Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will reportedly pick a wealthy California attorney to join him on the ticket. The move came after speculation that Kennedy may select other notable figures and during the debate over who former President Donald Trump could choose as his running mate.
Shanahan has donated to Democrats in the past and is the ex-wife of the cofounder of Google, Sergey Brin. The two have a number of commonalities and she emerged as a key financial backer of the candidate.
Shanahan had supported President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign.
Shanahan has no elected experience. She was tied with rumors of an affair with Tesla founder Elon Musk, which Musk strongly denies. Shanahan married Brin in 2023 and separated in 2022.
An official announcement is expected for March 26.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Expected to Tap Nicole Shanahan as Running Mate: Mediaite pic.twitter.com/vL3M7d5eTL
— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) March 16, 2024
Kennedy was reportedly weighing several different names for the position. One was television host Mike Rowe, who reportedly turned down the offer.
The candidate was also considering quarterback and Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had endorsed Kennedy. Kennedy was also reportedly considering former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura (I), who served one term in the role.
Furthermore, Trump is weighing several candidates for his own ticket. The former president previously stated that he had selected his running mate already. On the list are several purported candidates, including former presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). Trump has praised the South Carolina senator, especially for his fervent campaigning for him.
Trump is also reportedly considering Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who has emerged as a key defender of the former president as well as South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R). Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is reportedly a favorite of Trump’s wife Melania.
The former president is not considering former Vice President Mike Pence, who announced last week that he would not be supporting his former running mate in 2024.
There was previous chatter that Trump considered Kennedy for the position. Kennedy did not express interest in the proposition.
