Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has successfully secured a place on the ballot in the crucial battleground state of Michigan, as confirmed by state officials on Thursday. This development has heightened the potential impact he could have on the upcoming November election.
Kennedy's independent candidacy has caused concern among allies of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the presumed Democratic and Republican nominees, who are apprehensive that his well-known last name and dedicated support from a segment of disaffected voters could sway the election results.
Michigan's secretary of state's office spokesperson revealed that the Natural Law Party, a minor party with a ballot line in the state, nominated Kennedy at a convention, paving the way for his inclusion on the ballot.
Despite this achievement, Kennedy faces a challenging and resource-intensive process to secure ballot access in all 50 states and the District of Columbia without the backing of a major political party. Michigan is the second state, following Utah, to confirm Kennedy's presence on the ballot, with efforts underway in other states like Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina.
Third-party and independent candidates typically encounter significant obstacles in a political system dominated by two major parties. Kennedy has acknowledged these challenges and is urging Americans to 'take a risk' by voting for him, emphasizing that the primary impediment to his campaign is the perception that he cannot emerge victorious.
Notably, Kennedy is a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement, advocating against the widely accepted scientific consensus on vaccine safety and efficacy. His stance has garnered a passionate following among voters disillusioned with traditional American institutions.
Concerned by past losses in elections attributed to third-party candidates, the Democratic National Committee has pledged to mount a robust challenge against Kennedy, including legal actions to contest his ballot access and running advertisements linking him to Trump supporters.
It is worth mentioning that the organization led by Kennedy for several years, Children's Health Defense, is currently embroiled in a lawsuit against various news outlets, including The Associated Press, alleging violations of antitrust laws for their efforts to combat misinformation related to COVID-19 and vaccines.
