Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has gathered enough signatures to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot in Utah, election officials said, marking the first state where an independent candidate and leading anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist has qualified.
Kennedy has met the 1,000 signature requirement needed to qualify for the Utah ballot and can officially file to run for president in the state before the March 5 deadline, state Elections Director Ryan Cowley said.
Utah is the first state where the Kennedy campaign submitted signatures and is eligible for ballot access, campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear said. He did not say when he would file his nomination.
The scion of one of the nation’s most famous Democratic dynasties, the longtime environmental lawyer left the party last fall and announced his independent bid for the White House.
He is the son of former US senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the niece of Democratic President John F. Kennedy.
The candidate rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for embracing public health conspiracy theories and has a loyal following of people who reject the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe and effective.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. qualified for the 2024 presidential ballot in Utah, the first state to field an independent candidate. LARRY MCCORMACK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
His success in gaining access to the ballot in Utah raises questions about whether an independent candidate can be a spoiler for both Democrats and Republicans.
While it is unlikely that an independent or third-party candidate will win the presidency, they can siphon support from the major candidates in a way that scales.
Allies of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who are likely to be nominated for their respective parties, have questioned whether Kennedy could be a spoiler for their candidate.
Both Biden and Trump are unpopular among voters, raising the possibility that third-party support could play a decisive role in 2024.
Kennedy will likely face President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in the November election. ZUMAPRESS.com Biden and Trump are unpopular among voters, raising the possibility that third-party support could play a decisive role in 2024. AP
In an increasingly polarized political climate, Kennedy played in the middle, aligning with influential people on the right wing while touting his background as an environmentalist. It is not yet clear how many states he will be eligible for vote access.
Each state sets its own requirements, and the process of gathering signatures and navigating legal hurdles can be expensive for candidates not supported by a major party.
The organization founded by Kennedy, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a pending lawsuit against several news organizations, including The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking actions to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
