Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been disqualified from appearing on New York’s general election ballot after a judge ruled that he falsely claimed a New York residence on his nominating petitions, leading to their invalidation. Judge Christina Ryba concluded that Kennedy had no plans to move back to the Empire State and only listed the address for political gain. The ruling is expected to be appealed by the Aug. 15 deadline, and if upheld, it could bar Kennedy from the New York ballot and potentially spark challenges in other states where he used a New York suburban address to collect signatures.
In court, Kennedy testified that he has considered New York his home since childhood and intended to return, stating that he temporarily moved to California in 2014 to live with his wife and is currently renting a room in New York. Barbara Moss, the homeowner, testified that Kennedy paid her $500 a month for the room and had spent only one night there. The Kennedy campaign condemned the ruling as partisan and vowed to continue the legal fight, citing his voter registration, tax payments, driver’s license, legal practice, and various licenses in New York as evidence of his ties to the state.
Kennedy accused Democrats of showing contempt for democracy, claiming they are trying to stop voters from having a choice, and vowed to appeal the ruling. The lawsuit against Kennedy is backed by Clear Choice Action, a Democrat-aligned super PAC working to hinder third-party candidates in the presidential election. Clear Choice Action believes Kennedy lied about his residency, intentionally misleading election officials and betraying voters’ trust. Legal action has also been taken against Kennedy in Pennsylvania, with objections to his candidacy filed in Illinois, Nevada, and Delaware.
A DNC spokesperson characterized Kennedy as a troubled and dangerous man who is willing to be a spoiler for Donald Trump in the election. The spokesperson alleged that Kennedy has considered endorsing Trump in exchange for a job in a Trump administration, placing his own interests above those of the American people. Following the New York ruling, the Kennedy campaign did not respond to requests for comment, and the spokesperson mentioned that they would be assessing their options in other states based on the outcome of the ruling. It remains to be seen how this ruling will impact Kennedy’s candidacy in other states.
