North Carolina Democrats Challenge New Political Party's Ballot Access for Kennedy

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Democratic Party has filed a legal challenge against the state election board's decision to recognize a new political party, We The People, which aims to place Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the presidential ballot. The board's staff recently confirmed that the party had submitted enough valid signatures from registered voters to meet the state's petition requirements. However, the Democratic Party's complaint, lodged in Wake County Superior Court, argues that Kennedy's campaign circumvented stricter regulations for independent candidates by presenting itself as a political party, which they claim violates state law. The Democratic Party's legal team contends that the stated purpose of We The People—to secure Kennedy's candidacy—does not align with permissible objectives under state regulations. They assert that Kennedy should have adhered to the more rigorous signature requirements for independent candidates. Despite supporting the board's decision, Democratic Chair Alan Hirsch expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the party's formation, suggesting that legal challenges against the board's ruling could be successful. Kennedy, known for his environmental advocacy and controversial vaccine conspiracy theories, has garnered attention from both liberal and conservative circles. Democrats fear that his appeal could siphon votes from their presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the frontrunner following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race. In a related decision, the board's Democratic majority also rejected a petition for the Justice for All Party, which sought to nominate progressive activist Cornel West, drawing criticism from Republican officials who accused Democrats of stifling competition.