Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California made a public plea to Nicole Shanahan, the vice-presidential candidate alongside Robert F. Kennedy, urging her to resign from the ticket. Khanna cautioned that her support for Kennedy could potentially open the door for former President Donald Trump to secure victory in the upcoming election.
In a letter shared with CBS News, Khanna outlined his concerns to Shanahan, although he had not formally delivered the message to her yet.
"Even Trump himself, along with other members of his team, have acknowledged that a RFK Jr. ticket would boost his chances of being reelected," Khanna conveyed in the letter.
"While it's understandable to have differing opinions on the Democratic Party's agenda, it is evident that a second term for Trump would have catastrophic consequences for the environment and reverse the progress made by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which stands as the most impactful legislation passed by Congress in our country's history in relation to clean energy and climate change," Khanna continued.
When approached by CBS News for comment, Shanahan chose to share her response to Khanna's letter on social media, clearly indicating her lack of tolerance for Khanna's recent criticisms of the Kennedy campaign.
"Upon congratulating me on my new position, Ro encouraged me to run, emphasizing that every American has the right to participate in this country," Shanahan shared on social media. "He affirmed that we live in a democracy, and it is unacceptable for anyone to intimidate me into withdrawing from the race."
"It is evident that Ro has shifted his stance due to party pressure," she added. "I trust he comprehends how undemocratic it is to urge someone to step aside from a race that empowers the American public to make their own choices."
Shanahan expressed her disappointment that Khanna did not reach out to her privately and criticized his actions as "performative."
"He has my direct contact information," she emphasized.
Responding to CBS, Shanahan stated that her social media post serves as her "complete response" and aims to demonstrate that she prioritizes the people over the corporate media.
Rep. Ro Khanna's letter to Nicole Shanahan by Faris Tanyos on Scribd
Khanna, a supporter of President Biden's reelection campaign, communicated in his letter to Shanahan that recent polling data indicates that Kennedy could impact the outcome of the November election in swing states, potentially benefiting Trump. He advised Shanahan to consider the implications of another Trump presidency on environmental issues, a topic she emphasized in her decision to align with the Kennedy campaign.
Shanahan, who recently described herself as a "disillusioned Democrat," made headlines last month when she announced her decision to join Kennedy's campaign as his running mate. At an event in Oakland, California, Shanahan expressed her frustration with the lack of action on environmental policy from other political figures, which ultimately led her to team up with Kennedy.
The latest financial reports from February revealed that Shanahan, a wealthy attorney from California, had already contributed $4 million to support Kennedy's campaign. This significant donation helped finance a Super Bowl ad for the independent candidate.
In addition to her support for Kennedy, Shanahan has also donated over $17,000 to Khanna, with whom she shares a commitment to environmental protection. According to Khanna's office, the two have known each other for years.
Concerns have been raised among Democrats about Biden's ability to secure victory in key battleground states where the margin of victory was slim in the 2020 election. States like Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Michigan were all won by Biden with less than a 50,000-vote margin.
Efforts are underway within the Democratic Party to prevent third-party candidates from challenging President Trump. MoveOn and Third Way, two Democratic groups, recently announced a shift in focus towards undermining Kennedy's campaign after the group No Labels decided to withdraw its competing Unity ticket.
"Nicole, I want to make it clear that I have respect for anyone's decision to run," Khanna stated in a phone interview with CBS News on Tuesday. "I respect her as a candidate. I fully support the idea of third parties and multiple parties, but my intention was to present a persuasive argument."
"I do not intend to speak negatively about her on a personal level, but I hope she can recognize the benefits of aligning with the broader Democratic coalition," he continued.
Despite initially attempting to dissuade Shanahan from joining Kennedy's campaign through private conversations, Khanna's office revealed that they chose to publicize the letter in order to encourage her to reconsider.
"Rep. Khanna made the decision to release this letter publicly and inform the press to draw attention to the potential risks associated with RFK's campaign," stated Marie Baldassarre, a spokesperson for Khanna. "He had also privately reached out to Nicole before, urging her to reconsider and join the Biden coalition."
