Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate, achieved a notable milestone in his presidential campaign by securing a spot on California’s ballot, a state with the largest number of electoral college votes in the nation, as reported by The Hill.
Teaming up with Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy gained the endorsement of the American Independent Party (AIP) of California. The campaign formally submitted the required documents to California’s secretary of state, solidifying its eligibility.
In a video statement lasting five minutes, Kennedy acknowledged the AIP’s historical ties with segregationist and former Alabama Gov. George Wallace. However, he emphasized the party’s evolution, portraying it as a symbol of “compassion, unity, idealism, and common sense” in the present day.
“Upon learning about my candidacy, they had recently revamped their party’s charter, aiming to leverage their influence for positive change by supporting independent candidates in unifying America without being hindered by the two-party system,” Kennedy remarked.
California marks the third state where Kennedy and Shanahan have secured ballot access, following Utah and Michigan. Additionally, they have gathered sufficient signatures for ballot inclusion in seven other states: New Hampshire, Nevada, Hawaii, North Carolina, Idaho, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Since transitioning from the Democratic to an independent ticket last fall, Kennedy has remained steadfast in his objective to attain consistent ballot presence across all 50 states, positioning himself as a credible alternative to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. He consistently voices concerns about the suitability of the presumptive party nominees for leadership roles.
While Kennedy’s campaign continues to collect signatures across all 50 states before the respective deadlines, analysts highlight that a handful of battleground states could significantly impact the Election Day outcome.
Presently, the environmental attorney emerges as the leading third-party contender in polls. However, his support compared to Biden and Trump has waned, according to a poll aggregation by Decision Desk HQ.
As of the latest data on Monday, Kennedy commands nearly 8.5% of the electorate, trailing behind Trump with just over 42% and Biden with almost 41%.
