(LLP) July 6, 2024 — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan have announced their independent run for the White House. The announcement was made during a campaign event in Oakland, California, where Kennedy emphasized the need for fresh perspectives in American politics.
Nicole Shanahan, 38, is a California lawyer and philanthropist who has never held elected office. She is the founder of the Bia-Echo Foundation, which focuses on women's reproductive science, criminal justice reform, and environmental causes¹. Shanahan also founded ClearAccessIP, a patent management firm, and has been a fellow at Stanford University².
Shanahan's selection is notable for her lack of prior government experience but significant wealth and commitment to Kennedy's campaign. She has already demonstrated her support by donating $4 million to a pro-Kennedy super PAC². Raised in Oakland, Shanahan's background includes a challenging upbringing, with her family relying on government assistance during her childhood².
"Nicole and I both left the Democratic Party because our values didn't change, but the party did," Kennedy said during the announcement².
He praised Shanahan's work on issues like honest governance, racial equity, and children's health, which align with his campaign's focus on government overreach and environmental concerns².
Shanahan spoke about her personal journey and commitment to using her wealth to help those in need.
"The purpose of wealth is to help those in need. That's what it's for," she said. "And I want to bring that back to politics, too. That is the purpose of privilege"².
The Kennedy-Shanahan ticket aims to appeal to voters disillusioned with the major political parties. Their campaign has sparked interest due to its unconventional approach and the pairing of Kennedy's established political name with Shanahan's fresh perspective and resources².
As the campaign progresses, Kennedy and Shanahan will need to navigate the challenges of running as independents, including securing ballot access across all 50 states². Their message of change and reform will be tested as they seek to gain traction among a diverse electorate.
¹: [CBS News]
²: [NBC News]
Source: Conversation with Copilot, 7/6/2024
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