Robert F. Kennedy’s Presidential Campaign Is Nearly Out Of Money As He Mulls Withdrawing From Race

Federal Election Commission filings confirmed that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign is almost out of money. New filings showed that Kennedy’s campaign is spending more money than it is taking in. 

The campaign entered August with $3.9 million in cash on hand but is almost $3.5 million in debt. In July, it spent over $7 million while raising just $5.6 million, nearly half of which came from Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan.

His campaign’s spending stayed high despite a reduction on events. Since early July, the independent presidential candidate has not attended any public events. Instead, he has randomly appeared on podcasts and at conferences. 

Most of the campaign’s funds went toward ballot access, Facebook and Google advertisements, and a security firm run by a longtime associate.

Even with the help of a partnership with the Libertarian Party, the campaign’s fundraising, despite a slight increase, has not kept up with spending. 

Kennedy relies more on Shanahan’s money than outside donations, indicating he is not attracting many new supporters.

The independent candidate also appears to know that his campaign is almost broke. 

In July, he spoke with the former president about getting a White House job in exchange for dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing the former president.

On August 9, podcaster Joe Rogan clarified on X that he had not endorsed Kennedy on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.

One day earlier, Rogan said on his podcast that politicians on the left and right “gaslight” and “manipulate” people. He also stated that politicians on both sides “promote narratives” before mentioning that “the only one not doing that is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” He then shared that he is “a fan” of the candidate. 

Last week, a court in Albany, New York, ruled that Kennedy can not appear on the New York State presidential ballot.

A lawsuit asserted that his New York ballot nomination petition listed a residence in Katonah, New York, while he has actually lived in the Los Angeles area since 2014. The suit was supported by Clear Choice PAC, a super PAC led by progressives.

It had also been filed on behalf of several voters seeking to invalidate the candidate’s New York ballot petition. The lawsuit declares that he “at most only visited” the residence nearly 40 miles north of midtown Manhattan.