Corporate attorney and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan was announced as the vice presidential pick for Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a campaign rally in Oakland, California. Shanahan, 38, comes from a tech background and was an early supporter of Kennedy during his Democratic primary campaign. She expressed admiration for Kennedy’s intelligence, compassion, and his focus on issues that are often overlooked by the government, giving her hope for democracy.
Shanahan’s inclusion in Kennedy’s campaign is intended to bring youth and tech industry expertise to his base of support. She has expressed cautiousness regarding vaccines, questioning their safety, and suggesting a link between pharmaceutical medicines and rising autism rates in children. As a wealthy investor, Shanahan is expected to provide financial support to bolster Kennedy’s campaign efforts across all 50 states where he aims to secure a spot on the presidential ballot alongside his running mate.
Growing up in Oakland, Shanahan faced challenges due to her father’s mental health issues and reliance on welfare. She emphasized that her difficult childhood shaped her outlook on wealth, stating that its purpose is to help those in need. Shanahan’s financial support for Kennedy’s campaign includes a $4 million contribution to a pro-Kennedy super PAC for a Super Bowl ad. She previously supported Democratic campaigns, including a donation to President Joe Biden’s fundraising committee in 2020, but recently announced her departure from the Democratic Party, citing a loss of direction within the party.
Despite her support for Kennedy, Shanahan has expressed concerns about vaccine safety and potential injuries. She rejects the label of “anti-vaxxer” but advocates for open conversations about vaccine safety. Shanahan emphasized her commitment to raising awareness about vaccine safety, diverging from Kennedy’s more extreme views on vaccines. She received the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine and booster herself and ensures her daughter receives regularly scheduled vaccines.
Shanahan’s foundation focuses on reproductive longevity, criminal justice reform, and a healthy planet. She highlighted shared goals with Kennedy in eradicating chronic diseases, drawing from her personal journey through reproductive health and caring for her daughter with autism. Shanahan emphasized the need for research on the cumulative impacts of pharmaceutical medicines and vaccines, advocating for a more thorough approach to safety studies in childhood vaccinations. Despite personal challenges, including a high-profile divorce from Google co-founder Sergey Brin and rumors of an affair with Elon Musk, Shanahan remains committed to her professional and advocacy work.
A graduate of the University of Puget Sound and Santa Clara University School of Law, Shanahan is a CodeX fellow at Stanford Law School’s Center for Legal Informatics. Her background in Asian studies, economics, and Mandarin Chinese, combined with a legal education, informs her work as a tech industry attorney and entrepreneur. Shanahan’s unique blend of experiences and perspectives, coupled with her commitment to advocacy and support for Kennedy’s campaign, position her as a significant figure in the 2024 presidential race.
