In the latest entry to the increasingly crowded and occasionally perplexing 2024 electoral dance floor, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced his running mate, and it is not so much a political pick as it is a plot twist. Kennedy, whose campaign already stands out as an independent bid for the presidency cushioned by a mix of familiar name recognition and less familiar policy positions, selected Nicole Shanahan, a tech attorney, philanthropist and fellow Californian with enough Silicon Valley connections to upgrade any grassroots campaign to the cloud.
Shanahan, who co-founded ClearAccessIP and previously had a front row seat to elite philanthropy as the former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, might raise a few eyebrows among voters still trying to figure out whether Kennedy Jr. is courting political centrists, alternative medicine enthusiasts, or just anyone willing to listen to a three-hour podcast. With a background in legal tech and AI ethics, she enters the race not with a string of electoral victories but with a net worth and LinkedIn profile that suggest she could self-fund a campaign or at least buy everyone in Iowa a matcha latte.
The launch event took place in Oakland, which some observers believe was chosen because it offers both progressive street cred and a sufficiently artisanal food truck scene. There, Kennedy praised Shanahan’s intellect, her commitment to environmental causes, and presumably her ability to explain blockchain to confused political donors. Shanahan, in turn, spoke passionately about policy, climate, and what she calls “healing America,” which either refers to addressing national divides or just a comprehensive wellness retreat for the entire country.
Kennedy’s campaign continues to chart a path distinct from both major parties, occasionally veering into territory that policy experts might call unconventional and family reunions might call awkward. Critics point out that Shanahan is about as politically tested as a Roomba in a hurricane, while supporters hail her as a refreshing outside-the-box choice from a campaign that seems allergic to boxes entirely.
Whether the duo can siphon votes from either President Biden or former President Trump remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: no one is accusing this ticket of being predictable. At this point in the election cycle, the only thing more surprising than Kennedy’s running mate would be a debate moderated by a wellness influencer and featuring interpretive dance.
They may not win the White House, but they’re definitely redefining what it means to run for office with vibes.