Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, is employing a strategic approach to secure ballot access in multiple states, inching closer to the presidential debate stage.
Kennedy is establishing his own We The People party while simultaneously leveraging existing minor parties to gain ballot access. In Michigan, a key swing state, he secured nomination through the Natural Law party, while in California, he was nominated by the American Independent Party of California.
Huge news! Kennedy-Shanahan on the California ballot! Watch the video below to hear how it happened ⬇️ #KennedyShanahan24 pic.twitter.com/wV2R4P9y8Q
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) April 29, 2024
University of Notre Dame professor Derek Muller, an expert in electoral law, praised Kennedy’s tactic as a “clever move,” acknowledging the convenience of utilizing pre-existing party structures.
ABC: RFK Jr. in talks with Reform Party and Alliance Party for 2024 nomination
The Reform Party has ballot access in Florida/Mississippi, and the Alliance Party in Minnesota/South Carolina
Notre Dame prof. Derek Muller: “You usually don't see this kind of coordination and… pic.twitter.com/cIXyJteryW
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) May 6, 2024
However, Kennedy’s ballot access efforts are not without opposition. Lawyers representing the Joe Biden and Donald Trump campaigns are challenging his access in several states. Nevertheless, striking deals with minor parties streamlines Kennedy’s path to the debate stage.
To qualify for the presidential debates, Kennedy must achieve ballot access in a minimum number of states and maintain an average of 15% support across five national polls.
Analysts, including Raheem Kassam, editor-in-chief of The National Pulse, speculate that Kennedy’s candidacy could impact the electoral landscape, potentially disrupting the balance of support for both major party candidates.
The RFK Jr. campaign claims to have secured ballot access in 10 states, including critical swing states like Michigan, Nevada, and North Carolina.
Misconception: “He’ll only be on the ballot in a few states!”
Reality: RFK Jr. is on track to achieve ballot access in all 50 states and D.C.
Achieving ballot access is a process. In some states, the window of time allowed for signature-gathering does not begin until the summer… pic.twitter.com/HklKnINpBx
— American Values 🗽 (@AmValues2024) April 29, 2024
Even without widespread ballot access, Kennedy could influence the election outcome by siphoning votes from both Biden and Trump, potentially leading to a scenario where neither candidate secures an Electoral College majority.
Previously, organizations like No Labels had suggested that third-party participation could result in an Electoral College tie, necessitating the selection of the President by the House of Representatives.
