RFK Jr. Exits Arizona Race, May Endorse Trump in National Address

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to deliver a speech in Arizona on Friday, addressing the future of his campaign. This follows his formal announcement on Thursday that he is withdrawing from the November election in the state.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes confirmed on X that Kennedy’s campaign had filed the necessary paperwork to withdraw from the state’s 2024 election. This action not only removed Kennedy’s candidacy but also cancelled his running mate’s entry and the eleven presidential electors who were pledged to him.

According to his campaign, Kennedy is scheduled to “address the nation” at 2 p.m. EDT in Phoenix, where he is expected to discuss the current historical moment and outline his future plans.

His recent withdrawal has triggered speculation about a potential endorsement of Donald Trump. Kennedy’s camp appears to be keen on countering the Democratic traction that Vice President Kamala Harris is gaining, although no official endorsement has been announced yet.

Nicole Shannon, Kennedy’s running mate, expressed concerns that if they remain in the race, they might inadvertently contribute to the election of a Harris-Walz administration. She pointed out the risk of drawing votes away from Trump, which could benefit the Democrats.

Additionally, GOP vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance mentioned that there has been substantial communication between Kennedy and Trump’s campaign, indicating that Trump is attempting to persuade Kennedy to support him.

In an interesting shift, Kennedy has distanced himself from the Democratic legacies associated with his family. His candidacy has faced opposition from several family members who still maintain loyalty to the Democratic Party.

Kennedy officially departed from the Democratic Party in October after initially declaring his candidacy as a Democrat in April. Since then, he has actively sought discussions with both Trump and Harris, pursuing a potential trade of his endorsement for a position in the upcoming administration.

On August 15, he made clear that he had no intentions of endorsing Harris, following unsuccessful attempts to arrange a meeting with her campaign.