Kennedy’s nomination by his We the People Party and listing on the state ballot in North Carolina was delayed due to a lack of support. Three Democrats on the state’s Elections Board voted against certifying him as the party’s presidential candidate and approving his appearance on the ballot. The decision is not final, as the board will revisit the issue on July 9. Despite meeting the signature requirements to register as a political party for the 2024 general election, concerns were raised about the party’s representation during the petition and signature gathering process. The Republicans on the panel supported the political parties, while the Democrats cited issues with how the party conducted its petition activities. Board Chair Alan Hirsch emphasized that the decision was not meant to deny the party’s status but to ensure clarity for petition signers. The Republican National Committee Chair criticized the board’s decision, accusing them of ignoring state law and betraying public trust. Challenges to Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy have emerged in multiple states, including New Jersey, where a legal complaint was filed alleging violations of the state’s Sore Loser Law. Despite these challenges, the Kennedy campaign remains determined to provide voters with an alternative choice in the upcoming election. Kennedy’s campaign has reported that obtaining political party status in certain states has significantly reduced the number of signatures required for him to secure ballot access by approximately 330,000.
Legal actions and rulings in various states, including North Carolina, have challenged Kennedy’s status as an independent presidential candidate and raised doubts about the legitimacy of the We the People Party.
In North Carolina, independent presidential candidates must gather 83,188 valid signatures, compared to only 13,865 required for nominees of political parties.
Recently, two voters, Uwe Rockenfeller and Francisco Morales, filed a lawsuit in Nevada alleging that Kennedy must be registered without a political party affiliation to run as an independent candidate in the state. The lawsuit, filed on June 20 in the U.S. District Court in Carson City, claims that Kennedy is seeking nominations from political parties in six states while simultaneously running as an independent. The plaintiffs are seeking to have Kennedy removed from Nevada’s general election ballot.
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