For 22 years, Mr. Dern, a bankruptcy lawyer with a small practice outside Detroit, has almost single-handedly kept the Natural Law Party on Michigan’s ballot.
Each cycle, the party runs a handful of candidates in obscure state races to meet Michigan’s minimum polling requirements for minor parties.
“Keep that ballot access,” Mr. Dern, 62, said in an interview on Friday.
“Because someday, a candidate is going to come along who’s going to be perfect for it.
In gaining access to the ballot in Michigan, a critical swing state in the 2024 election, Mr. Kennedy has injected new uncertainty into what promises to be one of the most closely contested presidential races in history.
Persons:
Doug Dern, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, ’, Dern, Mr, Kennedy
Organizations:
Natural Law Party of Michigan, Natural Law Party
Locations:
Detroit, Michigan