Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to reveal his running mate on Tuesday as he races to secure a spot on the ballot for his independent presidential campaign. The announcement is expected to take place in Oakland, California, where Kennedy and his team have been considering various contenders, including well-known figures like NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, TV personality Mike Rowe, and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. Speculation has also focused on Nicole Shanahan, a lawyer and philanthropist who supported Kennedy with a Super Bowl ad.
Kennedy's campaign has caused concern among Democrats, who fear that third-party candidates could siphon votes away from President Joe Biden and potentially benefit former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election. Both Biden and Trump are facing low approval ratings and will be vying for the support of voters who are dissatisfied with the current options.
As an independent candidate, Kennedy faces a challenging path to secure ballot access due to varying rules in different states. Approximately half of the states require him to select a running mate before applying for ballot access. This requirement has already posed obstacles in Nevada, where the Secretary of State mandated the nomination of a vice-presidential candidate before signature collection.
Despite these challenges, Kennedy has managed to secure ballot access in Utah and claims to have gathered enough signatures in several other states, including swing states like Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia. However, official approval is pending in these states.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. comes from a prominent Democratic family, with his father being a former U.S. senator, attorney general, and presidential candidate, and his uncle, John F. Kennedy, serving as President. Initially entering the race as a primary challenger to Biden, Kennedy later switched to running as an independent.
Throughout his career, Kennedy has been known for his activism on environmental issues, although his views on topics such as vaccines have been controversial and at odds with scientific consensus. Despite criticism from some family members, Kennedy has garnered support from a loyal following drawn to his anti-vaccine stance and his critique of government ties to corporations.
The Democratic National Committee is preparing to counter Kennedy's campaign, along with other third-party options, as they aim to avoid a repeat of past elections where third-party candidates impacted the outcome. The party is also keeping an eye on groups like No Labels, which are working to recruit a centrist ticket for the upcoming election.
