The field of presidential candidates expanded in Illinois on Monday, now including five new names alongside President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Among them, the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The campaign submitted its nomination papers — containing more than 60,000 signatures according to campaign officials — to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Monday afternoon.
If the election commission confirms the validity of the papers, Illinois will become the ninth confirmed state in which the independent was able to vote.
Kennedy Jr., nephew of President John F. Kennedy and son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, tried to secure the Democratic Party nomination over Biden. Having lost his candidacy to the presumptive nominee, he began an independent candidacy in October.
More: Party infighting leads to resignation of Illinois Republican Party chairman
Viewed as a dark horse in the upcoming election four months from now, RFK supporters Sean Phillips and Kirsten Bonanza of Springfield see the candidate as a necessary change of pace from Biden and Trump.
“Most of the way I create my life is by asking the question, ‘What will my life be like in the next five years if I make this choice.’… And when I ask that about him (RFK), it’s just weird. the hook,” said Bonanza, one of approximately 30 supporters gathered outside the election board office in Springfield. “Bobby Kennedy is a statesman, when the rest are just politicians.”
Phillips added that Kennedy Jr.’s ideas for dealing with the border crisis and dealing with the national debt gained his support. Still, the Kennedy political family does not support him and instead appeals to voters to support Biden. Governor JB Pritzker, a Biden surrogate, previously told CNN that Democrats who supported anyone other than Biden would be “throwing away” their vote.
Kennedy is trying to ensure voting access in all 50 states, but has seen objections filed in four states this month. Both Biden and Trump avoided challenges in Illinois to get their names on the November ballot earlier this year.
Who else is running?
Joining Kennedy in filing papers to run for president were Green Party candidate Jill Stein and two Illinois residents – Christopher Cisco of Piper City and Heather Lynn Stone of Peoria. Who did not make the list was the independent Cornel West.
Former gubernatorial candidate Scott Schluter filed papers for the Libertarian ticket. Justin Tucker, the state party’s executive director, however, confirmed to The State Journal-Register that Schluter is a replacement for former Georgia Senate candidate Chase Oliver, who is the party’s official candidate.
Having a replacement candidate is necessary, Tucker said, because the party’s petition drive began after the Libertarian Party’s Presidential Nominating Convention, held over Memorial Day weekend. Oliver’s name will appear on the ballot, not Schluter’s.
Objections to any of the candidates who presented themselves between June 17th and 24th can be filed from now until next Monday. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th, with early voting beginning September 26th.
Contact Patrick M. Keck: pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.
This article originally appeared in the State Journal-Register: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. trying to enter the presidential race in Illinois
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