Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made an announcement on Tuesday, revealing his choice for a running mate in his independent bid for the White House. The selected candidate is Nicole Shanahan, a California-based attorney and entrepreneur who has also been a donor to Kennedy’s campaign. This decision comes as Kennedy aims to make a significant impact in the upcoming election.
According to documents obtained from the Nevada office, it has been discovered that Kennedy violated the rules by only including his own name, without a running mate, on his candidate petition. This action could potentially invalidate the signatures collected in the state.
The staff of the secretary of state’s office admitted that they had provided incorrect information to Kennedy.
The Kennedy campaign announced on Tuesday that it will start collecting signatures this week in 19 more states that demand a vice presidential pick for ballot access.
The following states are included in the list: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Kennedy had hinted earlier this month about his vice-presidential announcement, suggesting some prominent figures like football star Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura.
Here are some of the names Kennedy had considered:
Aaron Rodgers, aged 40, is an esteemed football player who represents the New York Jets. Like Kennedy, he shares a doubtful perspective on vaccine mandates. In 2021, Rodgers openly acknowledged his decision to remain unvaccinated, which came to light shortly after he tested positive for COVID-19. Consequently, he had to miss a Sunday football game against the Kansas City Chiefs. According to Kennedy, Rodgers is regarded as a top contender for the position, as mentioned in an interview with the New York Times.
Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, who is 72 years old, was also named by Kennedy as a top candidate. Ventura, a former wrestler who successfully ran for governor as a Reform Party candidate, expressed his willingness to consider the position, despite disagreeing with Kennedy’s stance on vaccines.
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, 42, acknowledged that she was approached by Kennedy but did not explicitly deny it. When questioned about the matter, she opted to let Bobby Kennedy speak for himself. Gabbard expressed her admiration and respect for Kennedy, highlighting their strong friendship and his genuine intentions. It is worth noting that Gabbard delivered a speech at CPAC in February, where she lauded former President Donald Trump for his accomplishments.
Mike Rowe, 62, the former host of the TV series “Dirty Jobs,” revealed in an interview with CNN that he recently had a conversation with Kennedy regarding the possibility of serving as his running mate. During their discussion, they touched upon topics such as vocational training and Rowe’s foundation, mikeroweWORKS.
“In a surprising moment, he posed a question that caught me off guard: ‘Have you ever thought about running for public office?’ I was so taken aback that I involuntarily spewed my coffee back into my cup before responding incredulously, ‘Are you being serious?'”
