Presidential candidate RFK Jr. visits Flint-area picket line amid rumors of independent run

Swartz Creek — Longshot presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visited Michigan union workers picketing at a Flint-area General Motors plant Friday ahead of meetings with Flint water activists and a city official.

Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist and son of slain U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, visited with United Auto Workers Monday at the entrance to GM’s processing center in Swartz Creek near Flint. Before joining workers near a bonfire in a metal barrel, Kennedy said he supports the wage demands of the union, which has sought a pay increase of 40% over the length of the new contracts with GM, Ford Motor Company and Stellantis.

Workers should be able to afford the cars they make, Kennedy said.

“That really ought to be the theme of every industry in the country," he said. "And that’s no longer true.”

Kennedy didn’t dip into other UAW demands ― such as an end to tier pay, a return of pension benefits and guaranteed EV plant wages ― noting he said he didn’t know enough about those issues. In a later press release, Kennedy also voiced support for ending the industry's tier system.

The 69-year-old nephew of John F. Kennedy is challenging President Joe Biden for a spot on the Democratic ticket but is expected to announce Monday a “big change” in his candidacy. When asked whether he was running as an independent, Kennedy said he would address that on Monday.

Kennedy's potential independent run is expected to have an influence on tight vote margins in the expected matchup between Biden or Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump next year, especially in states such as Michigan that are largely decided by independent voters.

“My hope is to pull votes from both of them,” said Kennedy.

When asked about the potential for other “Plan B” candidates to enter the race, such as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Kennedy said her stances of national issues aren't clear but, generally, voters are better served when there are more options.

“I think President Biden, a lot of people are worried about his cognitive capacity,” Kennedy said. “I think it’s really important to have somebody who will come out and have interactions with voters and be able to engage in debate, particularly as he goes up against President Trump. President Trump is a very formidable debater.”

Friday’s trip to Flint wasn’t a first for Kennedy, a former senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Center. He said the lead contamination of Flint’s water and the mismanagement of the situation by the state, prosecutors and courts is “a recurring story.”

“The people who got sacrificed were communities who drank the water and whose kids were hurt,” he said.

eleblanc@detroitnews.com