Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate for president, is pushing back against a New York judge’s ruling that could keep him off the state’s ballot. Judge Christina Ryba invalidated Kennedy’s nominating petitions, citing false claims of New York residency, a decision that has prompted Kennedy to accuse the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of undermining his campaign through legal tactics.
The dispute began when the Democrat-aligned group Clear Choice Action challenged Kennedy’s use of a friend’s address in the New York City suburbs to collect signatures for his ballot access. The group argued that Kennedy’s minimal presence at the address did not meet the state’s legal residency requirements. Judge Ryba agreed, stating that allowing such claims would set a “dangerous precedent” and open the door to election fraud.
In response, Kennedy took to social media and his campaign’s press releases to denounce the ruling as politically motivated. “The DNC has become a party that uses lawfare in place of the democratic election process,” Kennedy wrote. He further accused the Democrats of trying to prevent voters from having a choice in the upcoming election, vowing to appeal the ruling.
Kennedy’s campaign emphasized his long-standing ties to New York, including his voter registration, tax payments, and various professional licenses. They also criticized the judge for refusing to consider the constitutionality of the state’s residency requirement under the 12th Amendment, which governs the residency of presidential candidates.
Kennedy’s legal team plans to seek injunctive relief in federal court, confident that they will secure his place on the New York ballot. Meanwhile, the campaign continues to gather momentum, having already announced that Kennedy has secured enough signatures to appear on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
