Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Democratic Party’s independent presidential candidate, will announce his running mate on Tuesday, putting him in the spotlight of a national campaign.
The highly publicized move will garner plenty of media attention for Kennedy, the scion of one of the nation’s most storied political dynasties and a longtime environmental activist and prominent vaccine skeptic.
But for Kennedy, his goal of getting on the presidential ballot in all 50 states is also likely to be boosted, since he needs a running mate to qualify in many states.
How Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate nomination could boost campaign
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a campaign event at Independence Mall on Monday, October 9, 2023 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
With just over seven months left until the presidential election, Kennedy’s name is only confirmed in Utah. His campaign says it has secured enough signatures to appear on the ballot in New Hampshire and Hawaii.
The campaign told Fox News it plans to continue making weekly announcements about its efforts to access ballots.
Kennedy is confident he can achieve his voting access goals, but for candidates outside the major parties, achieving them is an expensive and time-consuming venture.
Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and why is he running for president?
But another move could soon put Kennedy on ballots across the country.
Kennedy has low-double-digit support for a potential 2024 showdown with President Biden, former President Trump and other third-party or independent candidates, but he hasn’t been in the Libertarian Party’s leadership since last summer. They have been holding occasional talks with the government, and there is a possibility that they may run in their own government. Tickets for November.
“The Kennedy campaign continues to keep all options open,” campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Speer reiterated to Fox News in a statement.
This is the same line that President Kennedy told reporters in late February, when he raised eyebrows in a speech at the California Libertarian Party’s annual convention. His appearance allowed the state party to gather record audiences.
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the Liberal Freedom Fest Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, Saturday, July 15, 2023. (Joseph A. Wolfthorne/Fox News Digital)
The Libertarian Party, which has secured voting rights in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the past several presidential elections, will be attending its annual convention in Washington, D.C., in late May when unbound delegates gather. , will choose a ticket for the presidential election.
Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle has had several meetings with Mr. Kennedy about winning the party’s nomination. Their most recent discussion took place at the California convention in late February.
McArdle told Fox News that “it’s important for candidates seeking the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination to attend state conventions” to gain support from delegates.
Mr. Kennedy has not attended other Libertarian gatherings in person, but his campaign had a seat at the New York convention earlier this month.
Independent US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles on March 18, 2024. (Reuters/Mike Blake)
Kennedy appeals to many liberals, in part because he has repeatedly criticized vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But policy differences between Kennedy and the Libertarians, including strong support for Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza, could create a major stalemate for delegates to the national convention later this spring. There is sex.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Many libertarians oppose putting candidates on the ballot who are not 100% aligned with their anti-war and non-interventionist positions.
While Mr. Kennedy has received much of the media attention, more than a dozen candidates have already been announced for the Libertarian Party’s nomination.
Get the latest on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more with Fox News Digital’s Election Hub.
