Campaign Report

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The Big Story 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s switch from Democrat to independent is drawing criticism and could change both parties’ calculations for the presidential race.

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Environmental lawyer and prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ended his primary challenge to President Biden, instead running as an independent. The move comes as Kennedy has been unable to make significant inroads in polls for the Democratic nominating process.

“I must declare my own independence. Independence from the Democratic Party,” he said at a rally with supporters in Philadelphia. “And from all other political parties.” 

In making the switch, Kennedy will try to appeal to voters who are frustrated with both Democrats and Republicans and the two-party system as a whole. 

“People suspect that the divisions are deliberately orchestrated,” he said. “They’re fed up with being fooled and they’re ready to take back power.” 

As The Hill’s Hanna Trudo reports, Kennedy has taken positions and floated conspiracy theories that many Democrats have repudiated, including on the efficacy of vaccines and parts of U.S. history like the assassinations of his uncle and father and the 9/11 attacks. 

Both parties had largely ignored Kennedy’s candidacy over the months, leading him to criticize the Democratic National Committee for not holding debates with Biden. 

But the Republican National Committee (RNC) was quick to slam him as “still a Democrat” following his announcement of his independent bid. 

“RFK Jr. cannot hide from his record of endorsing Hillary [Clinton], supporting the Green New Deal, fighting against the Keystone Pipeline, and praising [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.)] tax hikes — he is your typical elitist liberal and voters won’t be fooled,” RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. 

Given that some of Kennedy’s positions seem to align with Republicans more than Democrats and polling shows he is more popular with Republicans, concerns are brewing that his independent run could take more votes away from the eventual Republican nominee. 

Kennedy’s announcement comes after professor Cornel West switched his candidacy from running for the Green Party to running as an independent. West’s candidacy has raised concerns among Democrats that he could take votes away from Biden in a general election. 

Welcome to The Hill’s Campaign Report, we’re Caroline Vakil, Julia Manchester and Jared Gans. Each week we track the key stories you need to know to stay ahead of the 2024 election and who will set the agenda in Washington. 

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Republican Kari Lake is expected to formally announce a run for Arizona Senate later today, making her the latest high-stakes entry into the race. Lake filed paperwork last week to enter the race, but she’s expected to make that bid official during a Scottsdale, Ariz., rally. 

Several polls have suggested an unpredictable race may well be underway should Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) decide to enter as well. A poll from left-leaning firm Public Policy Polling out on Tuesday, which was commissioned by Rep. Ruben Gallego’s (D-Ariz.) campaign and first shared with The Hill, found Gallego at 41 percent, Lake at 36 percent and Sinema at 15 percent in a hypothetical matchup. 

But a separate poll from Republican firm National Research Inc showed Lake leading Gallego 37 percent to 33 percent, while Sinema sat at 19 percent.

Though Democrats and Republicans are closely watching races in Montana, Ohio and West Virginia where three red state Democrats are up for reelection, the Arizona Senate race could play a critical role in which party wins the majority next fall.  

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