Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took a major step in his longshot independent bid for the White House, naming Silicon Valley attorney and tech entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential running mate during a rally in Oakland, California on Tuesday.
“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,” Kennedy declared to the cheering crowd.
The 38-year-old entrepreneur, previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, will look to leverage her wealth, scientific background and claims of disillusionment with the Democratic party to boost Kennedy’s unconventional campaign.
“I am leaving the Democratic Party,” Shanahan told supporters. “I do believe they’ve lost their way and their leadership.”
RFK Jr. cited Nicole Shanahan’s alignment with his values on issues like agriculture, healthcare and reining in Big Tech’s influence as driving factors behind the pick. But he also wanted a partner who exemplifies “curiosity,” an “open mind” and a “deep love of the United States.”
The selection comes as Kennedy, the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, is working feverishly to secure enough voter signatures to qualify for the ballot across all 50 states, a hugely costly endeavor. While on the ballot in Utah, his campaign claims it has met requirements in New Hampshire, Nevada, Hawaii and several other states through a combination of grassroots efforts and a supportive super PAC.
However, Democrats are aggressively trying to block his path, accusing his allied PAC of illegal coordination and filing complaints alleging campaign finance violations. The party sees the anti-vaccine activist’s candidacy as a potential spoiler that could siphon votes from President Biden and boost Donald Trump.
Both Kennedy and Shanahan pushed back against such criticism on Tuesday, with the former portraying his movement as a home for “homeless Democrats and homeless Republicans” dissatisfied with the two-party system.
“Our campaign is a spoiler. I agree with that. It is a spoiler for President Biden and for President Trump,” Kennedy stated defiantly.
The self-funded Nicole Shanahan could prove crucial to fueling RFK Jr. underdog White House effort through the expensive ballot access and campaigning phases. According to the New York Times, she reportedly contributed $4 million to fund a pro-Kennedy Super Bowl ad after maxing out personal donations to his campaign.
Kennedy insisted finances didn’t motivate the VP pick, saying, “I would never choose a vice presidential candidate based on how much money they have.”
With her scientific credentials and advocacy for children’s health issues, Shanahan also offers Kennedy’s anti-establishment campaign a voice to appeal to younger generations and the “working poor.”
“I want Nicole to be a champion to the growing number of millennials and Gen Z Americans who have lost faith in their future and lost their pride in our country,” Kennedy said of his running mate.
