A New York court ruling has thrown a wrench into the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent candidate. Judge Christina Ryba ruled that Kennedy falsely claimed a New York residence on his nominating petitions, a decision that could prevent him from appearing on the state’s ballot in the upcoming election. The ruling has led Kennedy to accuse the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of using “lawfare” to block his candidacy.
The case was brought by Clear Choice Action, a Democrat-aligned group, which challenged Kennedy’s use of a friend’s address in suburban New York City to gather signatures. The group argued that Kennedy’s minimal presence at the address did not constitute legal residency under New York law. Judge Ryba agreed, stating that allowing such claims would undermine the integrity of the election process and potentially lead to fraud.
In response, Kennedy has been vocal in his criticism of the ruling, arguing that the DNC is attempting to manipulate the election through legal channels rather than by winning at the ballot box. “The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy,” Kennedy said in a statement. “They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice.”
Kennedy’s legal team plans to appeal the ruling, citing the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which they argue should govern the residency of presidential candidates rather than state law. Despite this setback, Kennedy remains committed to his campaign, having already secured the signatures needed to appear on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
