The notorious anti-vaxxer and environmental lawyer launched his campaign in April, saying he wanted to “end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power.” A member of the iconic Kennedy family, RFK Jr. is the son of the late Robert F. “Bobby” Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during his own run for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Though RFK Jr. has peddled conspiracy theories about vaccines for years, his rhetoric caught the attention of right-wing COVID-19 deniers and gained notoriety during the pandemic. Last year, Kennedy was criticized after seeking to draw inaccurate similarities between the United States’ enforcement of COVID vaccine policies and conditions in Nazi Germany. His false claims have propelled his own family, including his wife, actor Cheryl Hines, to speak out against him. At his campaign launch in April, Kennedy acknowledged that his bid for the Democratic nomination has drawn opposition from family members who are not supporting his run.

He told CNN’s Michael Smerconish that Biden has been his “close family friend” for years and that his decision to run against him is not personal, but rather stems from a belief that “our country’s headed in a bad direction.” Kennedy said that he and Biden “just differ really dramatically on issues.”

Though his campaign is considered a long shot by some, Kennedy appears to be doing better in the polls than previously anticipated. He has support from some noteworthy celebrities and athletes, including football star Aaron Rogers (who has also spread vaccine misinformation), Clueless star Alicia Silverstone, comedian Rob Schneider, and actor Woody Harrelson. Boxer and internet personality Jake Paul has helped Kennedy reach younger audiences on TikTok.

Kennedy was initially running as a Democrat, but during a “major announcement” in Philadelphia on October 9, he said he would be running as an Independent. “My intention is to spoil it for both of them,” he said, referring to Trump and Biden.

Following the announcement, his siblings issued a statement that denounced his candidacy: “The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third-party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country,” Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, and Joseph P Kennedy II wrote. “Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Today’s announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.”

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