Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has successfully qualified for the presidential ballot in Hawaii as an independent candidate after a ruling blocked efforts by Hawaii Democrats to disqualify his campaign’s ballot access petition. This marks the third state where Kennedy has officially qualified, having previously gained access in Michigan and Utah. The ruling, issued by hearings officer Aaron Schulaner, stated that the objection filed by the Democratic Party of Hawaii did not meet its burden of proof, allowing Kennedy’s We the People Party to appear on Hawaii’s ballot in November. The spokesperson for the Hawaii Office of Elections confirmed Kennedy’s inclusion on the ballot.
The objection from the Democratic Party of Hawaii focused on the validity of the We the People Party’s internal organization, accusing the Kennedy-aligned party of violating its own bylaws and Hawaii state laws by including individuals who were previously registered as Democrats or were not registered voters in its leadership. Despite these objections, Kennedy’s campaign has continued to gain enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in multiple other states, including North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Nebraska, Idaho, and Iowa, with a super PAC backing Kennedy collecting signatures in Georgia, Arizona, and South Carolina.
The Democratic Party of Hawaii’s unsuccessful attempt to block Kennedy’s ballot access petition is part of a wider opposition to his candidacy from Democrats nationally. The Democratic National Committee has filed multiple FEC complaints against Kennedy’s campaign and its allies, running advertisements that suggest Kennedy could be a spoiler candidate who would benefit former President Donald Trump, the expected GOP nominee. Kennedy’s campaign has responded by emphasizing donor support from individuals across the political spectrum who are disillusioned with corruption in the two-party system.
Kennedy, aged 70, initially launched his presidential campaign as a Democrat challenging Biden in the primary before transitioning to an independent candidacy in October. Last month, he announced attorney Nicole Shanahan, aged 38, as his vice presidential nominee at a campaign rally in Oakland, California. Despite facing opposition and challenges from the Democratic Party, Kennedy’s campaign continues to advocate for an agenda focused on healing division, restoring the middle class, ending perpetual wars, addressing corporate influence, and combating chronic diseases. The campaign has highlighted the support from donors who are seeking an alternative to the traditional two-party system and believe in Kennedy’s vision for the future of the nation.
