Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. today strongly criticized a ruling by Albany County Supreme Court Judge Christina L. Ryba, which challenged his New York residency status. Kennedy vowed to appeal the decision, calling it an “openly partisan ruling” designed to undermine his presidential campaign.
Judge Ryba's decision comes despite Kennedy’s long-standing ties to New York, which he outlined in his rebuttal. Kennedy is registered to vote in the state, has maintained his primary residence there since 1964, and holds various licenses, including a New York driver's license, legal practice license, and even a falconry license, all issued by the state.
“The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy,” Kennedy said following the court's decision. “They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice. We will appeal and we will win.”
Judge Ryba’s Ruling and the 12th Amendment
In her ruling, Judge Ryba indicated she would not consider the constitutionality of the New York residency requirement under the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Kennedy’s Senior Counsel Paul Rossi emphasized that this aspect of the law should not be overlooked.
“The 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution governs the residency of presidential and vice-presidential candidates, not state law,” Rossi stated. “We intend to pursue injunctive relief in the Southern District of New York. If state court judges are going to ignore the Constitution, the federal courts must step in to protect voters’ rights.”
Record-Breaking Support in New York
The Kennedy campaign has demonstrated substantial grassroots support, with the New York State Board of Elections confirming that Kennedy submitted 108,680 valid signatures for ballot access—more than double the 45,000 required, setting a record in New York.
“This case is an assault on New York voters who signed in record numbers to place me on their ballot,” Kennedy said. He added, “The Democratic Party is unrecognizable to me. The party of my father and uncle’s time was committed to expanding voters’ rights and understood that competition at the ballot box is an essential part of American Democracy. The DNC is now a party that uses lawfare in place of the democratic election process.”
Robert F. Kennedy Nationwide Ballot Access and Legal Challenges
The Robert F. Kennedy campaign has reported collecting over one million signatures to secure ballot access nationwide, a record for any presidential candidate in U.S. history. The campaign has successfully navigated legal challenges in multiple states, including Hawaii, Idaho, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Utah. Last week, Kennedy announced that his campaign has obtained sufficient signatures for ballot access in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Despite the legal hurdles, Kennedy remains optimistic about his chances on appeal. “We will appeal and we will win,” he reiterated, highlighting his commitment to fighting for voter choice and democratic principles.
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