Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing potential legal action in Nevada over his petition to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate. The issue arose when it was discovered that his petition did not include a vice presidential candidate, which is a requirement in Nevada dating back to 1993. Kennedy’s campaign has accused the Democratic Party of inventing a new rule to invalidate his signatures, but the state’s statutes clearly outline the need for a designated nominee for Vice President on an independent candidate’s petition.
Kennedy’s campaign attorney, Paul Rossi, is calling for legal action against the Nevada Secretary of State, claiming that the requirement for a vice presidential candidate on the petition is baseless and must be stopped by a federal judge. The campaign has also cited an email exchange with the secretary of state’s office in which incorrect information was provided regarding the need for a running mate on the petition. Despite this error, the office maintains that it is the responsibility of the campaign to follow the state’s statutes.
Documents obtained from the Nevada office revealed that Kennedy failed to name a running mate on his candidate petition, which could render the signatures collected in the state invalid. The secretary of state’s office acknowledged the mistake made by its staff in providing inaccurate guidance to the campaign. While the office stated that the error was not intentional, it emphasized that it is ultimately up to Kennedy’s campaign to comply with the law and ensure that all requirements are met.
Kennedy, who is currently only on the ballot in Utah, claims to have collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in other states as well. He plans to announce his running mate in Oakland on Tuesday. The campaign’s efforts to secure ballot access as an independent candidate have been met with challenges and legal threats in Nevada, highlighting the complexities and potential pitfalls that candidates face in navigating state election laws and requirements. Despite these obstacles, Kennedy remains determined to pursue his candidacy and challenge the existing political establishment.
