Eric Risberg/AP
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has introduced a rich California lawyer because the working mate for his unbiased presidential marketing campaign, a vital step as he tries to get on state ballots for November.
Nicole Shanahan, 38, is the president and director of the Bia-Echo Basis, a charitable group that claims it focuses its investments in “Reproductive Longevity & Equality, Legal Justice Reform and a Wholesome and Livable Planet.”
Kennedy is the son of the previous U.S. lawyer basic and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy. He is a longtime environmental lawyer however has change into recognized lately for his anti-vaccine advocacy and as a promoter of conspiracy theories.
Kennedy, whose unbiased candidacy has drawn concern from each Democrats and Republicans for probably drawing assist away from the 2 main events, introduced the working mate decide Tuesday in Oakland.
The announcement was preceded by audio system criticizing pandemic restrictions and alleged censorship.
Kennedy mentioned he and Shanahan maintain comparable values round the whole lot from schooling and agriculture to skepticism of “Massive Pharma” and the federal government.
“And you recognize what? Regardless of the artificially orchestrated divisions, practically all People share the identical values that we do,” he mentioned. “And I am grateful that Nicole has put her self-interest apart and made the momentous and really, very troublesome determination to embark with me on this extraordinary campaign to win again our nation.”
Shanahan has no political expertise however deep ties to California’s tech trade, and was as soon as married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. She has additionally given cash beforehand to Democrats, together with President Biden, however lately has been a key monetary backer of a pro-Kennedy tremendous PAC, contributing $4 million to assist the group air a $7 million advert throughout the Tremendous Bowl.
That advert, which largely copied a 1960 advert for his uncle’s presidential marketing campaign, was slammed by Democrats and plenty of members of the Kennedy household, who notably and pointedly assist Biden’s reelection.
On the Oakland occasion Tuesday, Shanahan mentioned her background in tech and keenness tackling the rise in continual illness are among the attributes that can information her function in Kennedy’s marketing campaign.
“The imaginative and prescient we share is a imaginative and prescient of nationwide therapeutic, it’s an America that leads the world, now not by way of power of arms, however by way of the ability of instance,” she mentioned.
The collection of a political novice as a working mate that would convey an inflow of money to the marketing campaign comes as Kennedy seeks to get on the poll in all 50 states, which the marketing campaign says takes a minimum of 1,000,000 signatures on petitions that adjust to guidelines and deadlines that differ from state to state.
Thus far, the marketing campaign and the supporting tremendous PAC say Kennedy has sufficient signatures to qualify for ballots in a number of states, together with the battlegrounds of Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan.
Kennedy had informed the New York Instances that his working mate shortlist included New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Jesse Ventura, a former Minnesota governor {and professional} wrestler. Rogers has courted controversy lately for his views on vaccines and different subjects.
Shanahan informed Newsweek final month that she was vaccinated towards COVID-19, and that calling Kennedy or anybody else an “anti-vaxxer” is “so unfair to the reason for objectively funding scientific analysis.”
As of the most recent marketing campaign finance filings, Kennedy reported practically $28 million in contributions, together with nearly $19 million from about 67,000 donors who gave greater than $200. The professional-Kennedy American Values 2024 PAC raised greater than $42 million and spent $24 million in assist of his candidacy.