By Meg Richards
Robert F. Kennedy announced his presidential bid on April 20. He is the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy and an environmental justice lawyer from New York, credited with helping to clean up the state’s Hudson River. Despite historically supporting the Democratic establishment–backing Hillary Clinton in 2016–he has received attention for his support of anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories.
Along with public health and advocating against childhood vaccines, Kennedy Jr.’s other key issues include environmentalism and supporting small business, according to his campaign website.
His top contributors are those who often donate to GOP campaigns due to his beliefs surrounding the vaccine. Among these donors are banking executive Omeed Malik, who has been reported donating to Florida governor Ron DeSantis and hedge fund giant Bill Ackman, according to a report from Politico.
Preemptive polling from the University of New Hampshire, shows among likely democratic 2024 primary voters, 15% have a favorable view of Kennedy Jr., while 20% are neutral, and 37% have an unfavorable opinion. Twenty-eight percent don’t know enough about the candidate to determine their favorability.