The presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing a significant challenge after a New York judge ruled that his nominating petitions were invalid due to false residency claims. The decision by Judge Christina Ryba has led Kennedy to accuse the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of using “lawfare” to undermine his independent candidacy and keep him off the ballot in New York.

The legal battle centers on Kennedy’s use of a friend’s address in suburban New York City to gather the necessary signatures for ballot access. Clear Choice Action, a Democrat-aligned group, challenged this move, arguing that Kennedy did not genuinely reside at the address and that his limited presence there did not fulfill the state’s legal residency requirements. Judge Ryba agreed, stating that such actions could lead to election fraud and set a dangerous precedent.

Kennedy responded by accusing the DNC of attempting to block his campaign through the courts rather than by winning on the merits. “The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy,” Kennedy said in a statement. “They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice.”

Kennedy’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the ruling and seek injunctive relief in federal court. They argue that the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which governs the residency of presidential candidates, should override state residency laws. Despite the legal setback, Kennedy’s campaign remains undeterred, having already secured the signatures needed to appear on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.