RFK Jr. Nears Trump-Biden Debate Stage—What’s Left On His Path To Qualification

 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is nearing the polling threshold to become the first independent candidate to qualify for the presidential debate stage in 32 years, as his candidacy threatens to shake up the closely contested rematch between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden—but he’ll need to get on the ballot in more states first.

 

To qualify for the debates, hosting networks CNN and ABC require candidates to receive at least 15% support in four approved national polls and be on the ballot in enough states to win at least 270 electoral votes—a threshold that only Trump and Biden have definitively met so far.

Kennedy has met the minimum polling requirements in three surveys, from CNN/SSRS, Marquette Law School and Quinnipiac University.

However, he has only qualified for ballot access in enough states so far to secure 129 electoral votes, far below the 270 required: His campaign has said he’s qualified for the ballot in seven states, with a total of 129 electoral votes.

His campaign says he’s met qualifications to be on the ballot in 10 other states that have yet to certify his placement on their ballots, accounting for 130 electoral votes.

Because Kennedy is running as an independent candidate without the backing of an official political party that already has ballot access for its nominee, he must find workarounds, which typically involves petitioning to be placed on the ballot.

Kennedy accused Trump and Biden of “colluding” to keep him off the debate stage “because they are afraid [he] would win,” he tweeted earlier this month, calling them “the two most unpopular candidates in living memory.” Trump has also claimed, without evidence, the Biden campaign coordinated with the networks to set the debate qualifications to box Kennedy out, claiming the president “does not want RFK Jr. in the debates because Junior’ is far left him . . . and sharper and far more intelligent,” adding “I don’t care” if Kennedy participates.


CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the first debate on June 27 at the network’s Atlanta studios, with no live audience. ABC will host the second debate on Sept. 10, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis.


Kennedy has officially gained ballot access in seven states—Utah, Michigan, California, Delaware, Oklahoma, Hawaii and Texas—according to his campaign. The campaign said it has collected enough signatures to be placed on the ballot in nine others—New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey and New York. And it’s expecting to gain access in Florida after the obscure Reform Party nominated Kennedy for its ticket last week, though the party’s application to regain its status as a minor political party is still pending, the Florida Phoenix reported.


After months of prodding from Trump, Biden officially said earlier this month he would debate the former president, prompting Trump to quickly accept the challenge and CNN and ABC to ink deals to host the debates within hours of Biden extending the invitation. While Kennedy’s path to the presidency seems uncertain, he does have the potential to sway the election as Trump and Biden consistently poll within single digits of each other, though it’s unclear which of the two frontrunners would lose more votes to Kennedy. A May Emerson college poll found Trump widens his lead over Biden from two points to five with Kennedy, independent Cornel West and Green Party candidate Jill Stein in the mix, while an April NBC poll found Biden trailing Trump by two points in a head-to-head race, but beating him by two with Kennedy and other third-party candidates on the ballot.