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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., third-party candidates face ballot challenges in Pennsylvania

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., third-party candidates face ballot challenges in Pennsylvania


This story originally appeared on Spotlight PA.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his running mate, and at least nine third-party candidates are facing challenges that could see them kicked off of Pennsylvania’s Nov. 5 general election ballot.

The petition against Kennedy, an independent candidate and member of a dynastic Democratic family who rose to prominence as a vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist, was apparently filed with the backing of Clear Choice Action. The political action committee was formed by allies of President Joe Biden to challenge third-party and independent candidates.

In a state where recent presidential elections have been decided by just tens of thousands of votes, Kennedy’s appearance on the Pennsylvania ballot could affect whether Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump takes home the state’s coveted electoral votes. Recent polls show Kennedy with roughly 3% support among commonwealth voters.

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Challenges to several other candidates were filed with Commonwealth Court by the 5 p.m. deadline Thursday.

The petition targeting Kennedy and his running mate Nicole Shanahan makes several arguments, including that Kennedy provided the wrong home address and that the candidates did not submit enough signatures.

The Pennsylvania Department of State advises third-party candidates for president that it will accept nomination papers with 5,000 signatures. However, it also warns candidates that this standard — which is much lower than the one prescribed in the state’s Election Code — is based on a court ruling that explicitly applies to the Constitution, Green, and Libertarian Parties.

“A voter or other interested party could file an objection to a candidate whose nomination papers contain only 5,000 signatures, which the state judiciary would need to resolve,” the agency warns.

The petition argues that Kennedy’s nominating papers fail to meet either standard. The filing alleges that the candidate filed 23,680 signature lines with “numerous ineligible signatures and defects.”

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Two Pennsylvania voters are listed as the petitioners. However, according to a statement obtained by The Inquirer, Clear Choice Action is involved in the objection. The PAC has filed similar challenges in other states including New York and Illinois.

One of the lawyers who filed the petition referred questions to a Clear Choice Action representative, who did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Two separate challenges target the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates: Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia.

One petition challenges the eligibility of some of the party’s presidential electors. The other, filed by the same voters objecting to Kennedy, also targets the number of signatures filed.

Another challenge seeks to disqualify the entire slate for the ultraconservative Constitution Party, which is connected to the Christian right and based in Lancaster.

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1 escaped wildcat returned to Pennsylvania wildlife center as search for remaining 2 ramps up

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1 escaped wildcat returned to Pennsylvania wildlife center as search for remaining 2 ramps up



One of three wildcats that escaped from a wildlife center in Berks County, Pennsylvania, earlier this week has been safely returned.

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The Cricket Wildlife Center announced in a Facebook post that one of the African Servals, which escaped Wednesday, is now back at the center. The other two African Servals, have been spotted between Huffs Church, Bitting, and Delong roads and appear to be staying close together.

The center also said the Berks County Emergency Services Special Operations Group is assisting in the search for the wildcats using thermal drones. The Mighty Pawz Humane Society, is also helping the wildlife center repair the enclosures.

The wildcats’ enclosures were damaged during Wednesday night’s windstorm, which toppled a tree onto their pen and allowed them to escape.  

According to a post on social media, the three wildcats are the wildlife center’s last three from its time doing cat rescues.

The wildlife center says the wildcats are old and are not a danger to humans or pets.

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“Please do not harm them,” the wildlife center wrote on Facebook.

The wildlife center is asking anyone in the Alburtis or Berks County area who spots the animals to call them at 717-381-9893.



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Democratic landslide in Pennsylvania ‘definitely sending a message’ to GOP just a year after Trump victory

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Democratic landslide in Pennsylvania ‘definitely sending a message’ to GOP just a year after Trump victory






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LIHEAP is delayed in Pa. due to the government shutdown. Here are other resources for energy bills

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LIHEAP is delayed in Pa. due to the government shutdown. Here are other resources for energy bills


Do you know of a resource we should include in this guide? Drop us a note.


Pennsylvania has delayed its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, to December due to the federal government shutdown, which has held up millions of dollars in federal funding the state usually uses to run the program.

This leaves Pennsylvanians waiting longer for help paying their heating bills, buying fuel or fixing broken heaters.

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday his administration had secured commitments from Pennsylvania utility companies not to shut off service for low-income customers during November.

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While utility customers impacted by the delay will not lose service, if they fall behind on their bills, they could face termination in the spring when the state’s winter shutoff moratorium ends. What’s more, people who heat their homes with fuel oil are not protected by these shutoff bans.

State utility regulators are urging customers struggling with bills to call their utilities early to ask about assistance options and payment plans.

With LIHEAP delayed, here are other resources to help heat your Pennsylvania home.



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