Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially ruled out seeking the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination. Kennedy shared his decision following a successful one-day event in West Des Moines, Iowa, to help him gain ballot access.
According to a report from ABC News on Friday, Kennedy has instead decided to seek total ballot access through his own ongoing independent efforts. “We’re not gonna have any problems getting on the ballot ourselves so we won’t be running Libertarian,” Kennedy is quoted as saying by ABC News. Readers can view the full report on ABC News.
When contacted for comment by ABC News, Libertarian National Committee Chair Angela McArdle had nothing immediate to say, stating that she wouldn’t for “at least a few days.”
The possibility of Kennedy seeking the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination has been a constant source of speculation this election cycle. Kennedy reportedly had talks with party leadership last July regarding the matter. Later, in 2024, he and several other presidential candidates spoke at the Libertarian Party of California’s state convention. More recently, the Center for Legitimate Government claimed that Kennedy was seeking the nomination, citing several anonymous sources within the party.
With thanks to SocraticGadfly for sharing news of Kennedy’s decision not to seek the nomination.
The 2008-2016 Libertarian Party presidential tickets proved that one need not really be a libertarian to get nominated for President or Vice President. All one has to do is flash some money and wave around some fancy sounding credentials and anyone can win these nominations. The candidates in question can pay off delegates if necessary.
If Robert F. Kennedy had wanted the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination he could get it.
I LOVE the “(not for) at least a few days” comment by McArdle.
She’s running a party that’s going broke, facing internal challenges and dissent, and now has officially found out that Bob Jr. (who might have helped the “going broke” issue) used the LP as basically a stalking horse/Plan B.
As is proper and expected. RKF2.0 is not a libertarian and would not get the nomination anyway.
Besides, he has Shanahan’s deep pockets to fund his ballot access. She’s no libertarian, either.
Now that the sideshow is done, the LP can focus on its actual candidate, whomever it may be.