Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that he will appear on the Texas ballot after submitting 245,572 signatures to the Texas Secretary of State office.
This number more than doubles the requirement for access to the Lone Star State presidential ballot, according to their campaign. The Texas Secretary of State’s Office confirmed it received the petition but could not confirm the number of listed signatures.
Kennedy’s inclusion on the Texas ballot would mark the first instance of an independent presidential candidate securing a spot in over two decades, since Pat Buchanan’s 2000 presidential bid.
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s strength, character, and selfless dedication to defend and protect our democracy is a beacon of hope for all Americans,” Texas State Director Kim Limberg said in a written statement. “Lone Star State volunteers echo this sentiment and believe RFK Jr. is the best person to lead this country.”
According to RFK Jr’s campaign, the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket has achieved ballot access in six states, including Utah, Michigan, California, Delaware, Oklahoma and Texas.
Moreover, the campaign says that it has garnered enough signatures for ballot access in eight additional states, including New Hampshire, Nevada, Hawaii, North Carolina, Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, and Ohio.
In total, the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket claims to have secured the necessary signatures for ballot access in 14 states, representing 187 electoral votes, amounting to 35% of the nation’s total electoral votes.