Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Remains on Nevada Ballot Despite Campaign Suspension
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will likely still appear on the Nevada ballot in November even after he suspended his campaign on Friday. This comes as a surprise to many, given his recent announcement of withdrawing from the race in several battleground states.
According to state law, any request for a candidate withdrawal must be made in person by the candidate seven business days after the filing deadline. For independent presidential candidates, this deadline was Aug. 9, meaning Kennedy would have had to withdraw by Tuesday, Aug. 20, to get off the ballot. The secretary of state’s office confirmed that they had not received any such request from Kennedy’s campaign by this deadline.
Legal Battles and Political Implications
The Nevada Democratic Party's still-pending lawsuit to remove Kennedy from the ballot remains a possibility for his removal. However, with the withdrawal deadline passed, it is now the only potential path for him to be removed from the ballot.
Kennedy's potential presence on the Nevada ballot could significantly affect the state's presidential race, which is expected to be close. While his recent polling has taken a hit since President Joe Biden exited the race last month, he is still polling at around 5 percent in Nevada, a margin large enough to affect the election results. State and national surveys have shown that Kennedy's presence on ballots tends to benefit Vice President Kamala Harris more than former President Donald Trump.
This situation represents an ironic twist to the monthslong legal saga surrounding Kennedy's ballot access in Nevada. His initial ballot petition was deemed invalid due to the lack of a running mate, as required under Nevada law. This led to his campaign filing a lawsuit, which they claimed was motivated by corruption due to faulty advice from the secretary of state’s office. After his second petition was rescinded for misspelling “United States,” his third petition successfully gathered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, which the campaign celebrated as a victory over attempts to block ballot access in Nevada.
A Controversial Figure
The Nevada Democratic Party has challenged Kennedy’s presence on the ballot, arguing that his affiliation with other political parties violates the state's legal requirements for independent candidates. Kennedy, who is the nephew of John F. Kennedy and a prominent environmental lawyer, rose to prominence for promoting anti-vaccine conspiracies during the pandemic. He has run a controversial independent campaign for president after initially seeking the Democratic nomination last year. His campaign has been marked by frequent legal battles and challenges to his ballot access in various states.
Despite his campaign suspension, Kennedy's presence on the Nevada ballot remains a significant development in the state's presidential race, highlighting the complexities of ballot access laws and the potential impact of third-party candidates on elections. It also serves as a reminder of Kennedy's controversial status in American politics, marked by both fervent support and staunch opposition.
