Astrology of the 2024 Presidential Election -- Part II: Biden vs RFK Jr.
A Weekly Mundane Astrology Series
RFK is the most viable third party candidate to run for president since Ross Perot ran in 1992 and 1996. At this time, Kennedy appears to not have a realistic chance of winning the presidency. However, he could tip the scales in favor of one candidate or the other. The pundits and pollsters are currently attempting to determine if Kennedy draws more votes from Biden or Trump. At this point in the campaign, Kennedy appears to be drawing votes from both candidates fairly evenly. Kennedy is polling at 12% in the latest ABC News/IPSOS pole. Though it seems unlikely Kennedy will be able to turn his candidacy into a three-way race, it is possible that Biden or Trump might be forced to drop out of the race. Biden is 81 years old and showing some signs of cognitive decline. Trump is also getting on in years and will turn 78 in June; his age and/or legal problems could sideline him. Kennedy is the youngest at 70 years old.
In order for Kennedy to turn this into a three-way race, he will have to double his current polling numbers. He needs to start gaining soon if he hopes to secure a spot on the debate stage, assuming Trump and Biden come to a final agreement. Even if RFK does not make this a close three-way race, he could still do well enough to win the electoral votes of several states and prevent Trump or Biden from securing the 270 electoral votes required to win. If this happens, the election would then be thrown into the house of representatives where the election would then be determined by the following process as outlined in the National Archive:
The House of Representatives elects the President from the three Presidential candidates who received the most electoral votes. Each State delegation has one vote and it is up to the individual States to determine how to vote.
If this should happen and each state votes along party lines, Trump would win 26-24.
Analyzing a three-way race in astrological terms adds complexity to a system that is, like our electoral system, better suited to a two-way race.
When looking at a mundane election chart, there are two different ways to determine the significators for the contestants. The astrologer can use either 4/10 house axis or you can use the 1/7 axis. By combining these two methods, we are able to analyze a three-way race using planetary significators that accurately describe the three candidates. In the rest of Part II we will look at the Biden/Kennedy match-up in isolation. This will give us a chance to demonstrate that the significators are appropriate while affording an opportunity to look at how Kennedy’s challenge differs from Trump’s. In part III we will bring all three candidates together and see how their co-significators affect each other. Stepping back, lets take a look at Joe Biden and his 3rd party challenger Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Once again, here is the November 5th, 2024 election chart for Dixville, NH where the first votes will be cast:
Using the 1/7 axis, Biden is represented by the 1st house cusp at 28° Leo; his significator will therefore be the Sun, ruler of the sign of Leo. When looking at any chart where a world leader or king is featured, the Sun is considered to be if not the significator, then the co-significator of the king. Here the Sun is in Scorpio and is especially appropriate for Joe Biden who was himself born with his Sun in the sign of Scorpio.
RFK is represented by Aquarius at 28°, on the 7th house cusp. Saturn, as the ruler of Aquarius, will be his significator. RFK was born with his Sun in Capricorn, the other sign that Saturn rules. Looking to his natal chart, we can find further support that this signification is appropriate.
Saturn, in RFK’s natal chart, is strong in the 4th angular house of the home, father and ancestors. He also has his Venus, Sun, and Mercury all in Saturn’s sign of Capricorn. Though these planets appear to be in the weak 6th house, Mercury and the Sun are within 5° of the next house and so are considered to be in the strong angular 7th house of partnership and open enemies. This makes these two planets, along with Saturn, the strongest in his natal chart. The Sun with Mercury both in Capricorn and in the 7th house, is a fitting description of a successful trial lawyer. Though Scorpio and Cancer are also strong on his natal chart, Saturn’s sign of Capricorn is definitely the strongest.
Now that we have established that the significators are appropriate, we will take a look at their internal strength. This is their essential dignity or rulership the planet has depending on where it is in the zodiac on the given chart. Looking first at Biden we see the Sun is at 13° Scorpio. William Lilly’s chart of essential dignity shows us that the Sun has rulership by “face” at this location.
This is the weakest kind of rulership that a planet can have and shows a ruler who leads through fear and intimidation. We will now turn to glean some information about the strength of Biden’s physical resources. To do this, we will look at the house placement of his Sun. His Sun is located in the weak cadent 3rd house of communication and propaganda. Since Biden appears weaker here than he did when matched against Trump, this shows Biden to be highly vulnerable to RFK’s third party challenge. RFK is, at this time, drawing votes from Trump and Biden equally; if he begins to gain traction he will start pulling more votes from Biden where Biden’s base of young supporters are disillusioned by two unpopular wars and a difficult economy.
