Though Kennedy Jr. has no chance of wresting the U.S. presidency from Democrats or Republicans, his mere presence on the ballot could inflict irreparable harm on one of the two major parties
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, announced that tech entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan, the daughter of a Chinese immigrant, will be his vice presidential running mate.
“She will help me gain support for our revolution against the one-party unitary government on both the right and the left,” RFK Jr. said while making the announcement in Oakland, California, where Shanahan, a 38-year-old attorney previously registered as a Democrat, grew up.
The upcoming November election will pit President Joe Biden against former President Donald Trump (2017-2021), who is already the presumptive Republican Party nominee.
Shanahan “grew up on food stamps and welfare and faced many other unique challenges on a very American journey,” the independent politician emphasized, also highlighting the attorney’s youth as a message of hope for new generations.
In her first speech as a candidate, Shanahan recounted the obstacles she faced as a child and how her experiences have driven her into politics. “These are two of my core political convictions today: to serve peace and to help those living in poverty.”
Today’s announcement is expected to give a boost to the campaign of 70-year-old RFK Jr., who needs his name and Shanahan’s to be included on ballots in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., each with different processes and deadlines for registering independent candidates.
Initially, RFK Jr. announced his intention to challenge Biden in the Democratic primaries, but last October, he surprised many by declaring his independent candidacy for the upcoming November election.
This is the first time the attorney has sought elected office, and though she is not well-known among voters, Shanahan could inject money into the campaign and bring connections from the tech sector.
Shanahan, the daughter of a Chinese immigrant, had a successful career as a patent attorney and tech entrepreneur. She was married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, from whom she divorced in 2022 amid rumors of an affair with Elon Musk, a claim she has denied.
RFK Jr. praised his running mate’s knowledge of “how big tech uses AI to manipulate the public.”
“I want to partner with strong ideas on how to reverse those terrible threats to democracy and our freedoms,” the candidate said.
The Californian has supported causes such as criminal justice reform, the environment, and reproductive equality through her Bia-Echo Foundation.
She has also funded research on autism, a disorder her only daughter has. In an interview with the New York Times last February, she said she partly supports Kennedy Jr. because of the politician’s concerns about children’s health, including vaccines.
Though Kennedy Jr. has no chance of wresting the U.S. presidency from Democrats or Republicans, his mere presence on the ballot could inflict irreparable harm on one of the two major parties.
RFK Jr. acknowledged that his campaign represents a “disruption” to the election and said he hopes that he and Nicole will “get Americans to refuse to vote out of fear.” EFE
Image: EFE
