Texas Democrats challenge Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s ballot access

Texas Democrats have recently challenged the ballot access of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Texas Democratic Party claims that Kennedy’s campaign did not meet the state’s signature requirements to secure a spot on the November ballot.

Kennedy’s team submitted 248,000 signatures, well above the required 113,151, which they argued demonstrated significant grassroots support. However, Democrats allege many of these signatures are invalid, per The Dallas Morning News.

John Mott, the Texas Democratic Party’s voter protection director, investigated the validity of the submitted signatures. According to Mott’s legal advisor, Chad Dunn, a review of 245,000 signatures revealed that approximately 69% did not meet the necessary criteria.

“Consequently, even if the remaining 3,500 signatures we have yet to review were all valid (which given the nearly 70% failure rate so far is very unlikely), Mr. Kennedy has submitted approximately 37,000 fewer signatures than required by law,” Dunn wrote in a letter to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, per DMN.

Dunn asserted in the letter that the “petition signatures were insufficient in number to meet the requirements of state law” and that Kennedy’s “application must be rejected.”

Kennedy’s campaign has denied Mott’s allegations, responding that the petition signatures were “the most that any independent candidate has ever submitted.”

“Our independent signature validation company thoroughly reviewed them and confirmed that we have more than enough to secure a place on the Texas ballot,” the campaign added in a written statement, per DMN.

For a signature to be valid in Texas, it must come from a registered voter who has not participated in the presidential primaries of either major party during the current year. The signature must also include the voter’s address, registration number or county of residence, the printed name, and the date of signing.

The Texas Secretary of State’s Office has yet to make an official statement on the matter. As the July 30 deadline approaches for finalizing ballot access decisions, the outcome of this challenge could have significant implications for Kennedy’s presidential bid.

Democrats have also objected to Kennedy’s ballot access in other states, including Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Delaware, and New Jersey. Additionally, the Democratic National Committee has assembled a team dedicated to addressing challenges posed by third-party candidates during this election cycle.

The dispute over Kennedy’s eligibility for New Jersey’s November ballot will head to court on Friday, according to a report from the New Jersey Monitor.

Kennedy’s attorney, Donald Burke, is asking the judge to dismiss the challenge in New Jersey. He contends that ruling Kennedy ineligible would restrict the ballot to major party candidates and undermine the rights of independent candidates and voters.

The Kennedy campaign, which previously defeated a ballot challenge from Democrats in North Carolina, said, “We look forward to doing the same in Texas.”