Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Friday he is suspending his campaign and threw his support behind former President Donald Trump — the GOP presidential nominee.
The announcement from the environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, who has held on to a long-shot presidential bid, comes just a day after Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted her party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention.
“It’s with a sense of victory and not defeat that I’m suspending my campaign activities,” Kennedy said in Phoenix, Arizona, during a lengthy news conference.
“Not only did we do the impossible by collecting a million signatures, but we changed the national political conversation forever,” he said, adding that “I can say to all who have worked so hard the last year-and-a-half — thank you for a job well done.”
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Kennedy acknowledged that he “cannot, in good conscience, ask my staff and volunteers to keep working their long hours, or ask my donors to keep giving when I cannot honestly tell them that I have a real path to the White House.”
He clarified that he is not terminating his campaign and that his name will “remain on the ballot in most states.”
The third-party candidate said he would remove his name from the ballot in about 10 battleground states “where my presence would be a spoiler.” He did not specify the states.
He said voters who live in a blue state can vote for him “without harming or helping [former] President Trump or Vice President Harris.”
In response, Trump thanked Kennedy during a campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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“That was very nice,” the former president said, adding that Kennedy is a “great guy” and “respected by everybody.”
Kennedy drew speculation about withdrawing his candidacy and backing Trump in the days leading up to the Friday announcement. On Thursday, he filed the paperwork to withdraw his name from Arizona’s ballot, per Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in a post on X.
Kennedy has faced dwindling polling numbers and financial trouble for his campaign while undertaking a monumental task in getting on states’ ballots as an independent candidate. He initially ran as a Democrat but switched to an independent ticket in October 2023.
Kennedy — son of Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of John F. Kennedy — is part of one of the most storied families in Democratic politics. Throughout his campaign, he amplified anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and was seen as a possible spoiler candidate.
Harris-Walz campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said “for any American out there who is tired of Donald Trump and looking for a new way forward, ours is a campaign for you,” per a Friday statement in response to Kennedy suspending his campaign.
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“In order to deliver for working people and those who feel left behind, we need a leader who will fight for you, not just for themselves, and bring us together, not tear us apart. Vice President Harris wants to earn your support.”
Meanwhile, Trump is set to speak in Glendale, Arizona, later Friday. His campaign said Thursday that a “special guest” would join him at the rally.
It’s do-or-die time for West Virginia and Wake Forest as they face off in an elimination game this afternoon in the Morgantown regional.
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If you can’t watch or listen to the game or you just want to keep up with everything that’s happened in today’s game, we’ve got you covered. Below, we will provide live updates and have the starting lineups posted for you.
GAME THREAD
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TOP 1 (WF)
Three up, three down for the Deacs. Dawson Montesa records two punch outs on 13 pitches.
BOT 1 (WVU)
Troy Dressler tops Montesa’s first trip to the mound by getting three outs on just seven pitches. Hard contact by Armani Guzman and Paul Schoenfeld, just at ’em balls.
TOP 2 (WF)
West Virginia’s starting lineup
1. RF Armani Guzman — .301 2. 2B Gavin Kelly —.379 3. CF Paul Schoenfeld — .344 4. DH Sean Smith — .315 5. C Matthew Graveline — .286 6. SS Matt Ineich — .299 7. 1B Brodie Kresser — .287 8. LF Ben Lumsden — .241 9. 3B Tyrus Hall – .275
SP Dawson Montesa
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Wake Forest’s starting lineup
1. CF Javar Williams — .343 2. RF Luke Costello — .309 3. 1B Kade Lewis — .361 4. 3B Dalton Wentz — .306 5. C Matt Conte — .275 6. LF Boston Torres — .312 7. DH Andrew Costello — .244 8. 2B Matt Schaaf — .325 9. SS JD Stein — .270
CHELYAN, W.Va. — A West Virginia Turnpike worker was injured Saturday after falling out of a tollbooth that was hit by a truck.
State police said it happened Saturday morning at about 9:16 when a truck carrying steel I beams, driven by Cameron Huntington, 28, of Colorado hit a southbound tollbooth near Chelyan.
John Terry, 61, of Gallagher, was working the tollbooth and fell out the window after contact from an I beam caused the booth to rock.
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The tollbooth fell to the right striking a vehicle in the next lane.
Troopers said there were no serious injuries.
Huntington was ticketed for failure to maintain control of his truck.
PENNSBORO, W.Va (WDTV) – Racing enthusiasts around the state had the chance to see vintage race cars and motorcycles at the annual West Virginia Racing Heritage Festival Saturday.
The festival teaches attendants about West Virginia’s history in dirt track racing with both cars and motorcycles.
The festival was held at Pennsboro Speedway, which opened in 1887 and hosted some of the nation’s top racing talent on its tracks.
“We’ve got so many national champions here,” WV Racing Heritage Festival President Ashley Ness said. “This racetrack has seen all these national champions. We’ve had the best in the United States, including Australia and New Zealand, come here and race at Pennsboro Speedway. It’s time to get them all back again.”
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Racing legends who come from the Mountain State attended the festival to speak about their experience on the tracks.
One panel included six women who competed in flat-track motorcycle racing at a time when it was mostly dominated by men.
“We have six of the lady flat-track racers that were pioneers in the 60s and 70s,” Ness said. “It’s so important to get this documented, and that’s what the Heritage Festival is all about, documenting the history of dirt track racing, whether it be motorcycles or race cars.”
Vintage cars and motorcycles also got back in action with a parade lap on the tracks of Pennsboro Speedway.
The festival began in 2015 and will continue next year on June 5.
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Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video.
