Despite formally withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race in August, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. still earned 594,000 votes in the election, amounting to 0.4% of the popular vote. His name appeared on ballots in 33 states due to early printing deadlines, leaving him an unintended competitor even after he endorsed President-elect Donald Trump.
Kennedy launched his campaign as a Democrat before transitioning to an Independent bid, but he abandoned his run to throw his support behind Trump, calling the former president the best choice to address the issues central to his campaign. “No matter what state you live in, you should be voting for Donald Trump,” Kennedy urged in a video posted days before the election.
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
Efforts to remove Kennedy’s name from ballots in states like Wisconsin and Michigan were unsuccessful. Courts ruled that the logistical challenges of early voting made changes impractical. By Election Day, more than 1.5 million absentee ballots had already been returned in Michigan, with similar numbers in Wisconsin.
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
Polling conducted before the election showed that Kennedy retained support among Independents and some Republicans. In Wisconsin, 5% of likely voters told pollsters they would choose Kennedy despite his endorsement of Trump. Similar data in Michigan reflected Kennedy drawing 3% support, with some voters citing loyalty to his original platform.
Kennedy’s enduring appeal may have complicated the race in certain states, but his endorsement of Trump likely helped solidify conservative support in battleground regions. His decision to back Trump brought attention to shared priorities, such as curbing federal overreach and addressing concerns about corporate influence in government.
While Kennedy’s votes were unlikely to affect the overall outcome, his role in the election highlights how lingering voter loyalty can persist even after a candidate withdraws. His ability to mobilize support for Trump underscores the importance of endorsements in modern campaigns, particularly in an election as contentious as 2024.
