Could Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Replace JD Vance as Trump’s Running Mate?

Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines by suspending his independent presidential campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump for the next presidential election. This endorsement has sparked speculation about the possibility of Trump replacing JD Vance as his running mate.

Senator JD Vance received the vice presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in July. However, some social media users are now wondering if Trump has the authority to change his running mate to Kennedy after a post on Truth Social featured them as a potential ticket.

Is It Possible for Trump to Change His Running Mate?

Yes, it is technically possible for Trump to change his running mate before Election Day. However, for this to happen, Vance would need to willingly step down to allow Trump and the Republican Party to replace him as the vice presidential candidate.

Republican Party Rules on Changing Running Mates

The rules of the Republican Party do allow for changes to the party’s ticket after the national convention, but only in the case of a vacancy. This means that if Vance were to voluntarily resign, the Republican National Committee could step in to fill the position with a new candidate.

According to Rule 9 of the Rules of the Republican Party, the party has the authority to fill any vacancies that occur due to reasons such as death, declination, or other circumstances. The committee can even reconvene the national convention to select a new candidate if needed.

Historically, both the Republican and Democratic parties have had instances where candidates have changed their running mates after the national convention. The last time this happened was in 1972 when Thomas Eagleton was replaced as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee by Robert Sargent Shriver.

It’s important to note that the rules for the Democratic Party also allow for the selection of a new vice president post-convention, with the DNC responsible for filling any vacancies in the nominations for both the President and Vice President.

While there is no indication that Trump plans to replace Vance, these rules provide insight into the process should such a change be considered.