Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announces Running Mate
OAKLAND, California: Independent United States presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced wealthy Silicon Valley lawyer and political newcomer Nicole Shanahan as his running mate on Tuesday as he pursues an anti-establishment campaign seen as an increasing threat to Democratic President Joe Biden.
Background
The nephew of the late president John F. Kennedy and prominent vaccine skeptic is more popular than any independent candidate since Ross Perot in 1992, with average support of about 12 percent nationwide.
Political Landscape
Democrats fear that nostalgia for their party’s iconic political dynasty could make a significant dent in Biden’s vote count as he and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump vie for a second term in November.
Nicole Shanahan’s Profile
A tech entrepreneur and Democratic donor with no political experience, Shanahan was on a shortlist that included New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura and television host Mike Rowe.
Kennedy, 70, told about 500 supporters in Oakland, California, that he wanted a vice president who would “speak for millennials and Gen Z — someone who cares about healing our children, protecting our environment, restoring our soils and getting the chemicals out of our food, and who understands how technology will either enslave us or give us a path back to freedom and prosperity.”
Philanthropic Work
Shanahan, 38, founded a technology law firm in 2013 that uses artificial intelligence to analyze patent portfolios. She founded the Bia-Echo Foundation, which promotes “reproductive longevity and equality, criminal justice reform and a healthy and livable planet.”
Shanahan, who has an autistic daughter, expressed concerns about children’s health, including vaccines, which motivated her to support Kennedy.
Personal Background
Shanahan gave a deeply personal speech about a difficult childhood with a father who, she said, was “plagued by substance abuse” and struggled to keep a job. She emphasized the importance of using wealth to help those in need.
She was married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin for four years from 2018 and denied media reports of an affair with tech billionaire Elon Musk that she blamed for the breakdown of her marriage.
Final Thoughts
Kennedy has leaned heavily on the iconic status of his uncle and father on the campaign trail, emphasizing his family’s legacy in politics. However, some of his siblings have condemned his campaign, stating that he does not share the same values, vision, or judgment as their father.