With less than a month left to collect signatures in Nevada, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. submitted a new petition to the Nevada Secretary of State’s office, despite a previous lawsuit against the office. Kennedy had filed the lawsuit after learning that the signatures collected in the state were invalidated because the petition did not list a vice presidential pick, which is required by state law. Now, Kennedy has submitted an amended petition, including his running mate Nicole Shanahan, in case the lawsuit does not result in a win. The campaign has until July 5 to submit new signatures to the office.
The Kennedy campaign has accused the Democratic Party of fabricating a new rule to invalidate his Nevada signatures. The campaign’s lead ballot access attorney claimed that the Secretary of State has reversed its position, implying that the office was not following clear guidelines. However, Nevada has required independent candidates to name a vice presidential candidate on their petitions since 1993. The campaign will work to collect roughly 10,000 new signatures in Nevada while the lawsuit continues. Michael Arno, a petition signature gathering expert, believes that gathering the required signatures within the time frame should be easy.
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar stated that his office is prepared to face Kennedy in court, implying that they are confident in their position regarding the vice presidential requirement. Some Democratic Party leaders worry that Kennedy’s candidacy may siphon votes from President Biden in the key battleground state, potentially affecting the outcome of the election. Somos PAC, a left-leaning political organization, filed a motion to intervene in the Kennedy campaign’s suit, emphasizing the importance of following proper channels for ballot access.
Supporters of the late Harry Reid, a former Democratic Senate majority leader from Nevada, are rallying against Kennedy’s candidacy, hoping to slow down his efforts through door-knocking and other organizing tactics. Reid was known for his political organizing skills and voter mobilization efforts, leading to several Democratic victories in the state. Some are questioning Kennedy’s motives for running for president, labeling it as a vanity run that could have serious ramifications for the country. Nevada is considered a must-win state for both campaigns, and it remains to be seen how Kennedy’s candidacy will impact the election landscape.
