Kennedy Defies Legacy: RFK Jr.’s Independent Run Raises Eyebrows and Threatens Established 2024 Predictions

William FurneyOct 19, 2023

Minute Read

Breakaway presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement that he’s running on an independent platform — and ditching the Democratic Party cherished by his storied family — has sent shockwaves around American political life and threatens to transform the 2024 election.

‘Pain’ of Dropping Democrats

The 69-year-old lawyer and son of senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of president John F. Kennedy — both of whom were assassinated — said in an announcement before supporters that he felt “pain” at leaving the party of his family but he felt compelled to declare “independence from the Democratic party and all other parties.”

Independent Candidate

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Kennedy told supporters: “I’m here to declare myself an independent candidate for president for the United States. I’m here to join you in making a new declaration of independence for our entire nation.”

Taking Aim

In his speech, Kennedy blasted Wall Street, what he called the “mercenary media,” military contractors, big pharma, and the two-party system of the Republicans and Democrats for “leading us all off a cliff.”

‘Growing US Anger’

Kennedy also said voters were becoming disillusioned, and increasingly angry. “A rising tide of discontent is swamping our country. There’s a danger in this discontent but there’s also opportunity and promise,” he said.

‘Despair and Rage’

He continued in his speech declaring his independent candidacy for next year’s presidential race:

“We seem to be cycling from despair to rage and back to despair. This country is ready for a history making change. They are ready to reclaim their freedom, their independence,” he said.

Controversial Candidate

While the prospect of another Kennedy ending up in the White House might excite many American voters, Kennedy’s views might well repel them. His stance on the covid-19 vaccine is one of his most contentious because he has urged people not to get the jab.

Congressional Testimony

Appearing at a congressional hearing in July, Kennedy said he had never advised the people to avoid getting the covid-19 vaccine and denied he was “anti-vaccine.” But public statements, carried in the media, say otherwise, including claims he has made about childhood vaccinations causing autism.

2024 Presidential Race

Former president Donald Trump is vying to get back into the White House, and incumbent President Joe Biden is aiming for a second term there — despite growing concerns over his age, 80, and recent appearances where he has rambled and appeared incoherent, as well as stumbles. Trump lost to Biden in the 2020 election and has been indicted for attempting to overturn the results and also for preventing the peaceful transfer of power.

An Independent in the Race

Kennedy’s entry as an independent in the 2024 presidential ballot threatens to upset what some have seen as a possible two-horse race between Trump and Biden, who are both currently polling about equal.

Biden and Trump Neck-and-Neck

President Biden and former president Trump each have 41% support of registered voters while Kennedy, as an independent, has 16%, according to a new poll by Fox News. Another survey of voters, by pollster Zogby, found that Trump and Biden were also neck and neck, at 38%, and that Kennedy had 19% support.

Kennedy Taking Up Trump Independents

Some analysts predict that if the 2024 election shapes up to be a three-candidate race, with Kennedy battling Trump and Biden, independent-minded voters that traditionally voted Trump might instead choose Kennedy. That could potentially derail Trump’s efforts to have a second term as president, as could events that are currently unfolding.

Trump’s Legal Problems

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Trump faces a raft of court cases in the leadup to next year’s election, both federal and civil, and he could end up in jail. Along with being indicted over the 2020 election results, the 77-year-old has also been charged with illegally storing confidential government material at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. He is currently standing trial in New York, in a civil fraud case connected with this Trump Organization property empire.

Kennedy Family Reaction

Kennedy’s family did not applaud his decision to run as an independent, however.

“Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Today’s announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country,” said younger sister Kerry on X, formerly called Twitter, in a statement also signed by other family members.

Republican Attack

Republicans were quick to denounce Kennedy’s candidacy as an independent too.

“Voters should not be deceived by anyone who pretends to have conservative values,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement. He said it was “nothing more than a vanity project for a liberal Kennedy looking to cash in on his family’s name.”