RFK Jr. sparks speculation of switch to Libertarian Party for greater ballot access – Washington Examiner

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is weighing the possibility of joining the Libertarian Party amid difficulties in securing ballot access ahead of November.

Kennedy left the Democratic Party in his long-shot bid against President Joe Biden in October to become an independent candidate. But getting on state ballots is an expensive challenge for independent candidates, and Kennedy has looked into ways to gain access with fewer voter signatures.

Kennedy announced in January he was creating a new political party the We The People party to get on the ballot in six states with a lower signature requirement than those running unaffiliated. Recently, American Values 2024, a pro-Kennedy super PAC, said they gathered enough signatures for Kennedy to appear on the ballot in Arizona and Georgia.

While the Libertarian Party was on the ballot in all 50 states in 2016 and 2020, its unclear where itll be in 2024. Kennedy told CNN that he is talking to the Libertarian Party, adding he has a really good relationship with the party. He spoke at the California Libertarian Partys convention last month, further fueling speculation.

Multiple strategists and people with inside knowledge have said Kennedy is warmly received by the Libertarian Party, according to sources speaking with the Hill.

Theres a buzz going on, and theres a lot of interest in him, said Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnsons former campaign manager, Ron Nielson.

If he were to say that he were to accept the nomination of the Libertarian Party, that would probably change a lot of heads, Nielson added. There are people within the Liberty movement that would like to help him.

Kennedy dismissed a party affiliation switch over ballot access, speaking at a hotel in Costa Mesa, Orange County, at the end of February, alongside other potential Libertarian candidates.

Im not worried about ballot access. Were going to have ballot access in every state, Kennedy said at the Libertarian Party of California convention, per the New York Sun.

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As Kennedy weighs his options, Angela McArdle, the Libertarian Party chairwoman, has questioned how well the party aligns with Kennedy. In an interview with ABC News, McArdle acknowledged conversations between the two but said they dont have every single issue in common.

I think that he shares some things in common with us values-wise on our platform that are really great, McArdle said, such as his view on free speech as an anti-vaccine activist. But we dont have every single issue in common, and thats something that my party members and the delegates have to seriously consider.

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RFK Jr. sparks speculation of switch to Libertarian Party for greater ballot access - Washington Examiner