Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from the presidential race as he feels he’s no longer in the spotlight and is now seeking a role in the new administration’s cabinet.
Since announcing his candidacy in April 2023, initially as a Democrat before switching to an independent run, Kennedy Jr., the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, has repeatedly emphasized his determination to stay in the race for the White House and his ambition to disrupt the two-party system in the United States.
Kennedy Jr. had high hopes that his newly formed We the People Party, established in January, could rise to become the third major political force in American politics.
Back in April, U.S. media speculated that Kennedy could be a significant obstacle to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid, as he garnered support from Latin American voters and worked to get his name on the ballot in several key battleground states.
However, with the rapidly shifting dynamics of the presidential race over the past month, Kennedy Jr.’s ambitions appear to be fading, with numerous official statements and rumors suggesting that he is considering ending his campaign.
“A month after Trump’s near-assassination, Biden’s decision to bow out of the race, and the meteoric rise of Harris, no one seems to care about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. anymore,” said Ameshia Cross, a Democratic strategist and political commentator.
“He’s well aware that he lacks the strength to win or even play the role of a ‘spoiler,’ so he’s desperately trying to secure a position in the next administration, regardless of whether Harris or Trump wins,” Cross added.
During a podcast appearance on Impact Theory on August 20, Nicole Shanahan, the running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., acknowledged that the possibility of the 70-year-old independent candidate withdrawing from the presidential race is under serious consideration. She expressed concerns that continuing the campaign might “draw votes away from Trump,” inadvertently boosting the chances of the Democratic ticket, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
The remaining option is to withdraw now and join forces with Donald Trump,” Shanahan remarked, adding that the effort to get the We the People Party on the ballot in several states this election season has already been a significant step forward.
“This approach could pave the way for a true three-party election in 2028,” she emphasized.
According to a Hill/DDHQ voter survey, Kennedy Jr. holds around 3% support, while Trump and Harris stand at 43.8% and 47.9%, respectively. In the scenario where Kennedy Jr. exits the race, the gap between Harris and Trump could narrow to about three percentage points.
Trump reportedly reached out to Kennedy Jr. following the Republican National Convention (RNC) in July. A leaked recording, later confirmed by Kennedy Jr., revealed that the former U.S. president urged Kennedy Jr. to support him, promising that “it would be good for you because together we’ll win.” In an interview with CNN in Michigan on August 20, Trump stated that he’s open to welcoming Kennedy Jr. into his administration should he win the election.
Shanahan suggested that Kennedy Jr. would be a “fantastic choice” to lead the U.S. Department of Health, despite his controversial stances on vaccines and opposition to abortion. Shanahan herself harbors ambitions to run for Governor of California in 2026, believing that the Republican Party could help her defeat Democratic politician Gavin Newsom.
In fact, Kennedy Jr. had previously sought opportunities within the Democratic Party. According to the Washington Post, sources from Kennedy Jr.’s campaign revealed that in early August, he reached out to Kamala Harris’s campaign team, proposing a meeting to discuss the possibility of endorsing Harris in exchange for “a senior position in the government” if she wins. However, the Vice President and her advisers have yet to respond and have shown little enthusiasm for the offer.
“They’ve made a strategic error. They should’ve seized every opportunity because this year’s race could end in a tight finish,” Kennedy Jr. told the Washington Post regarding his suggestion to arrange a meeting with Harris.
Political advisers within the Democratic Party have long believed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was never aligned with Vice President Harris or the majority of the party’s members, particularly on critical social issues like abortion rights and vaccines. Moreover, he has received campaign funding from some Republican donors, further alienating him from the Democratic base.
According to Matt Corridoni, spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, Kennedy Jr.’s proposal to team up with Harris only reinforces the perception that he is “desperately trying every possible strategy” to maintain relevance on the political stage.
“While Donald Trump might be thrilled with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-abortion stance and conspiracy theories, Vice President Harris has no intention of wasting her time on him. The Kennedy Jr. campaign is slowly disintegrating, and he’s scrambling to secure a future position,” said Britt Jacovich, spokesperson for MoveOn, an organization that analyzes political candidates outside the Democratic-Republican binary.
Meanwhile, Kennedy Jr. has accused the Democratic Party of attempting to sabotage his campaign through legal maneuvers aimed at preventing his name from appearing on the ballot in certain states.
“My father and uncle were proud members of the Democratic Party, a party that once led the charge to ensure that every American could vote for the candidate of their choice,” Kennedy Jr. wrote. “Today’s Democratic Party is doing the exact opposite.”
