Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dropped out of the presidential race to endorse President-elect Donald Trump, received 594,000 votes in the 2024 election, despite urging voters not to cast their ballots for him. Appearing on 33 state ballots as an Independent candidate, Kennedy still captured roughly 0.4% of the popular vote, highlighting his enduring appeal among some voters.
Kennedy, who initially launched his campaign as a Democrat before switching to run as an Independent, formally ended his candidacy in August to support Trump. Despite his withdrawal, ballot deadlines in many states prevented his name from being removed. In battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan, Kennedy’s legal challenges to have his name removed were rejected, with courts citing the impracticality of altering ballots after early voting had begun.
600,000 people voted for RFK Jr after he literally told y’all not too and to vote for Trump 🤦🏻 pic.twitter.com/RSVWKjlUWn
— Bob (@BobsLessons) November 6, 2024
RFK JR. TO MICHIGAN: “When you go into that voting booth, you’re going to see my name on the ballot. I do not want you to Vote for me—If you wanna see me go to Washington, you better Vote for Donald Trump”
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) November 2, 2024
Kennedy repeatedly urged his supporters to back Trump instead of voting for him, including a video plea just days before the election. “No matter what state you live in, you should be voting for Donald Trump,” Kennedy emphasized. “That’s the only way that we can get me and everything I stand for into Washington, D.C., and fulfill the mission that motivated my campaign.”
RFK Jr’s supporters and MAHA followed through on our commitment to vote for Trump and get him elected.
Now it’s time Trump follows through on his promise.
Let’s make America the healthiest country in the world again! pic.twitter.com/nvFYN3LkVB
— End Tribalism in Politics (@EndTribalism) November 6, 2024
Despite these efforts, Kennedy’s residual support proved resilient in key states. Polls conducted shortly before the election showed him attracting 3-5% support in states like Michigan and Wisconsin, where some Independents and Republicans continued to back him even after his endorsement of Trump.
The situation underscores the challenges of ballot logistics in U.S. elections. In Michigan, over 1.5 million absentee ballots had already been cast by the time Kennedy’s withdrawal was announced, leaving his name prominently featured in one of the most closely watched battleground states.
Kennedy’s ability to draw significant votes, even as a non-candidate, demonstrates his appeal among a dedicated segment of the electorate. However, his endorsement of Trump likely played a pivotal role in securing key swing states, aligning his platform with Trump’s message and consolidating support from disaffected Democrats and Independents.
The 2024 election highlights the complexities of modern campaigns, where candidate withdrawals and endorsements can shift dynamics but cannot entirely erase voter loyalty. Kennedy’s influence, both as a candidate and a Trump supporter, proved to be a factor that shaped the final outcome.
