Ballots, Bids, and Battles: RFK Jr.’s Struggle to Exit the Race

In this episode, Ned Foley highlights the original intentions of the Founding Fathers, who hoped for a non-partisan system but instead saw the rise of intense two-party competition. But what happens when third-party candidates threaten to disrupt that balance? With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign stirring up conversation, our experts explore how the system struggles with third-party spoilers and the potential consequences for the 2024 election. We discuss the history of third-party candidates as spoilers, from George Wallace in 1968 to Ralph Nader in 2000, and reflect on the possibility of ranked-choice voting as a solution. Could this system provide a way to avoid the spoiler effect and ensure majority winners? We also examine the complexities of how states determine their presidential electors, with a focus on whether changes, like ranked-choice voting, could resolve these issues in the future. Plus, we touch on the current state of Pennsylvania’s court ruling on mail-in ballots and the potential implications for the 2024 election. Could recent legal rulings threaten the integrity of the system as we know it? This week’s Trivia question isWho was the 1st Supreme Court justice, current or former at the time of the election, to receive a vote in the electoral college?Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!Follow us on X @lawdemocracypod