Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, will be on the ballot in Michigan in November, causing a shift in the battleground state’s dynamics. The Michigan Secretary of State confirmed Kennedy’s candidacy after he was nominated by the Natural Law Party. Kennedy, who is 70 years old, was polling at 13% in Michigan, trailing behind former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden but leading among self-described independent voters and “double-haters” who dislike both main party candidates.
The Natural Law Party of Michigan and Kennedy’s supporters believe that he is the most qualified candidate in American modern-day history. They praise his environmental advocacy over the past four decades, highlighting his commitment to restoring the Great Lakes region, an area with 20% of the world’s freshwater. Kennedy’s policies aim to foster a thriving fishing economy and ecosystem in the region. His campaign is focusing on environmental issues, anti-COVID vaccine stance, and anti-war policies while criticizing both Biden and Trump. He is also striving to get on the ballot in all 50 states, already qualifying in Utah and having enough signatures for other states like New Hampshire, Nevada, Hawaii, North Carolina, Idaho, Nebraska, and Iowa.
To celebrate his inclusion on the Michigan ballot, Kennedy was set to host a comedy show in Royal Oak, Detroit, with Rob Schneider from “Saturday Night Live” headlining the event. His campaign is working on securing ballot access in various states with the help of field teams, volunteers, legal teams, paid circulators, and strategists. Campaign press secretary Stefanie Spear mentioned that they are surpassing their goals and plan to announce new states each week where Kennedy will be on the ballot.
Despite Kennedy’s growing popularity, he has faced criticism from supporters of Biden and Trump. Trump’s super PAC launched a website named “Radical F-ing Kennedy” to disparage the independent candidate, while over a dozen Kennedy family members endorsed Biden. Kennedy’s campaign is focused on promoting his platform while facing attacks from both major party candidates’ supporters. As the election approaches, it remains to be seen how Kennedy’s presence on the ballot will impact the race in Michigan and other states where he aims to secure a spot.
