In 2006, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised concerns about the 2004 election in an article for Rolling Stone, suggesting that it had been manipulated to ensure George W. Bush’s victory over John Kerry. He pointed to discrepancies between exit polls and actual votes, as well as voter disenfranchisement in Ohio, as evidence of foul play. However, these election conspiracy theories were not new or unheard of, as they had been previously discussed in mainstream publications like Mother Jones and Vanity Fair.
Kennedy positioned himself as a lone voice questioning the election results, a tactic he has used throughout his career. As he campaigns for the presidency, some wonder if his supporters will question the outcome of future elections based on his example. Kennedy’s campaign has stated that they do not plan to contest election results, despite his history of raising concerns about electoral integrity.
During his campaign, Kennedy has made controversial claims about political corruption and downplayed the events of January 6, 2021. His connections to election deniers and January 6 supporters within his team have raised concerns. For example, a New York campaign consultant was fired after it was revealed she had attended the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6 and had encouraged voters to support Kennedy to help Donald Trump’s reelection.
