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 on Thursday. This comes after previously filing a lawsuit against the office in an attempt to secure his place on the state ballot. The independent candidate filed the lawsuit two months after learning that the campaign’s collection of over 15,000 signatures in the state would be invalidated because the petition did not list a vice presidential pick, which is required by state law for ballot access. Kennedy has now submitted an amended petition listing his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, in case the lawsuit does not result in a win for Kennedy.
The Kennedy campaign has claimed that the Democratic Party fabricated a new rule to invalidate his Nevada signatures. The campaign’s lead ballot access attorney, Paul Rossi, stated in an email to the office that the Secretary of State has reversed its position. However, Nevada has required independent candidates to name a vice presidential candidate on their petitions since 1993. Kennedy has until July 5 to submit new signatures to the office, which can be collected using the amended petition now including Shanahan’s name.
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar has stated that his office is prepared to face Kennedy in court. Kennedy’s efforts to gain ballot access in Nevada have raised concerns among some Democratic Party leaders who worry he may siphon votes from President Biden in the key battleground state. Somos PAC, a left-leaning political organization, has filed in the U.S. District Court of Nevada to intervene in the Kennedy campaign’s suit, emphasizing the importance of following ballot access laws to safeguard voters and ensure they are informed about who is petitioning to be on the ballot.
Supporters of the late Harry Reid, the former Democratic Senate majority leader and a Nevada native, have turned their attention to Kennedy and are hoping to slow down his efforts in the state through door-knocking. Reid was known for political organizing and voter mobilization, and his voter coalition, known as the “Reid Machine,” played a crucial role in securing several statewide Democratic victories. Some individuals, such as Kristin Ramos, a former advisor to Reid, question Kennedy’s motives for running for president and express concerns about potential ramifications for the country.
As the campaign continues to work on collecting new signatures in Nevada while the lawsuit progresses, the outcome remains uncertain. Kennedy’s efforts to secure ballot access in the state have been met with legal challenges and concerns from various stakeholders. The next steps for the campaign will be crucial as they navigate the remaining time to gather new signatures and address the issues surrounding the petition requirements in Nevada.
