Politics

RFK Jr. Announces Independent Run for US President

OCT 9 2023·Updated FEB 3 2024

Story

Image credit: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images

The Facts

On Monday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who is the nephew of former Pres. John F. Kennedy and son of former US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy — announced he is dropping his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in order to run as an independent in the 2024 election.
USA Today
Kennedy, a longtime environmental lawyer, announced his intentions during a speech in Philadelphia, where he said he was declaring independence from not only the Democratic party but all political parties.
ap
Kennedy is backed by American Values 2024, a super PAC (political action committee) that has raised $17M, including $7M since July.
Reuters
At the moment, Kennedy’s opponent will be current Democratic Pres. Joe Biden and former Pres. Donald Trump, who polling shows as the leader for the Republican nomination.
CBS News
While Kennedy expressed "pain" over leaving the party his family represented for decades, his sisters and brother took to X, formerly Twitter, to say they found his campaign "deeply saddening" and "perilous" for the US.
Guardian
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Kennedy would get 14% of the vote while Trump had 35% support and Biden 31%. Without Kennedy on the ballot, the poll showed Biden and Trump with 35% support alike.
Forbes

Sources Split

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The Spin

Republican narrative

Democrats did everything they could to shun Kennedy, including refusing to hold debates between him and Biden and failing to provide Secret Service protection, even after Kennedy faced a serious threat of violence. If his independent campaign winds up taking support away from Biden, it will serve Democrats right for their poor treatment of him.

FOX News

Democratic narrative

RFK Jr. should have expected that his public criticism of the Democratic National Committee would earn him little help in mounting an unprecedented challenge to an incumbent president. His dangerous conspiracy theories and his embrace of some far-right political figures probably make him a better fit for the Republican Party, or as someone who will actually take support from Trump and the GOP.

The New York Times

Narrative C

RFK Jr.'s entrance as an independent candidate will no doubt hold an anti-establishment appeal, but the question is what the impact will be. He may very well take votes away from Biden, yet Trump is also preparing to mount an offense in case the reverse is true. Likewise, Kennedy's run may fizzle after the novelty wears off. Or this may grow into something major that no one — not even Trump, Biden, or Kennedy himself can wrap their head around right now.

MS Now