Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Disqualified from New York Ballot
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was disqualified from the New York general election ballot after a judge ruled that his nomination petition was invalidated due to falsely claiming to have a New York residence. Judge Christina Riba concluded that Kennedy’s claim of the New York address as his “place of residence” was a misrepresentation, as he had no intentions of moving back to New York and had only listed it for political purposes. This ruling, which is expected to be appealed, could prevent Kennedy from voting in New York and may lead to challenges in other states where he used similar addresses for collecting signatures.
Evidence Presented in Court
During the court proceedings, Kennedy testified that he considers New York his home since childhood and plans to return. He explained that he temporarily moved to California in 2014 to live with his wife and currently rents a room in a woman’s home in New York. Barbara Moss, the homeowner, testified that Kennedy paid her $500 a month for the room but only stayed one night. She received his first rent payment on May 20 of this year.
Legal Battle and Reaction
The Kennedy campaign condemned the ruling as overtly partisan and stated their intention to seek injunctive relief in the Southern District of New York. They accused Democrats of showing contempt for democracy and vowed to continue their legal fight. Critics, including the super PAC Clear Choice Action, accused Kennedy of lying about his residence and intentionally misleading election officials. The Democratic National Committee spokesman also criticized Kennedy’s actions and stated they would evaluate options in other states based on this ruling.
