Kennedy’s initial bid as a Democrat offered a fresh alternative to the party’s establishment. His followers in Pennsylvania saw in him a champion of integrity and vitality, someone who could restore trust in a system that had long abandoned them. But the road ahead was brutal, unveiling a hard truth that was becoming self-evident to many on the political left. The Democrat party had strayed from its core values and no longer represented the principles that Kennedy held dear. In a poignant speech on October 23, 2023, Kennedy accused the Democrats of abandoning their historic commitment to free speech, transparency and skepticism of corporate power, instead unfathomably embracing censorship, establishment interests, and what Kennedy called the "war machine." He pointed to the party’s handling of his campaign as evidence, claiming they’d rigged the primary process to favor insiders, censored his voice through media allies, and launched a legal onslaught to keep him off ballots, all while denying him Secret Service protection despite credible threats.

In that speech, Kennedy announced his departure from the Democratic Party to run as an independent. For his Pennsylvania supporters, this was a moment of clarity — his commitment to empowerment and community over party loyalty mirrored their own frustrations with a broken two-party system. The Democrats stepped up their attack by hiring operatives to dig up dirt, spinning distortions and lies to smear his name. They waged a ruthless legal war, suing to block ballot access in many states which, coupled with the need to provide his own security, drained Kennedy’s campaign’s finances and, more critically, his time, the lifeblood of any presidential run.

By August 23, 2024, Kennedy faced a stark reality: the path to victory as an independent was narrowing. That day, he suspended his campaign and endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump, citing a shared goal of dismantling the corrupt influences strangling American democracy. The media’s censorship and the Democrats’ lawfare had left him little choice, and Kennedy believed he could do more by aligning with Trump’s platform, particularly on a single, galvanizing issue: Making America Healthy Again.

That same day, Kennedy was met with open arms at a Trump rally in Arizona, and a spark ignited among his Pennsylvania volunteers. They saw the power of coalition-building firsthand. Trump and his supporters’ embrace of Kennedy hinted at a broader movement. But for many anti-Trump Kennedy supporters, especially the most vocal ones, this shift was a gut punch. They’d poured their hearts into Kennedy’s campaign, only to feel abandoned. The pain was raw, yet tempered by a growing realization. Trump’s eventual win in November 2024 owed much to the coalition of RFK Jr.’s independents, a bloc that tipped the scales. The excitement of victory was real, but it came with a sting: Kennedy’s supporters were now punching bags for Democrats who accused them of sealing Trump’s win, which would soon unravel years of liberal policies.

Amid this bittersweet triumph, a core group of Team Kennedy grassroots regional leaders in Pennsylvania saw a new path. The media, fueled by corporate dollars, and policy, shaped by vested interests, had rigged the game. But it became clear that coalitions can tip the scales to win elections, and empowerment at the local level would plant roots strong enough to challenge inherent corruption. These volunteer leaders envisioned a movement that would engage the unengaged, tapping into the vitality of citizens who’d either tuned out long ago, or never tuned in. From this vision, the We The People Party of Pennsylvania was born.

Founded by former Team Kennedy grassroots volunteer leaders, the party crystallized around a platform rooted in empowerment, integrity, vitality, and community. It launched with a mission to strengthen Pennsylvania’s communities through outreach and coalition-building, rejecting the two-party system’s divisive tactics and championing solutions that put people first. Constitutional integrity became a cornerstone, with fierce defense of civil liberties, insistence on transparency, and civics education to equip future generations. Honest government meant dismantling corruption, overturning Citizens United, and pushing for election reform. Economic opportunity focused on a free-market approach with property tax reform and vocational training, while health and environmental policies prioritized medical freedom, informed consent and regenerative agricultural practices.

The We The People Party of Pennsylvania has now emerged as a beacon for those tired of being pawns in a national chess game. Its founders — once united by Kennedy’s clarion call — now channeled their energy into a local movement with national aspirations. With a vision to empower unengaged voters and strengthen community ties, the We The People Party of Pennsylvania is building something novel yet enduring: a party of the people, by the people, for the people.