Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 2024 independent presidential candidate, announced Nicole Shanahan, a wealthy entrepreneur and attorney, as his vice presidential candidate during a Tuesday campaign event in Oakland, California.
Announcing the 38-year-old as his 2024 running mate, Kennedy described Shanahan as the daughter of immigrants “who overcame every daunting obstacle and went on to achieve the highest levels of the American dream.”
Kennedy added, “That is why I’m so proud to introduce to you, the next vice president of the United States, my fellow lawyer, a brilliant scientist, technologist, a fierce warrior-mom, Nicole Shanahan.”
Last month, Shanahan told The New York Times that she donated approximately $4 million to the Kennedy-aligned American Values 2024 super PAC, which helped the super PAC produce an advertisement for the independent candidate that aired during the Super Bowl in February.
Fox News reported that Shanahan’s wealth as the former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin and connections to potential donors could play a crucial role in helping the Kennedy campaign improve its 2024 election fundraising.
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In a statement to Fox News, Matt Corridoni, a Democratic National Committee spokesman, said, “RFK Jr hasn’t been looking for someone who can step up to lead in a time of crisis, he’s been looking for someone who can infuse his campaign with cash as he tries to buy his way onto the ballot to be a spoiler for Donald Trump.”
Despite the criticism from the Democratic Party, Kennedy has denied claims that his running mate choice was influenced by monetary factors. In a recent NewsNation interview, the independent candidate said, “I would never choose a vice presidential candidate based on how much money they have.”
CNN reported that while Republican and Democratic presidential candidates usually announce their running mates closer to the election, the independent candidate’s announcement will allow his campaign to move forward with efforts to gain ballot access in multiple states. According to the outlet, Kennedy will now be able to start collecting signatures in dozens of additional states.
According to CNN, prior to choosing Shanahan as his running mate, Kennedy’s list of potential running mates included former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Republican Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, civil rights lawyer Tricia Lindsay, former television host Mike Rowe, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins.
