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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 2024 presidential campaign

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for President 2024
Campaign2024 Democratic presidential primaries
CandidateRobert F. Kennedy Jr.
AffiliationDemocratic Party
StatusActive
AnnouncedApril 19, 2023
Key peopleJohn E. Sullivan (treasurer)[1]
Website
www.kennedy24.com

The Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presidential campaign was formally launched on April 19, 2023, when Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the Kennedy family, environmental lawyer,[2] anti-vaccine activist (though he rejects the claim),[citation needed] and author announced his candidacy in Boston, Massachusetts. He is challenging incumbent Democratic president Joe Biden.

Background

Kennedy is a member of the Kennedy family, four of whom have previously run for the United States presidency.[1][3][4] His uncle John F. Kennedy was elected president as a Democrat in 1960 after a successful presidential campaign. In subsequent decades, several other family members sought the Democratic Party presidential nomination, but have failed to be nominated. His father and namesake, Robert F. Kennedy, ran a leading campaign for the nomination in 1968 but he was assassinated before the party's nominating convention. His uncle-by-marriage Sargent Shriver ran for the nomination in 1976, but later withdrew from the race.[a] His uncle Ted Kennedy ran a campaign for the nomination in 1980, but was later defeated in the primaries by then-incumbent Democratic president Jimmy Carter.

Campaign

On March 3, 2023, in a speech at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Kennedy stated that he was considering a run for president in 2024.[5] YouTube later took down a video of the speech, citing medical misinformation.[6]

Announcement and launch

On April 5, 2023, Kennedy filed his candidacy.[7] He formally declared his candidacy at a campaign launch event at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston on April 19, 2023.[8][9] He chose Boston for his launch because of his family's deep political roots in the city,[10][11] and referenced in his speech that he graduated from both high school and college in Massachusetts.[12][13] He said that his priority would be "to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power that is threatening now to impose a new kind of corporate feudalism in our country".[8]

Political positions

Kennedy's campaign website lists his priorities in six sections: honest government, reconciliation, environment, revitalization, peace, and civil liberties.[14]

Support & Public reception

Early supporters of Kennedy's campaign include Salon.com founder David Talbot,[15] former Bernie Sanders campaign press secretary Briahna Joy Gray,[16] journalist Max Blumenthal,[17] author and mathematician formerly involved in the Occupy movement Charles Eisenstein,[18] and comedian Russel Brand, [19] as well as right-wing media figures such as Steve Bannon[20] and Tucker Carlson[21]

Kennedy family reaction

Several family members have opposed Kennedy's candidacy due to his anti-vaccine views, and have publicly announced their support for Joe Biden's reelection bid.[22][23] His sister Kerry Kennedy told Business Insider, "I love my brother Bobby, but I do not share or endorse his opinions on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccinations and the role of social media platforms in policing false information".[24] Other siblings, such as Patrick J. Kennedy and Rory Kennedy, have also endorsed Biden.[25]

Notes

  1. ^ Shriver was also the last-minute Democratic nominee for vice president in 1972, replacing Thomas Eagleton.

References

  1. ^ a b Bradner, Eric; Wright, David (April 5, 2023). "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files paperwork to run for president as a Democrat". CNN. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023.
  2. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (April 17, 2023). "Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Soon to Announce White House Run, Sows Doubts About Vaccines". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Kelly Garrity (April 5, 2023). "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running for president in 2024". Politico. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023.
  4. ^ "Statement of Candidacy". docquery.fec.gov. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Browning, Oliver (April 19, 2023). "Watch live as Robert F Kennedy Jr expected to announce presidential run". The Independent.
  6. ^ Porter, Steven; March 10, Updated. "Will fringe Democrats dominate NH primary? A visit by RFK Jr. points to uncertain times ahead – The Boston Globe". Boston Globe.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Price, Michelle (April 5, 2023). "Anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. challenging Biden in 2024". Associated Press.
  8. ^ a b "Anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. launches presidential campaign". Associated Press News. April 19, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to formally announce 2024 run for president in Boston". CBS News. Associated Press. April 6, 2023. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Bradner, Eric (April 19, 2023). "Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launches 2024 presidential bid". CNN.
  11. ^ Gabriel, Trip (April 19, 2023). "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Makes His White House Run Official". The New York Times. The New York Times.
  12. ^ Kashinsky, Lisa (April 19, 2023). "The Kennedy campaign the Kennedys don't want to see". Politico.
  13. ^ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announces 2024 Presidential Bid, the presidential announcement speech, Youtube-Chanel NowThis News, April 19, 2023
  14. ^ "Our Priorities".
  15. ^ "My Thoughts About RFK Jr". April 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Briahna Joy Gray: Media, Dems LAUGH OFF RFK Jr at Their Own Peril". YouTube. April 13, 2023.
  17. ^ "RFK Jr. Throws down the gauntlet". YouTube. April 25, 2023.
  18. ^ "A Major Life Change". May 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "Russell & RFK Jr | FAUCI, CIA Secrets & Running for President - #128 - Stay Free with Russell Brand". May 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "Anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenging Biden for presidency in 2024". CBS News. April 5, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ Dicker, Ron (April 20, 2023). "Tucker Carlson Embraces Anti-Vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Campaign For President". HuffPost.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Kim, Chloe (April 5, 2023). "Robert F Kennedy Jr to challenge Biden for White House". BBC News. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  23. ^ Kashinsky, Lisa (April 19, 2023). "The Kennedy campaign the Kennedys don't want to see". Politico. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  24. ^ Shoaib, Alia (April 22, 2023). "Members of the Kennedy dynasty explain why they will not support anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 2024 presidential bid against Biden". Business Insider. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  25. ^ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (April 16, 2023). "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can't count on family support to take on Biden". CNN.
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