Kennedy Jr., and a nephew of Democratic President John F. Kennedy. Despite his Democratic lineage, Kennedy Jr. announced his independent bid for the White House last fall, veering away from the party's ideals. His campaign has gained attention due to his embrace of public health conspiracy theories, particularly his stance against vaccines, which has garnered him a loyal following of individuals who reject the scientific consensus on vaccine safety and effectiveness.

Now, Kennedy Jr. has achieved a significant milestone in his presidential campaign. Election officials in Utah have confirmed that he has collected enough signatures to appear on the state's 2024 presidential ballot. The state requires a minimum of 1,000 signatures for an independent candidate to qualify for ballot access, and Kennedy Jr. has met this requirement. With this achievement, he can now officially file to run as a presidential candidate in Utah before the March 5 deadline.

Utah is the first state where Kennedy Jr.'s campaign has submitted signatures and qualified for ballot access, according to campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear. However, she did not specify the exact date on which he plans to file for candidacy. This development has reignited questions about whether Kennedy Jr. could play a spoiler role for the eventual Democratic and Republican nominees.

While it is unlikely for an independent or third-party candidate to win the presidency, they can potentially siphon support from the major candidates in a way that could tip the scales. Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who are likely to be the nominees for their respective parties in 2024, have faced criticism and are unpopular among certain voter groups. This increases the possibility that third-party support, such as that garnered by Kennedy Jr., could have a decisive impact on the election outcome.

Kennedy Jr.'s ability to gain ballot access in Utah is just the beginning. It remains unclear in how many other states he will qualify for ballot access, as each state sets its own requirements and the process can be costly and legally challenging for candidates without the backing of major parties. Nevertheless, Kennedy Jr. is playing the middle ground in an increasingly polarized political climate, aligning himself with influential figures on the far-right while emphasizing his background as an environmentalist.

In addition to his presidential campaign, Kennedy Jr. is also involved in a legal battle through an organization he founded called Children's Health Defense. The organization has a pending lawsuit against several news organizations, including The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify and combat misinformation, particularly regarding COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines.

As the 2024 presidential race takes shape, Kennedy Jr.'s presence as an independent candidate and his controversial views on vaccines and public health will undoubtedly continue to draw attention and spark debates about the potential impact of third-party candidates on the election outcome.