Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., son of Attorney General Bobby Kennedy and nephew to the 35th President, initially entered the 2024 presidential race pursuing the nomination of the Democratic Party. When it became clear that the party was more interested in a coronation of Joe Biden than holding a real primary, Kennedy decided instead to mount an independent bid.
Sadly, despite the lifelong Democrat’s newfound independent status, he still toes the Democratic Party line on abortion. Kennedy, like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, supports a policy of unlimited abortion for any reason until birth and the use of American tax dollars to pay for abortions.
The Record on Life: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Here is a brief overview of Kennedy’s stances on abortion-related issues:
Abortion Without Limits
“Mr. Kennedy’s position on abortion is that it is always the woman’s right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion.” – Kennedy campaign spokesperson (Politico, 8/13/23)
Funding for Abortion Providers
Kennedy supports taxpayer funding for abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest chain of abortion clinics. “You can’t tell poor people that, because they don’t have the money, they have to bring a baby to term,” Kennedy argued. (The American Conservative, 8/14/23)
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Roe v. Wade
“I am a firm supporter of the principles laid out 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade,” Kennedy declared. (New York Post, 8/14/23) Roe and companion case Doe v. Bolton effectively legalized abortion on demand nationwide and rendered unconstitutional meaningful protections for unborn babies.
Dobbs v. Jackson
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson (2022) returned abortion policy to the American people and their elected representatives. Kennedy opposed this ruling. “If the courts do not overturn Dobbs v. Jackson and restore abortion rights, I will support legislation to accomplish the same,” Kennedy told the New York Post (8/14/23).
Abortion Drugs
Chemical abortions account for more than 60% of abortions in the U.S. annually. A Kennedy statement to the Washington Post (11/8/23) confirmed, “Kennedy supports the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the abortion drug mifepristone.”
Late Abortions
Kennedy does not support legal protections for unborn children at any stage, even late in pregnancy. “I’ve seen late-term abortion pictures and they’re horrifying. So, I understand the people who want them banned, but I also am too skeptical of government to believe that it should be the one that should be dictating bodily decisions,” Kennedy stated in an interview with journalist Peter Bergen (10/13/23).
Kennedy told Reuters he thought every abortion was a “tragedy” but that it should be a woman’s right “throughout the pregnancy.” (Reuters, 3/20/24)
Self-Described “Pro-Choice”
Kennedy labels himself “pro-choice.” At a WMUR townhall, Kennedy articulated that ultimately he did not want to “be in a position where I’m telling a woman she has to bring a child to term that she doesn’t want.” (WMUR-9, 6/23/23)
Vice Presidential Pick
Kennedy recently named attorney Nicole Shanahan as his vice-presidential running mate. Shanahan echoes Kennedy’s pro-abortion views, sharing on X (April 9, 2024), “As a mom, and a person with a womb, I don’t like the feeling of anyone having control over my body. It is coercive. It is wrong.”
She continued, “There are a number of extenuating circumstances that would lead me to considering terminating a pregnancy. Those include: my health, the health of the baby, and considerations of what happens to that baby if that baby is being born into a situation that cannot sustain a good and healthy life.”
Kennedy says he has gathered enough signatures to qualify for ballot access in Hawaii, Idaho, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, and Utah. So far, only Utah has confirmed that he will be on the November ballot.
USA Today reported, “The campaign has already been collecting signatures in 18 additional states that require a running mate for ballot access, including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, and Virginia.”
“He’s also launched a new political party called ‘We the People’ in another attempt to get on the ballot in six states. His supporters have filed political party paperwork in California, Delaware, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas.”
