Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has selected Nicole Shanahan, a wealthy Bay Area attorney and philanthropist, as his vice-presidential running mate. Shanahan, the 38-year-old daughter of a Chinese immigrant who grew up in Oakland, California, previously donated $4 million to a pro-Kennedy super PAC to air a retro-style Super Bowl ad. Kennedy considered other unconventional candidates for the vice-presidential slot, such as rapper Killer Mike Render, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and TV host Mike Rowe, before ultimately choosing Shanahan for her youth, athleticism, and commitment to unraveling the war machine and corporate capture of the federal government.
Shanahan founded ClearAccessIP, a company focused on helping entrepreneurs develop and manage patents, which she sold in 2020. She also launched the Bia-Echo Foundation in 2019 with a $100 million donation to programs that combat climate change, reform the criminal justice system, and support women in becoming pregnant later in life. Shanahan shares Kennedy’s focus on the connection between environmental pollution and public health issues, believing that Americans deserve clean water and citing the current political climate as a hindrance to achieving this goal. Like Kennedy, she also shares skepticism about vaccines and believes there should be space for conversations about vaccine injuries.
Kennedy, an environmental attorney, anti-vaccine advocate, and conspiracy theorist, has spread fears about vaccine side effects through his nonprofit Children’s Health Defense, despite experts dismissing these concerns as unfounded. He has supported the debunked theory that vaccines are linked to autism, likening the U.S. vaccination regime to a Holocaust in a 2015 speech, for which he later apologized. Shanahan, a former donor to Democratic presidential candidates like President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign and Democratic congressional candidates like Rep. Ro Khanna, continues to support Khanna by donating the maximum allowable amount this election cycle.
The selection of Shanahan as Kennedy’s running mate represents a strategic move for the independent presidential candidate, who is positioning himself as an outsider willing to challenge the establishment and tackle issues such as environmental pollution and vaccine safety. Shanahan’s background as a successful attorney, entrepreneur, and philanthropist aligns with Kennedy’s focus on unraveling corporate capture of the federal government and addressing public health concerns related to environmental pollution and vaccines. Her donation to the pro-Kennedy super PAC and continued support for Democratic candidates demonstrate her willingness to engage in political activism and support causes she believes in.
As the story of Kennedy and Shanahan’s partnership continues to develop, their unconventional approach to political leadership and focus on issues such as climate change, criminal justice reform, and women’s health will likely draw attention and spark conversations among voters. Kennedy’s controversial views on vaccines and Shanahan’s alignment with his skepticism add a layer of complexity to their campaign, as they seek to challenge the status quo and present alternative solutions to pressing societal challenges. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story.
