Nicole Shanahan, an attorney and investor, is one of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mates.
Kennedy’s campaign posted a response online to rumors about who would vote for Kennedy to run against President Biden and former President Trump.
Mr. Shanahan was thrust into Mr. Kennedy’s orbit last month after it was reported that he helped pay for a seven-figure Super Bowl ad promoting Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy.
Here’s what you need to know about Shanahan, President Kennedy’s possible pick for vice president.
Who is Nicole Shanahan?
Shanahan, 38, is a lawyer based in California.
She is the founder and president of the Via Echo Foundation, a private nonprofit that makes grants on issues such as reproductive rights, equality, criminal justice reform, and the environment.
She is also the founder and CEO of ClearAccessIP, a patent analysis company.
Shanahan was married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin from 2018 to 2023.
How are Shanahan and RFK Jr. related?
After the 2024 Super Bowl, The New York Times report About a week before the fight, Shanahan “provided $4 million and creative guidance” to a super PAC supporting RFK Jr.’s campaign called American Values 2024.
Her contributions helped create a surprise Super Bowl ad supporting Kennedy, based on the legacy of RFK Jr.’s uncle, former President John F. Kennedy. Advertising costs were $7 million.
Mr. Shanahan told the Times that the prime-time ad endorsement was a “perfect opportunity to emphasize that Mr. Kennedy is running for president,” even though the Biden campaign and Democrats have largely ignored his long-term goals. He said he thought it was an “opportunity.”
RFK runs independently for president
In the weeks following the Super Bowl, Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump won their respective parties’ presidential nominations.
Kennedy initially ran as a Democrat, but later switched to campaigning as an independent. Polls show Kennedy could pull votes from Biden and Trump, but it’s unclear how his campaign will influence a rematch between the two in the general election. do not have.
Kennedy expressed optimism in January about getting people to the polls nationwide, but said the effort would likely cost his campaign about $15 million.
Who will RFK Jr. choose as his running mate?
In recent weeks, rumors began circulating that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers could be Kennedy’s running mate.
But in recent days, Shanahan has emerged as a potential vice president candidate.
Amaryllis Fox, Kennedy campaign director and daughter-in-law; Posted in Xformerly known as Twitter, responded to both Rodgers and Shanahan rumors.
Fox said Saturday that he could not yet name Kennedy’s pick for vice president, but that he “couldn’t be more thrilled with Bobby’s decision.”
When will Kennedy announce his running mate?
Kennedy is scheduled to announce his running mate on Tuesday during a campaign event in Oakland, California.
Fox acknowledged that Shanahan was “certainly involved” in the vice presidential conversation.
“Her work on behalf of honest governance, racial equity, regenerative agriculture, and child and maternal health reflects many of our nation’s most pressing needs,” Fox wrote. “For a decade, she has focused on protecting our democracy from the dangers of AI and leveraging it to detect government corruption and abuse on behalf of the people. This is an important knowledge base that many people lack.”
“America is very fortunate to have Nicole Shanahan in our corner, and learning about her impressive body of work was one of the highlights of the Vice President selection process,” she said in her post. It is written in
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