Oakland, California — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to announce his running mate Tuesday, in Oakland, California, as his campaign faces questions about ballot access in several states that require a named vice presidential candidate during the petition process.
A few names have already been circulating, including NFL player Aaron Rodgers, former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, and wealthy Democratic donor Nicole Shanahan. The Kennedy campaign has so far kept the name secret and denied it wanted to turn the process into "a guessing game."
"We know it sucks waiting till the 26th," senior Kennedy campaign adviser Link Lauren posted on X earlier this month "We've all discussed, including Bobby, how our campaign is run on transparency and honesty, and the media hysteria isn't fun for our loyal supporters. We've had to lean into the media's 'Veepstakes' cause what else is there to do?"
Here are some of the names Kennedy is said to be considering:
Nicole Shanahan
Shanahan, an affluent California-based attorney and entrepreneur, also known for her high-profile divorce from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, is thought to be a leading contender, particularly since the campaign will require substantial funding in the months ahead.
A wealthy individual, Nicole Shanahan, aged 38, donated $4 million to the super PAC supporting Kennedy, American Values 2024. She also played a role in organizing the production of a Super Bowl ad that highlighted Kennedy's presidential campaign. Shanahan mentioned to The New York Times that she funded the ad creation and airing because she believed Kennedy would address vaccine screening risks better. She clarified that she is not against vaccines. Shanahan's significant financial support could be beneficial to Kennedy as he navigates the costly process of obtaining ballot access.
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers, a 40-year-old NFL quarterback previously with the Green Bay Packers and now playing for the New York Jets, shares Kennedy's skepticism of COVID-19 vaccines. In 2021, Rodgers publicly confirmed his unvaccinated status shortly after testing positive for COVID-19, which led to him missing a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Rodgers expressed his belief in bodily autonomy and the freedom to make choices regarding one's body. He criticized what he referred to as a "woke culture" that imposes mandates on individuals, emphasizing that health decisions should not be one-size-fits-all in an interview with "The Pat McAfee Show."
Kennedy first told The New York Times that NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a leading candidate on his list, and campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear confirmed he was on the shortlist.
Jesse Ventura
Kennedy also told the Times he has talked with former Minnesota Gov. and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura about serving as his running mate.
Ventura, 72, a one-term governor who ran on the Reform Party ticket, said he'd consider the job, though he disagrees with Kennedy's opposition to vaccines.
Tyrel Ventura, Mr. Ventura's son, told the Times, "No one has officially asked Gov. Ventura to be a vice-presidential candidate, so the governor does not comment on speculation."
Tulsi Gabbard
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, 42, hasn't denied she was approached by Kennedy, but when asked about it on the Jackman Radio show last week, only said, "I'm gonna let Bobby Kennedy speak for himself. He's a good friend and I really love and respect him and his heart and why he's doing what he's doing."
At CPAC in February, however, Gabbard showered praise on former President Donald Trump in her address.
Mike Rowe
Mike Rowe, the 62-year-old former host of "Dirty Jobs" TV series, told CNN that he received a call from Kennedy about being his vice president.
During a recent conversation, the 62-year-old individual revealed that he and Kennedy discussed vocational training and his foundation, mikeroweWORKS. Kennedy surprised him by asking if he would consider running for public office.
"Yeah, he called. Actually, I ran into him about six months ago in Dallas, totally serendipitously, and we exchanged information and he reached out about a month ago," the individual said. "At some point, he asked me if I would ever consider running for public office, and I spit my coffee back into my cup and I said, 'Seriously?'"
