Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate, has secured a spot on the ballot in Florida for the upcoming election. This development comes after the minor party that nominated Mr. Kennedy had its ballot access reinstated this week, as confirmed by his campaign on Friday.
Being on the ballot in Florida is a crucial achievement for Mr. Kennedy’s campaign, considering the state’s significant number of electoral votes. Florida ranks third in the country, behind California (where Mr. Kennedy is already on the ballot) and Texas (where he has submitted a ballot access petition).
Florida, which has become increasingly Republican, poses an interesting dynamic for Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy. With both Biden and Trump supporters showing interest in his campaign, there is speculation about the potential impact he could have on the election in key states where the race is tight.
Mr. Kennedy has successfully gained ballot access in seven states, including California, Florida, Utah, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Delaware. This puts him in contention for a total of 119 votes in the Electoral College. Meeting the threshold of 270 electoral votes is crucial for Mr. Kennedy to qualify for CNN’s presidential debate on June 27, with the deadline for qualification approaching in less than two weeks.
Mr. Kennedy’s ballot access in Florida was made possible through his nomination by the Reform Party, a party with historical significance founded by Ross Perot. The Reform Party’s nomination allowed Mr. Kennedy’s campaign to bypass the need for a separate ballot access petition in Florida, which can be a costly and challenging process.
Initially, Mr. Kennedy sought ballot access in Florida through the Natural Law Party but later secured it through the Reform Party nomination. The Reform Party’s reinstatement in Florida, following a previous revocation due to non-compliance with an audit, cleared the way for Mr. Kennedy’s inclusion on the ballot in the state.
The Reform Party has a history of fielding presidential candidates, including notable figures like Pat Buchanan and Ralph Nader. Jesse Ventura, a former governor of Minnesota, was also associated with the party. Mr. Trump had considered running as the Reform Party candidate in 2000 but ultimately withdrew from the race and the party.
