A judge ruled on Monday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not appear on New York’s ballot as an independent presidential candidate. The judge found that Kennedy falsely claimed a New York residence on nominating petitions despite actually living in California.
Kennedy’s lawyers have vowed to appeal the decision ahead of the Aug. 15 deadline. If the ruling stands, Kennedy could face challenges in other states where he used a New York City suburbs address to gather signatures.
Judge Christina Ryba concluded that Kennedy’s claimed residence in New York was a “sham” address used for voter registration and political candidacy purposes. The evidence presented showed a pattern of borrowing addresses to maintain voter registration in New York while residing in California.
The ruling was supported by Clear Choice Action, which accused Kennedy of lying about his residency. Kennedy maintained that he has ties to New York and plans to move back.
The lawsuit revealed discrepancies in Kennedy’s living arrangements and raised doubts about his New York residency claims. Despite this setback, Kennedy’s campaign remains optimistic about his chances as an independent candidate.
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