Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his campaign for the 2024 United States presidential election on April 19, 2023. An environmental lawyer, writer, and member of the Kennedy family, he is known for advocating anti-vaccine misinformation and public health conspiracy theories. He initially ran for the Democratic Party nomination, but announced on October 9, 2023, that he would run as an independent candidate. Holding a mix of traditionally liberal, conservative, and libertarian views in addition to his conspiracy theories, he has received significant support from right-wing campaigners and others outside the Democratic Party, while the reaction to his campaign from his extended family has been largely negative.
Background
Kennedy is a member of the Kennedy family, four of whom have previously run for the United States presidency. His uncle, John F. Kennedy, was elected president as a Democrat in 1960 after a successful presidential campaign. In subsequent decades, several other family members sought the Democratic Party presidential nomination, but have failed to be nominated. His father and namesake, Robert F. Kennedy, ran a campaign for the nomination in 1968, but he was assassinated before the party's nominating convention. His uncle-by-marriage, Sargent Shriver, ran for the nomination in 1976, but later withdrew from the race. His uncle, Ted Kennedy, ran a campaign for the nomination in 1980, but was defeated in the primaries by incumbent president Jimmy Carter.
Campaign
Announcement
On March 3, 2023, in a speech at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Kennedy stated that he was considering a run for president in 2024. YouTube later took down a video of the speech, citing medical misinformation. On April 5, 2023, he filed his candidacy. He formally declared his candidacy at a campaign launch event at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston on April 19, 2023. He chose Boston for his launch because of his family's deep political roots in the city, and referenced in his speech that he graduated from both high school and college in Massachusetts.
Financing
Kennedy has garnered financial backing from Republicans associated with former President Donald Trump. An analysis of the June 30, 2023, campaign finance filings shows that of the individuals who contributed at or near the maximum, those with Republican histories exceeded those with Democratic histories. About fifty percent of the total funds raised by American Values 2024, the super PAC that is supporting Kennedy's campaign, were contributed by Timothy Mellon, a longtime Republican mega-donor and Trump supporter. Kennedy's campaign finance report also showed substantial support from people who have promoted conspiracy theories. Steve Kirsch, a promoter of disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, donated over $10,000. Other notable donors include activist Abby Rockefeller of the Rockefeller family, billionaire Gavin de Becker, and anti-abortion advocate Mark Lee Dickson.
CIA conspiracy theory
In an interview with Joe Rogan, Kennedy expressed a belief that the CIA might kill him. "I gotta be careful," he said. "I'm not stupid about it and I take precautions."
Change of political affiliation
On September 29, 2023, Mediaite reported that Kennedy was reorienting his campaign to run as an independent rather than as a Democrat. On October 9, 2023, he confirmed these reports by formally announcing that he will be continuing his presidential bid as an independent candidate. The announcement took place at an event held in Philadelphia. In his speech, he criticized the Democratic and Republican parties functioning as a "uniparty" was his main reason for running as an independent.
Prior to the switch Kennedy and his campaign manager had expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic primary election process. Considered an underdog, he often polled around the low double digits while running for the Democratic nomination, and had also been losing support in polls of Democratic primary voters. By switching to independent, he would no longer run in Democratic primary elections.
Political positions
Abortion
Speaking to reporters at the Iowa State Fair in August 2023, Kennedy said that he supports a national ban on abortion after the first trimester. He elaborated further, "Once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child." His campaign later backtracked, releasing a statement saying that he had misunderstood the question because it had been asked in a noisy and crowded exhibition hall.