RFK Jr. Secures California Ballot Access

(John Lamparski/AP)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate, made a significant stride in his presidential bid as his campaign announced on Monday that he had successfully secured a place on California’s ballot, a state with the largest number of electoral college votes in the nation, according to The Hill.

Running alongside Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy garnered the backing of the American Independent Party (AIP) of California. On Monday, the campaign officially filed the necessary paperwork with California’s secretary of state, affirming its qualification.

In a five-minute video statement, Kennedy acknowledged the AIP’s past association with segregationist and former Alabama Gov. George Wallace. Still, he also underscored the party’s evolution, portraying it now as a symbol of “compassion, unity, idealism, and common sense.”

“When they learned about my candidacy, they had just drafted a new charter for their reborn party, where they could use their battle lines for good, helping independent candidates to unite America without being blocked by the two-party duopoly,” he added.

California becomes the third state where candidates Kennedy and Shanahan have achieved ballot access, following Utah and Michigan. Additionally, they have secured enough 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 been steadfast in his goal to secure uniform ballot presence across all 50 states, positioning himself as a viable alternative to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. He has consistently voiced his concerns about the presumptive party nominees, questioning their suitability for leadership.

While Kennedy’s campaign seeks signatures across all 50 states before respective deadlines, analysts suggest that a select few battleground states could significantly influence the outcome on Election Day.

The environmental attorney presently emerges as the top third-party contender in surveys. However, his backing against Biden and Trump has diminished, according to a poll amalgamation by Decision Desk HQ.

As of Monday, Kennedy has nearly 8.5% of the electorate, lagging behind Trump, who has just over 42%, and Biden, who has almost 41%.