RFK Jr. Supporters Relaunch 'We The People' Party to Shape 2028 Ballot Strategy

Supporters of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have relaunched the We The People Party — the small political vehicle created during his independent 2024 presidential run — with the stated goal of expanding ballot access ahead of the 2028 election cycle. Organizers say the revived party could provide a home for anti-establishment and medical-freedom voters who drifted from traditional party lines in 2024.

Ballot-access strategy and early targets

Levi Leatherberry, the party chair and a former Kennedy staffer, told reporters the group's near-term objective is to secure ballot lines in roughly 26 states within three years, with New York as an early test. Leatherberry said the party hopes to be listed on ballots in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., eventually, but that partial ballot access could still give the organization leverage in a national race.

“We only need to get to, like, 26 states for it to be as useful as it will be to any presidential candidate,” Leatherberry said. “That's our focus. Building out, so we are actually useful, we're actually something to be reckoned with.”

Why a party line matters

Organizers point to a practical advantage: in many states, candidates affiliated with a recognized party face fewer petition and signature hurdles than unaffiliated independents. During the 2024 cycle, Kennedy appeared on ballots in 31 states, and in nine states he appeared under a We The People Party line. The revived party aims to avoid costly, time-consuming signature drives by recruiting down-ballot candidates who can secure ballot status for the party.

Key players, endorsements and outreach

So far, only one candidate has accepted an endorsement: Larry Sharpe, a longtime Libertarian who served as a Kennedy surrogate in 2024 and is running for governor of New York. New York is a difficult proving ground — it was the only state without independent or third-party presidential candidates in 2024, and courts blocked Kennedy from New York's ballot last year over residency paperwork issues.

Leatherberry said he has not spoken with Kennedy since taking over leadership of the party, and Kennedy did not respond to a request for comment routed through a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson. Organizers have signaled interest in outreach to figures such as Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate who later acted as a Trump surrogate, and Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican known for his libertarian streak and occasional clashes with party leadership.

Outlook and obstacles

Party leaders say they are neutral on whether Kennedy should run in 2028 and have not committed to a particular nominee. They envision holding a national convention to endorse a candidate once the party has sufficient ballot lines. Critics point to substantial logistical, legal, and fundraising hurdles: winning ballot access in dozens of states requires sustained organization, local campaigns, and resources, and New York’s stringent rules illustrate how difficult that path can be.

Leatherberry framed the effort as an anti-establishment alternative to both major parties, aiming to consolidate voters disaffected with the two-party system. Whether the We The People Party can translate that sentiment into durable ballot access and a meaningful role in 2028 remains an open question.