Nevada election officials have verified enough signatures to ensure Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign will appear on the state’s ballot, marking a significant milestone in his independent bid for the presidency. This development introduces a potential disruptor to the established Republican and Democratic dominance in a crucial battleground state.
Kennedy, leveraging his renowned family name and a dedicated core base, could achieve more success than any independent candidate in recent decades. However, his campaign faced a setback when he did not qualify for the CNN debate in June. Instead, he conducted a parallel event, addressing questions posed to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in real-time. Despite this hurdle, his campaign perseveres, signaling Kennedy’s commitment to challenging the two-party system.
Strategists from both major parties express concern that Kennedy could sway the election. “Kennedy’s presence on the ballot introduces an unpredictable element that neither party can afford to ignore,” one analyst noted.
The campaign’s journey to the ballot was not without controversy. Initially, a lawsuit was filed against the Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar’s office over the state’s requirement that independent candidates must name their running mate before collecting signatures. Kennedy’s campaign argued that they had received approval to gather signatures without naming a vice-presidential candidate. Ultimately, they complied by selecting California lawyer and philanthropist Nicole Shanahan in late March.
State and county election officials confirmed over 22,000 verified signatures, surpassing the requirement of just over 10,000. Aguilar’s office stated that “correct guidance was sent to all independent candidates well in advance of the deadline to submit signatures.”
As Kennedy’s campaign progresses, potential legal challenges loom. Last month, state and national Democrats filed a lawsuit challenging his standing on the Nevada ballot due to his affiliations with political parties in other states. Despite these challenges, Kennedy remains a formidable contender in the upcoming election, poised to potentially reshape the political landscape.
