Robert F Kennedy Jr stripped of New York state presidential ballot access after court ruling

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has been barred from appearing on New York’s ballot, following a ruling by a lower court in Albany on Monday, August 12.

The ruling, issued by Justice Christina L Ryba, determined that Kennedy, who was 70 years old, did not qualify as a New York resident, and therefore, his name should not be included on the state’s presidential ballot. The bombshell decision could have broader implications, potentially leading to similar challenges in other states where Kennedy is seeking ballot access.

The court’s decision and implications for Robert F Kennedy Jr’s campaign

Justice Ryba’s decision centers on Robert F Kennedy Jr’s declaration of an address at 84 Croton Lake Road in Westchester County, New York, as his official residence in his election filings.

Ryba found that this claim was false, writing in her decision that “Kennedy’s designation of the 84 Croton Lake Road address as his ‘place of residence’ was a false statement requiring invalidation of the petition.” The court’s ruling was a response to a lawsuit backed by the Democratic Party, which argued that Kennedy was, in fact, a resident of California, not New York.

The lawsuit presented extensive evidence to support its claim that Kennedy’s connection to the New York address was merely superficial.

The court was convinced by this evidence, with Ryba writing, “The overwhelming credible evidence introduced at trial established that Kennedy’s connections with the 84 Croton Lake Road address existed only on paper and were maintained for the sole purpose of maintaining his voter registration and political standing in the State of New York.”

While this undermines Kennedy’s eligibility to appear on New York’s ballot, it also raises questions about his eligibility in other states where he used the same address in his election filings.

The ramifications of this decision extend beyond New York. If Kennedy is ultimately found to be a resident of California, it could affect his ability to secure electoral votes from that state.

According to a provision in the 12th Amendment of the US Constitution, a presidential candidate cannot receive electoral votes from a state if both the candidate and their running mate are residents of that state.

Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shannahan, is a California resident, which would render their ticket ineligible for California’s electoral votes if Kennedy is also confirmed to be a California resident.

His bid for the presidency has faced numerous obstacles, and this ruling further complicates his path to the White House. The potential loss of California’s electoral votes, combined with the challenges of securing ballot access in other states, majorly diminishes his chances of an electoral college victory.

Controversies surrounding Robert F Kennedy Jr’s campaign

Robert F Kennedy Jr’s campaign has been plagued by a series of bizarre and sometimes disturbing controversies, many of which have dominated the news cycle. These controversies have often involved wildlife, adding yet another sensational element to his public image.

For instance, in May 2024, it was revealed that Kennedy once claimed in 2012 that a worm had entered his brain, consumed part of it, and then died. In another instance, a photograph published by Vanity Fair in July 2024 showed Kennedy about to eat a charred four-legged animal carcass.

The magazine suggested that the animal was a cooked dog in Korea in 2010, though Kennedy later clarified that the animal was a goat in Patagonia and denied ever eating a dog, monkey, or human.

More recently, in August 2024, Kennedy admitted to a shocking prank from about a decade ago, where he and a group of friends dumped a dead bear cub in Central Park.

According to an article by The New Yorker, Kennedy had placed the bear cub in his car after a hiking trip, drove around with it for a day, and then disposed of it in Central Park when he realized he had to catch a flight.

When asked about his habit of picking up roadkill, Kennedy responded, “I’ve been picking up roadkill my whole life. I have a freezer full of it,” eliciting laughter from reporters. His campaign spokesperson, Stefanie Spear, later confirmed that he was not joking, explaining that Kennedy, who is a falconer, used the roadkill to feed his birds.

Reactions and the road ahead

The ruling against Robert F Kennedy Jr has drawn strong reactions from across the political spectrum.

A spokesperson for MoveOn, a Democrat-aligned group, criticized Kennedy, telling the New York Post, “The courts are recognizing what voters are catching onto: RFK Jr. is a fraud. He knows he’ll never have a chance to win, but he and his MAGA donors are attempting to mislead voters to sway the election to Trump.”

On the other hand, Kennedy and his team have vowed to fight the court’s decision. In a statement, his team accused the Democratic Party of undermining democracy.

“The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy. They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice. We will appeal and we will win,” they said. “The DNC has become a party that uses lawfare in place of the democratic election process.”