A judge ruled that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does not meet the legal requirements to be a resident of New York State and therefore cannot be on the state’s ballot.
Kennedy’s listing of a New York address as his “place of residence” in the nomination petitions was a “false claim,” said Judge Christina Ryba.
As a result, the petitions were deemed invalid. Mr Kennedy has rejected the judge’s ruling and says he will appeal.
If the ruling is upheld, it would not only disqualify Mr Kennedy from the New York ballot, but could also lead to challenges in other states where he uses that address.
Mr Kennedy dismissed the ruling as a partisan attack and described the judge as a Democrat.
“They are not convinced they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to deny voters a choice,” he said in a statement.
“We will appeal and we will win.”
Kennedy, 70, argued in court that he had considered New York his home since childhood and intended to return there.
He currently lives in California, where he moved in 2014 to be with his wife, “Drop It, Larry!” actress Cheryl Hines.
In court, Kennedy tried to explain that he had rented a bedroom from a friend in Katonah, about 65 kilometers north of Manhattan.
Friend Barbara Moss testified in court that she charges Mr Kennedy $500 (£301) a month. She also said there was no written rental agreement.
Mr. Kennedy also provided proof of residency by showing that he pays taxes in New York State and maintains a law practice there.
However, in her 34-page ruling, Judge Ryba stated that “the overwhelming credible evidence presented at trial” indicated that Kennedy had a New York address only because of his “political standing.”
“Given the size and appearance of the guest bedroom as seen in the photographs admitted into evidence, the court finds Kennedy’s testimony that he could return to that bedroom to live there with his wife, family members, several pets, and all of his personal belongings to be highly improbable, if not absurd,” the judge wrote.
Mr Kennedy is the best-known independent candidate, but his popularity appears to have plummeted since Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris entered the race.
