Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has collected enough signatures to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot in Utah, election officials say, making it the first state in which an independent candidate and prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist has qualified. It is said that it became.
State Elections Director Ryan Cawley said Kennedy has met Utah's 1,000-signature requirement to qualify for the ballot and will be able to formally apply as a presidential candidate in the state by the March 5 deadline. About.
Utah is the first state in which the Kennedy campaign has submitted signatures and is eligible for ballot access, campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Speer said. He did not specify the date on which he would submit his candidacy.
The scion of one of America's most famous Democratic dynasties, a longtime environmental lawyer, announced last fall that he was leaving the party and running for the White House as an independent.
He is the son of former senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of Democratic President John F. Kennedy.
The candidate has become famous for endorsing conspiracy theories about public health during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a staunch supporter of those who reject the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe and effective. It has become.
His success in gaining voting rights in Utah has reignited questions about whether independents could undermine the eventual Democratic and Republican nominees.
An independent or third-party candidate is unlikely to win the presidency, but they could siphon support from the major candidates in a game-changing way.
Allies of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the likely nominees of their respective parties, have questioned whether Mr. Kennedy could be a spoiler for the candidates. .
Both Biden and Trump are unpopular with voters, raising the possibility that third-party support will play a decisive role in 2024.
In an increasingly polarized political climate, Mr. Kennedy plays a centrist role, touting his background as an environmental activist and aligning himself with far-right figures. It is not yet clear how many states he will be able to vote in.
Each state sets its own requirements, and the process of collecting signatures and overcoming legal hurdles can be costly for candidates without the support of a major political party.
Children's Health Defense, an organization founded by President Kennedy, is currently being sued by the Associated Press for violating antitrust laws by taking steps to identify misinformation about COVID-19 and COVID-19. He has filed lawsuits against multiple news organizations, including Tsushin. vaccine.
