The Nebraska Democratic Party has filed an objection to block Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from appearing as a nonpartisan candidate for president on the state’s fall ballot. The party argued that Kennedy’s ticket did not meet the statutory requirements for a nonpartisan ticket. Kennedy’s campaign has been seeking ballot access through various methods in different states, including establishing a new party in Hawaii and North Carolina. The challenge also highlighted discrepancies in ideologies among the political parties that Kennedy’s campaign has sought access through.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole A. Shanahan, also left the Democratic Party to join his ticket. The challenge is based on various state laws, including one that allows nonpartisan presidential candidates to file an application and petition with signatures from at least 2,500 registered voters by a certain deadline to appear on the ballot. The Nebraska Democratic Party requested to review the signatures submitted by Kennedy’s campaign.
The challenge cites a court case from 1977 that stated Nebraska’s election process for independent candidates was unconstitutional. However, there have been changes since then to allow independent candidates to appear on the ballot. The Nebraska Democratic Party urged the Secretary of State to render a decision on the challenge promptly and give Kennedy’s campaign the opportunity to respond.
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