Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has accused the Democratic National Committee of engaging in “lawfare” after a New York judge ruled that he cannot appear on the state’s ballot in the 2024 presidential election.
Judge Christina Ryba made the decision on Monday, citing Kennedy’s use of a “sham” address to register to vote in the state. The challenge was brought by Clear Choice Action, a group aligned with the Democratic Party.
According to Ryba, Kennedy’s use of a friend’s address for voting purposes, despite rarely visiting the premises, does not meet the state’s residency requirements. She argued that allowing this type of arrangement would create a “dangerous precedent” and open the door to “fraud and political mischief.”
Kennedy’s campaign has denounced the decision as a partisan attack, with Kennedy himself stating that the Democratic National Committee is using “lawfare” to undermine the democratic process.
“This case is an assault on New York voters who signed in record numbers to place me on their ballot,” Kennedy said in a post on X. “The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy. They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice.”
Kennedy’s campaign has argued that he has maintained a life in New York since 1964, with various records, including his taxes and falconry license, being based in the state. However, the judge’s refusal to consider the 12th Amendment, which governs the residency of presidential and vice presidential candidates, has been a major point of contention for the campaign.
Paul Rossi, senior counsel for Kennedy’s campaign, stated that the 12th Amendment takes precedence over state law and that the federal courts must intervene to protect voters’ rights.
“We intend to pursue injunctive relief in the Southern District of New York,” Rossi said. “If state court judges are going to ignore the Constitution, the federal courts must step in to protect voters’ rights.”
Despite this setback, Kennedy’s campaign announced last week that it had obtained enough signatures to appear on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
