A legal challenge was filed on Thursday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with the aim of preventing third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from appearing on the state’s fall ballot. The petition alleges that the nominating papers submitted by Kennedy and his running mate show a lack of compliance with state laws and signature gathering processes. It suggests that the paperwork contains ineligible signatures, defects, torn documents taped over, and handwriting inconsistencies that raise doubts about the authenticity of the signatures.
Kennedy’s candidacy has faced legal hurdles concerning ballot access in various states, but his campaign has not yet responded to requests for comments on the matter. Although it remains uncertain how Kennedy’s independent candidacy could impact the presidential race, his connections to the prominent Democratic family and his stance against vaccination have attracted support from conservatives.
Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes and divided electorate, holds a crucial position in the upcoming presidential contest scheduled for November 5. In 2016, Trump won the state by a narrow margin over Clinton, while Biden secured victory in 2020 with a larger lead. Separate challenges were also lodged in Pennsylvania against the nominating papers of Party for Socialism and Liberation presidential candidate Claudia De la Cruz, as well as an attempt to bar Constitution Party presidential candidate James N. Clymer from the state’s ballot.
One challenge to De la Cruz’s candidacy questions the validity of certain electors who allegedly did not disaffiliate from the Democratic Party, rendering them ineligible. Another challenge argues that there are ineligible signatures and additional defects in the nominating papers, making them “fatally defective.” Attempts to reach De la Cruz’s campaign for comments have been made but not yet responded to.
The challenge to Clymer’s candidacy cites an alleged failure to include required candidate affidavits, seeking his disqualification from the ballot. Messages seeking comments were directed to the party chairman, Bob Goodrich.