If Kansas Ballot Access Bill Passes, RFK Jr. Threatens Legal Action

Paresh Jadhav

Ballot

The Democratic National Committee is worried that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could draw away votes from Joe Biden should former President Trump enter a general election against them. Robert announced his candidacy for president last October as an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine advocate.

He will have difficulty getting on the ballot due to strict requirements and rules in all 50 states.

RFK Jr.’s Ballot Campaign Will File Legal Action

Although his independent presidential bid may be an unlikely longshot, it has propelled him into mainstream prominence through an energetic campaign and close ties to far-right figures. Dorsey has supported his candidacy while appearing on Alex Jones’ show and landing endorsements from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey as well as building up a donor network including one top Republican fundraiser this cycle.

Kennedy’s move to the fringe has come at a price, as his campaign is now the subject of an FEC complaint by the Democratic National Committee. They allege his campaign violates federal election law by outsourcing key campaign functions collecting signatures for ballot access to an outside super PAC funded by businessman Robert Mellon an important donor to Republican candidates but hard to reach; attempts were futile in reaching him directly.

Kennedy collected 5,000 signatures in one day to satisfy New Hampshire ballot access requirements and is actively collecting signatures in Kansas and Missouri where he stands an excellent chance of appearing on ballots, though he remains unlikely to secure the Democratic nomination itself or be used as a potential spoiler in an anticipated general election contest between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Kennedy averages only 8 percent support in polls that include his name, which places him far below the presumptive nominees of both parties. His candidacy has caused some concern that it could act as a spoiler in key states like Missouri and Kansas by taking votes away from Biden or Trump. As an environmental lawyer and advocate of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, Kennedy has become an effective tool in conservative political campaigns by fueling fear-mongering rhetoric such as his attacks against vaccination. Furthermore, Farr ran twice for governor and won both times against Sam Brownback and Jerry Moran respectively.

RFK Jr.’s Campaign Says It Will File Legal Action

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy is spreading a variety of unproven myths regarding vaccines as part of his independent presidential bid. He is well known for making public health conspiracy theories into mainstream news headlines.

Attracting only a modest but vocal following in national polls, Kennedy has become the focus of some concerns among former President Joe Biden and current Vice President Mike Pence’s allies who fear that Kennedy may act as an opposing candidate against their candidate in some manner.

Ballot

Yet before his campaign can even begin, Trump faces another challenging obstacle – getting on ballots in all 50 states and Washington D.C. This typically requires collecting thousands of signatures in each state while complying with various rules and requirements that apply in each one.

On Friday, the Democratic National Committee filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Robert Kennedy and his super PAC supporting his candidacy, alleging that any efforts by American Values 2024 to help secure ballot access are illegal. According to DNC officials, American Values 2024 violates federal campaign finance laws as it maintains separate accounts for independent expenditures and direct candidate contributions; as such their assistance to Kennedy violates them.

The complaint accuses the super PAC of illegally cooperating with Kennedy’s campaign to place her name on ballots in key states by spending $15 million on signature-gathering efforts and accepting unlimited contributions from individuals and corporations, with these contributions used solely to secure ballot access for independent candidates such as Kennedy. In two other states, DNC legal counsel Robert Lenhard has filed suits against this PAC regarding this issue, promising full access for independents running for election through full enforcement of election law violations.


Leave a Comment