According to RFK’s own polling, if the election were held today, he beats Biden and Trump if he goes head to head with one or the other, but he loses in a three-way race. RFK goes on to further explain that he beats Biden in the popular vote and electoral college; while with Trump, he only wins in the electoral college. If his polling data is correct, it shows that his candidacy has a more detrimental effect on Biden than it does on Trump.
Let’s take a look at what Saturn tells us about RFK’s strengths and weaknesses. Saturn is at 12° Pisces, where William Lilly’s chart of essential dignities shows that he is peregrine. His Saturn does not have rulership by House, Exaltation, Triplicity, Terms, or Face.
All three of our candidates are peregrine or have only the very weakest kind of rulership. Once again, the peregrine theme of a foreigner in a strange land presents itself. RFK is confused and directionless; he is forced to depend upon his wits to get by. We can see this lack of internal fortitude in his position as an outsider candidate who does not enjoy the support of major party infrastructure. Further, he is forced to endure the derision of legacy media talking heads who mock and belittle him. His lack of internal fortitude may be as much a reflection of the public’s perception of him, as it is a reflection of his actual ineptitude. In order to get his message out, he has had to resort to alternative media and podcasts where his ideas and candidacy are treated with more respect.
What about his external resources? What does Saturn tell us about his ability to act? The first thing that stands out with Saturn is that he is retrograde. This shows someone who is out of step with accepted norms and viewpoints. It can also be someone who is experiencing setbacks. RFK has already lost two campaign managers. He has also been criticized as someone who engages in conspiracy theories and has “backwards” thinking. These are claims and labels that are certain to plague him especially if the election should be contested beyond election day on November 5th.
On March 26th, RFK declared Nicole Shanahan, a patent lawyer from the Bay area, as his running mate. She is a complete unknown, in the world of politics, but she has very deep pockets. RFK running as a third party candidate will require all of the financial help he can get. Shanahan’s financial resources will help to compensate for RFK’s weak base of support. Her money is also a good illustration of the crafty side of a peregrine Saturn. While many of RFK’s supporters were disappointed that he did not choose the better known, and more colorful, Aaron Rogers as a running mate, Shanahan will nonetheless shore up RFK’s support amongst progressives; she has described herself as being a progressive “through and through”.
Though Saturn is peregrine and retrograde, he is however very well positioned to act as shown by his placement in RFK’s own 1st angular house. While this is RFK’s 1st house it is also Biden’s 7th house of open enemies. This way of looking at the chart houses from the multiple perspectives is called “turning the chart” or “derived houses”. RFK having his main significator in his first house shows him to be in a position of strength and able to act through external resources. Unlike Trump, Biden does not have RFK on the ropes. With Biden, in obvious cognitive decline, and Trump tied up in court, RFK will have an opportunity to storm the campaign trail and possibly get his much needed traction. It is said that voters begin making up their minds about who they will vote for as much as six months out from election day. So, RFK will have to make his move soon. With Shanahan’s money and a good campaign strategy his candidacy could get propelled to the forefront of the consciousness of an American public frustrated by their current two choices. RFK will have to act soon if he hopes to have a chance in November.
Concluding our initial look at the Biden/RFK match-up, we will look to see what kind of aspect, if any, the Sun and Saturn are making to each other.
The Sun is at 13° Scorpio while Saturn is at 12° Pisces. The planets are less than 1 degree from a 120 degree harmonious trine with each other. This shows two candidates who know each other well and who share more than a few core democratic positions. RFK identifies as a “traditional” democrat who is pro-union and favors a strong social safety net. Biden and RFK are both strong proponents of “New Deal” democratic style politics. Many of their fundamental positions are not in opposition to each other, they are rather in harmony as indicated by the trine relationship between the Sun and Saturn. This harmony extends to their personal relationship; they have known each other for decades and RFK has described his friendship with Biden in glowing terms. This common political background is why RFK’s candidacy will potentially be a much greater threat to Biden than Trump’s.
The two candidates are both signified by water signs. Biden, the Scorpion, outwardly presents his campaign as compassionate and caring with reproductive freedom as a constant refrain. At the same time, relying on intermediaries, he savages his opponents through propaganda, censorship, and the judicial system. While this has allowed him to appear above the fray, he has not been shy about making this a bitter and divisive campaign with Trump. RFK represented by Pisces emphasizes his work as an environmental lawyer and advocate for the vaccine injured. The dark arts of Scorpio versus the actions of a magnanimous Pisces are on full display in these two candidates. The harmonious trine between their significators indicates that these two “friends” will likely avoid a public airing of their more controversial differences and focus instead on more superficial topics. The mainstream press always reticent to take on complex issues will undoubtedly be complicit in keeping the narrative simplistic and inconsequential.
Next time, in Parts III, we will look at each of our candidates co-significators to see what they can tell us about the outcome of the election. In Part IV we will look at the candidates bases of support.
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