consolidate support against the independent candidate.
- State-by-State Campaign Challenges: Kennedy faces challenges in getting on the ballot in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia due to the lack of a major party backing, though efforts are ongoing in several key battleground states.
- Third-Party Election Dynamics: Despite the systemic challenges faced by third-party and independent candidates in the U.S., Kennedy is urging voters to support his campaign, promoting it as a chance to challenge the status quo.
- Controversial Stances: Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine activism, has garnered a significant following among those skeptical of mainstream scientific consensus and governmental institutions.
- Democratic Strategies: The Democratic National Committee is taking aggressive measures to mitigate Kennedy’s impact on the election, including legal actions against his ballot access and campaigns to associate him with fringe elements.
- Legal Battles: Kennedy’s former organization, Children’s Health Defense, is involved in a lawsuit against various news outlets, including The Associated Press, accusing them of anti-competitive practices related to the handling of misinformation claims.
The Associated Press has the story:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secures ballot access in battleground state of Michigan
Newslooks- (AP)
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has secured a place on the ballot in the battleground state of Michigan, state officials confirmed Thursday, elevating his potential to affect the November election.
Kennedy’s independent bid has spooked allies of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees, who fear his famous last name and dedicated support among a slice of disaffected voters will be enough to tip the election.
Biden planned to accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop Thursday in Philadelphia.
A spokesperson for the Michigan secretary of state’s office said the Natural Law Party, a minor party with a line on the state’s ballot, nominated Kennedy at a convention.
Kennedy faces an expensive and time-consuming process to get on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia without the backing of a political party.
Michigan is the second state after Utah to affirm that his name will be presented to voters. His campaign or an allied super PAC say they’ve collected enough signatures in several other states, including the battlegrounds of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina, but they haven’t yet been validated by elections officials.
Third-party and independent candidates face long odds in a U.S. political system largely built around two major parties. Kennedy has acknowledged the hurdles he faces and urged Americans to “take a risk” and vote for him, saying the biggest obstacle to his campaign is the belief that he can’t win.
Kennedy is a leading activist in the movement that rejects the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe and effective, and he’s built a fervent base of support among voters disenchanted with American institutions.
Stung by losses in two of the last six elections that many Democrats blame on third-party candidates, the Democratic National Committee has pledged a full court press to challenge Kennedy, including legal challenges to his ballot access and ads linking Kennedy to Trump supporters.
The anti-vaccine group Kennedy led for years, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against several news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines.
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