Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during the Libertarian National Convention at the Washington Hilton in Washington on May 24. Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear on the Maine ballot this November.
The Department of the Secretary of State confirmed this week that Kennedy – son of the late Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy – had gathered approximately 4,800 signatures from registered voters.
“We’re proud that Mainers’ voices are being heard,” James Donahue, the campaign’s Maine state director, said in a statement. “We collected signatures from nearly all of our 500 municipalities, highlighting the enormous support for Kennedy in Maine.”
The campaign said it has now collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot in 34 states.
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and prominent anti-vaccine activist, initially challenged President Biden in the Democratic primary but dropped out after it was clear he had little traction there.
Although he’s seen as a long shot, Kennedy could impact the race in some states. Whether he will siphon off support from Republican Donald Trump or the Democratic nominee – likely Vice President Kamala Harris – is unclear.
A poll of Maine voters released last week by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center showed Kennedy with 4% support, compared to 48% who favored Harris and 40% who said they backed Trump.
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