Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) has officially sued the Nevada Secretary of State after his campaign’s ballot petitions were declared invalid by state officials, preventing him from appearing on the 2024 presidential ballot.
The lawsuit filed on Monday against Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar demands the state validate the signatures obtained by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s (RFK) campaign for his ballot petition. The lawsuit argues that the Secretary of State’s office initially provided guidance to Kennedy’s campaign in January, indicating it was not necessary to choose a running mate before collecting the required 10,000 signatures. However, Aguilar’s office reversed this guidance in March, clarifying that a running mate needed to be named before signature collection.
Paul Rossi, Kennedy’s senior counsel, argues that the secretary of state’s office should be prohibited from changing its instructions after the campaign had relied on them, citing “rank incompetence or partisan political gamesmanship.”
In response, Aguilar’s office stated that the correct guidance was sent to all independent candidates “well in advance” of the submission deadline, which has not yet passed. Aguilar added, “Nevada has a rich history of independent and third party candidates for office. Each of those candidates managed to attain ballot access by following the law. We look forward to seeing Mr. Kennedy’s team in court.”
This lawsuit is part of Kennedy’s broader strategy to secure ballot access in as many states as possible for his independent presidential run. His campaign has reported officially qualifying for the ballot in eight states and attaining enough signatures in another nine states, including Nevada. Additionally, Kennedy is aiming to participate in the first presidential debate hosted by CNN, facing off against President Biden and former President Trump.
Despite these efforts, Kennedy faces significant challenges in his campaign. Polling indicates that he remains a distant third behind Biden and Trump, with national polling averages showing him in single digits. Both major party campaigns have accused Kennedy of potentially acting as a spoiler in the upcoming election.
