Current:Home > ScamsRobert F. Kennedy Jr. qualifies for presidential ballot in Utah, the first state to grant him access-InfoLens
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. qualifies for presidential ballot in Utah, the first state to grant him access
View Date:2024-12-23 18:30:02
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has collected enough signatures to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot in Utah, election officials say, marking the first state where the independent candidate and prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist has qualified.
Kennedy has met the 1,000-signature requirement needed to qualify for the Utah ballot and can officially file to run as a presidential candidate in the state before a March 5 deadline, state Elections Director Ryan Cowley said.
Utah is the first state where Kennedy’s campaign submitted signatures and qualified for ballot access, campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear said. She did not indicate which day he would file for candidacy.
A scion of one of the nation’s most famous Democratic dynasties, the longtime environmental lawyer veered from the party last fall and announced his independent bid for the White House. He is a son of former senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and a nephew of Democratic President John F. Kennedy.
The candidate rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for his embrace of public health conspiracy theories and has a loyal following of people who reject the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe and effective.
His success at gaining ballot access in Utah reignites questions of whether the independent could play spoiler for the eventual Democratic and Republican nominees. While it’s unlikely that an independent or a third-party candidate would win the presidency, they could siphon support from the major candidates in a way that tips the scales.
Allies of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the likely nominees for their respective parties, have questioned whether Kennedy could be a spoiler for their candidate. Both Biden and Trump are unpopular among voters, increasing the likelihood that third-party support could play a deciding role in 2024.
In an increasingly polarized political climate, Kennedy is playing the middle, aligning with influential people on the far-right while touting his background as an environmentalist. It’s not yet clear in how many states he will qualify for ballot access. Each state sets its own requirements, and the process for collecting signatures and navigating legal hurdles can be costly for candidates not backed by the major parties.
An organization that Kennedy founded, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Homes of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce burglarized, per reports
- Michigan football's once spotless reputation in tatters after decisions to win at all cost
- Kate Spade’s Must-See Novelty Shop: Viral Newspaper Clutch, Disney Collabs Up to 77% Off & More From $23
- Hard Knocks recap: Velus Jones Jr., Ian Wheeler, Austin Reed get one last chance to impress Bears
- Oprah Winfrey denies being paid $1M for Kamala Harris rally: 'I was not paid a dime'
- Defense seeks to undermine accuser’s credibility in New Hampshire youth center sex abuse case
- Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova knocked out in the second round of the US Open
- Bud Light rolls out limited-edition college football team cans: See which 26 teams made the cut
- 'The Penguin' spoilers! Colin Farrell spills on that 'dark' finale episode
- 2 Indiana men charged in heat deaths of 9 dogs in an uncooled truck
Ranking
- Michelle Obama Is Diving Back into the Dating World—But It’s Not What You Think
- At 68, she wanted to have a bat mitzvah. Then her son made a film about it.
- Surging Methane Emissions Could Be a Sign of a Major Climate Shift
- Sports Reporter Malika Andrews Marries Dave McMenamin at the Foot of Golden Gate Bridge
- Elton John Details Strict Diet in His 70s
- NFL cuts 2024: Recapping major moves on Tuesday's roster cutdown day
- 'After Baywatch': Carmen Electra learned hard TV kissing lesson with David Chokachi
- 'Deadpool & Wolverine' deleted scene teases this scene-stealing character could return
Recommendation
-
Olivia Munn Says She “Barely Knew” John Mulaney When She Got Pregnant With Their Son
-
In Final Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, BLM Sticks With Conservation Priorities, Renewable Energy Development
-
Jury returns to deliberations in trial of former politician accused of killing Las Vegas reporter
-
The new 2025 Lincoln Navigator is here and it's spectacular
-
NASCAR Championship race live updates, how to watch: Cup title on the line at Phoenix
-
Colorado plans to relocate wolf pack as reintroduction effort stumbles amid livestock attacks
-
Pink’s Sweet Pep Talk Backstage With Daughter Willow Proves She’s a True Rockstar
-
Surging Methane Emissions Could Be a Sign of a Major Climate Shift