Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to announce attorney and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his running mate on Tuesday, marking a critical moment in his White House bid that could accelerate his efforts to gain ballot access in all 50 states, according to The New York Times, citing two people close to the campaign.
The vice presidential pick, set to be unveiled at an event in Oakland, California, will be tasked with broadening Kennedy's appeal and helping raise money for his big-spending campaign. Kennedy, who has set a goal to qualify for the ballot in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., is currently on the ballot only in Utah, with his campaign claiming to have gathered enough signatures to qualify in New Hampshire, Nevada, and Hawaii.
However, Kennedy's ballot access in Nevada could be in jeopardy, as the state's Secretary of State spokesperson Cecilia Heston said "an error" had been made in communicating ballot access guidance to the campaign. The law indicates candidates must "designate a nominee for Vice President" in their petitions, potentially blocking Kennedy's path to the ballot in the state.
Democrats have also been looking to stifle Kennedy, whom they portray as a spoiler candidate who could help former President Donald Trump defeat President Joe Biden. The Democratic National Committee has filed two complaints with the Federal Election Committee, accusing the pro-Kennedy super PAC, American Values 2024, of committing campaign finance violations and illegally coordinating with the Kennedy campaign to run its own ballot access initiative.
Kennedy, who has inspired a small contingent of supporters drawn to his advocacy against public health mandates and the influence of money on government and private corporations, began his presidential bid as a primary challenge to Biden in April 2023. He later exited the Democratic contest to run as an independent, citing his desire to fight against the two-party system.
As he pursues his independent bid, Kennedy has been in dialogue with the Libertarian Party, with party chair Angela McArdle confirming they had met in February. While Kennedy has expressed comfort with most of the Libertarian Party's values, it remains unclear if he will seek their nomination at the party's convention in late May.
The announcement of Shanahan, who was born in Oakland and was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, as Kennedy's running mate is expected to boost fundraising efforts as the campaign navigates the costly ballot qualification process. New FEC reports show the Kennedy campaign raised just $3.2 million in February, while spending about $2.9 million, ending the month with approximately $5.1 million in the bank.
Despite the challenges ahead, Kennedy remains confident in his ability to secure ballot access in all 50 states. CNN polling released Friday from Michigan and Pennsylvania showed Kennedy hitting 16% and 18% respectively in hypothetical four-way matchups with Trump, Biden, and independent candidate Cornel West.
As the spectacle around Kennedy's vice presidential announcement unfolds, experts like Bernard Tamas, who has researched third parties in the U.S., caution that Americans have historically shown little interest in running mates. However, Shanahan's role in boosting fundraising could prove crucial as the campaign faces the costly ballot qualification process and a general election campaign against well-funded opponents like Biden and Trump.
The coming weeks will be pivotal for Kennedy's campaign as he seeks to navigate the complex web of ballot access requirements, fend off challenges from Democrats, and build a coalition of supporters to mount a viable independent bid for the White House. With his vice presidential pick now in place, all eyes will be on Kennedy to see if he can defy the odds and make a significant impact on the 2024 presidential race.
