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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has decided not to run in the upcoming presidential election and has officially removed his name from the Arizona ballot, according to the state’s secretary of state’s office. This move seems to confirm that Kennedy will be leaving the presidential race altogether.
The office’s spokesperson, JP Martin, confirmed to ABC News, “We have processed withdrawal forms for RFK prior to the ballot printing deadline. No changes may be made to put the electors back on the ballot now.”
The deadline for printing ballots in Arizona was at 6 a.m. on Friday, explained Martin. Had Kennedy not withdrawn by that time, his name would have remained on the November ballot regardless of any later decision to drop out of the race.
Recent reports from ABC News suggest that on Friday, Kennedy plans to publicly step out of the race and endorse former President Donald Trump.
Efforts to secure an endorsement from Kennedy began about a week before the Republican National Convention, with prominent figures like Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, and Omeed Malik—a donor to both Trump and Kennedy—playing key roles, sources indicated to ABC News.
Kennedy and Trump also communicated following an assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania last month. They spoke again in person at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
In a recent incident, Kennedy interrupted a Zoom meeting with top supporters to take a call from Trump, revealing to those in attendance that Trump was calling. After the call, Kennedy relayed to his supporters that Trump had phoned to thank him for an apologetic message he had sent earlier that day in response to a leak caused by Kennedy’s son.
While poised to exit the race and back Trump, some of Kennedy’s closest associates are reportedly apprehensive about this decision. Kennedy’s indecisiveness has been noted by those close to him, though there is no current indication that he might revise his decision.
On the issue of campaign challenges, Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, blamed a series of lawsuits from Democrats, which she claimed had siphoned vital resources from the campaign. “We’re being prosecuted politically right now. This is not normal for democracy,” Shanahan stated.
Despite stepping back from a presidential bid, Shanahan mentioned that both she and Kennedy remain committed to their causes and aim for national unity. Regarding their discussions with Trump’s camp, Shanahan emphasized their focus on discerning Trump’s sincerity in these engagements.