Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, is set to announce on Tuesday that Nicole Shanahan, a prominent attorney and entrepreneur from the San Francisco Bay Area, will join his campaign as his vice-presidential running mate, according to two sources familiar with the Kennedy campaign’s strategy.
Shanahan, who, like Kennedy, lacks prior experience in elected office, has made contributions to both his campaign and his super PAC.
The announcement is scheduled to take place later on Tuesday in Oakland, California, marking a crucial moment for Kennedy’s campaign. Independent candidates must navigate varying state rules to secure ballot access, with many states requiring them to name a running mate on their nominating papers. Deadlines for these filings are rapidly approaching in several states.
Kennedy considered several potential running mates, including Aaron Rodgers, quarterback for the New York Jets, former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard, and TV host Mike Rowe. Ultimately, Kennedy chose Shanahan, who played a role in producing a high-profile Super Bowl ad supporting Kennedy in February.
Shanahan disclosed her involvement in the ad and her $4 million contribution to the super PAC American Values 2024 last month. This move potentially allows her to inject her wealth directly into the campaign, facilitating crucial activities such as gathering petition signatures for ballot access.
Shanahan, a former tech lawyer and entrepreneur who transitioned into philanthropy, founded ClearAccessIP, a company utilizing AI to manage intellectual property. She was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin and divorced in 2022. Despite reports linking her to billionaire Elon Musk, both Shanahan and Musk have denied any affair.
In a 2023 essay for People magazine, Shanahan criticized the accuracy of reports linking her to Musk, calling them “senseless and cruel.” Her foundation, the Bia-Echo Foundation, focuses on issues such as reproductive longevity and equality, criminal justice reform, and environmental sustainability.
Motivated in part by concerns about children’s health and the environment, Shanahan has supported Kennedy’s campaign, aligning with his anti-vaccine advocacy. Kennedy, known for his leadership in anti-vaccine efforts through the organization Children’s Health Defense, has integrated such activism into his presidential bid, despite taking a leave from the organization to pursue his candidacy.
