Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to announce attorney and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential pick on Tuesday, according to sources close to the campaign. This critical juncture in Kennedy’s White House bid could potentially expedite his efforts to secure ballot access across all 50 states.
The announcement, scheduled to take place in Oakland, California, will task Shanahan with expanding Kennedy’s appeal and bolstering his campaign’s fundraising efforts. Earlier this month, Kennedy confirmed to CNN that he had already decided on his running mate.
Among those considered for the position were a diverse mix of personalities including former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, former television host Mike Rowe, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, and civil rights lawyer Tricia Lindsay.
In a recent interview, Kennedy revealed that his chosen running mate has connections to the Oakland area. He also expressed his fondness for the city, recalling the immense support his father received during his 1968 presidential campaign.
Two potential candidates on Kennedy’s shortlist, Shanahan and Rodgers, have prominent ties to the Bay Area. Shanahan, born in Oakland, was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Rodgers, born in Chico, California, played football at the University of California, Berkeley.
While major-party presidential candidates typically announce their vice presidential nominees closer to their party’s nominating conventions in the summer, Kennedy is announcing his running mate now to propel his campaign into the next phase of its ballot access efforts. As soon as a vice presidential nominee is named, his campaign can begin collecting signatures for ballot access petitions in 23 states, according to data provided by the campaign.
Despite setting a goal to qualify for the ballot in all 50 states and Washington, DC, Kennedy is currently only on the ballot in Utah. His campaign has claimed to have gathered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in New Hampshire, Nevada, and Hawaii. A super PAC supporting his White House bid has also claimed to have collected enough signatures to qualify Kennedy in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and South Carolina.
However, Kennedy’s ballot access in Nevada could be at risk. Nevada Secretary of State spokesperson Cecilia Heston stated that an error had been made in communicating ballot access guidance to the campaign. The law stipulates that candidates must “designate a nominee for Vice President” in their petitions.
Democrats have filed complaints against the pro-Kennedy super PAC, American Values 2024, accusing it of committing campaign finance violations and illegally coordinating with the Kennedy campaign. The Democratic Party of Hawaii has also temporarily blocked the Kennedy campaign’s ballot access petition.
Despite these challenges, Kennedy remains optimistic about his campaign. In a recent interview, he stated that his running mate would be “someone who aligns with my values, is optimistic about our country and its potential, and is ready to lead the country at a moment’s notice.”
As Kennedy continues his independent presidential bid, he has been in dialogue with the Libertarian Party. He met with party chair Angela McArdle in February and expressed comfort with most of the values of the Libertarian Party.
While Democrats insist that Kennedy could be a spoiler for Trump, it’s unclear which major-party candidate he’d pull more support from. Recent polls show him receiving significant backing in key states.
Despite these promising numbers, Bernard Tamas, a researcher of third parties in the US, believes that the spectacle around Kennedy’s vice presidential announcement may not significantly impact the election. However, Kennedy’s running mate could play a crucial role in boosting fundraising as the campaign navigates the costly ballot qualification process and a general election campaign against Biden and Trump.
New FEC reports show the Kennedy campaign raised just $3.2 million in February, while spending about $2.9 million, and it ended the month with about $5.1 million in the bank. American Values 2024 spent $8.8 million in February, including $6.2 million on a TV ad that aired during the Super Bowl.
Shanahan told The New York Times last month that she contributed approximately $4 million to help the PAC run the ad and assisted in coordinating production of the commercial. Kennedy has denied prioritizing a potential running mate’s wealth when vetting his options.
“I would never choose a vice presidential candidate based on how much money they have,” Kennedy said in a NewsNation interview last week.
Reported by CNN’s Gregory Krieg