Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election as an independent candidate and has successfully secured enough signatures to make the ballot in Texas. Having gathered over 245,000 signatures in just two months, Kennedy has met the stringent requirements for ballot access in Texas, which has one of the toughest requirements for independent candidates in the country. His campaign is aiming to get on the ballot in all 50 states, and has already secured a spot in six states, with enough signatures in several more.
Kennedy, who is polling higher than any third-party candidate in decades, has consistently been in the double digits in polls. A March Marist poll showed him at 15% in Texas, compared to former President Donald Trump’s 48% and President Biden’s 36%. In a general election matchup against Trump, Biden, independent candidate Cornel West, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Kennedy is averaging 10.8% according to RealClearPolitics. His popularity as a third-party candidate may have implications in swing states in November, where Trump and Biden are polling at similar levels.
Former Rep. David Jolly has suggested that Kennedy’s candidacy could potentially take votes away from Republicans, which may explain why Trump has been attacking Kennedy. Jolly described Kennedy as a “MAGA crazy Republican” who denies science, is a vaccine-denier, and has flip-flopped on abortion issues. Kennedy’s recent statements on abortion have caused confusion, with his running mate stating that Kennedy believes in limits on abortion despite his previous statement supporting abortion at any time during pregnancy.
In addition to striving to get on more ballots, Kennedy has tried to challenge both Biden and Trump directly. He has proposed a national poll in October where the candidate with no shot against Trump according to the survey would drop out, and challenged Trump to a debate at the Libertarian Convention. Despite these efforts, neither campaign has agreed to engage with Kennedy’s proposals, highlighting the uphill battle he faces as an independent candidate. Kennedy’s campaign is actively working to secure ballot access in more states and gain recognition among voters as a viable alternative to the major party candidates.
As the 2024 election approaches, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent candidacy presents an interesting twist in the race between Biden and Trump. With rising popularity in polls and a focused campaign to secure ballot access in all 50 states, Kennedy is positioning himself as a serious contender for the presidency. Despite facing challenges and criticisms from both major party candidates and former Republicans, Kennedy remains committed to his campaign and continues to push for national visibility and engagement. The coming months will be crucial for Kennedy as he seeks to build support, address criticism, and make a meaningful impact in the upcoming election.