Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Democrat turned independent presidential candidate, is set to announce his running mate, which will bring national attention to his campaign. Kennedy, a longtime environmental activist and vaccine skeptic, is hoping that this move will help him qualify in all 50 states for the presidential ballot. Currently, he only has his name confirmed in Utah, but his campaign is working on securing enough signatures in New Hampshire and Hawaii. The campaign plans to make weekly announcements regarding their ballot access efforts in the coming weeks.
Kennedy is confident that he will reach his ballot access goal, but it is a costly and time-consuming venture for any candidate not affiliated with a major political party. In addition to running as an independent candidate, Kennedy has been in talks with the Libertarian Party about possibly running on their ticket in November. The Libertarian Party has secured ballot access in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in recent presidential elections. Kennedy has been appealing to Libertarians with his criticism of vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite his appeal to Libertarians, Kennedy’s strong support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza could be a point of contention for delegates at the party’s national convention. There are Libertarians who are opposed to having a candidate on their ballot who does not align completely with their anti-war and non-interventionist positions. Kennedy has only appeared at one Libertarian convention in California, but his campaign has had a presence at the New York convention. He faces competition from other candidates vying for the Libertarian Party nomination.
Kennedy’s appearance at the Libertarian Party of California’s convention drew record-breaking crowds, indicating the interest in his potential candidacy among party members. He has been polling in the low double-digits in potential matchups against President Biden, former President Trump, and other third-party or independent contenders for the 2024 election. Kennedy’s campaign is keeping all options open, including running with the Libertarian Party ticket in November. The party’s unbound delegates will gather for their annual convention in late May in Washington, D.C., to choose their presidential ticket.
As Kennedy continues to garner media attention for his campaign, his choice of running mate will play a crucial role in boosting his chances of qualifying for the presidential ballot in all 50 states. The upcoming announcements from his campaign regarding their ballot access efforts will shed light on his progress in this regard. The Libertarian Party could be a potential avenue for Kennedy to secure ballot access from coast to coast, but his policy differences with the party, particularly on issues like Israel and vaccine mandates, could be obstacles in obtaining their nomination.
