OAKLAND, Calif. (Michigan News Source) – Presidential candidate RFK Jr. has selected Nicole Shanahan, a California-based attorney, philanthropist, investor and tech entrepreneur – and former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin – as his running mate for his independent presidential bid.

Shanahan, 38, who partially funded Kennedy’s Super Bowl ad in February, brings a wealth of experience in advocating for honest governance, racial equity, regenerative agriculture, and maternal health according to Kennedy’s daughter-in-law and campaign manager Amaryllis Fox Kennedy.

A contributor of many democratic campaigns.

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Having graduated from the University of Puget Sound and Santa Clara University School of Law, Shanahan’s political contributions include donations to Democratic presidential campaigns such as Pete Buttigieg and Marianne Williamson, along with a significant contribution to the Biden Victory Fund in 2020. Notably, she also supported Kennedy’s previous campaign while he was still running as a Democrat.

The announcement of Shanahan’s vice-presidential candidacy was made in Oakland, California today, where Shanahan grew up, further solidifying Kennedy’s independent ticket.

Words from Kennedy about Shanahan.

When discussing his VP choice during today’s announcement, Kennedy cited many different reasons for choosing Shanahan, but above all said it was because she had a “deep love of the United States.”

The daughter of impoverished immigrants, Kennedy said she was able to overcome obstacles and achieve the American dream and added that she will stand up to “big pharma” and “big ag,” the big banks, the military industrial complex, the uniparty and the neocon interventionists and their “forever wars” among other things.

Nicole Shanahan takes the stage.

When Shanahan finally came onto the stage more than two hours after Kennedy’s live stream of the announcement began, she talked about her childhood including her father suffering through mental illness and substance abuse problems and how her family had to rely on the government to pay for food and bills.

But it’s a rags-to-riches story for the tech entrepreneur who described herself as “half-Chinese” and “half-Caucasian” and who is also the founder and president of Bia-Echo Foundation, a philanthropic entity dedicated to supporting initiatives promoting reproductive equity, longevity, and reform within the criminal justice system.

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Shanahan said about the current circumstances in the country, “This is not the America of the 1950’s. This is the America of 2024.” She talked about needing a new generation of leadership who understand technology and can work together to find solutions that work for the country.

About leaving the Democratic Party, Shanahan said, ”The Democratic Party is supposed to be the party of compassion. It is supposed to be the party of free speech, and most importantly, the party of the middle class and the American dream. While I know many Democrats still abide by those values…I do believe they’ve lost their way in their leadership.:

Polling looking good for RFK Jr.

Kennedy’s campaign has gained substantial traction nationwide, with recent polls indicating his lead over both Presidents Biden and Trump among various demographics, including independents, voters under 35 and Latinos.

Kennedy’s team has been actively pursuing ballot access in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, surpassing initial benchmarks and securing spots on several state ballots. However, challenges have emerged, such as the DNC’s reported attempts to invalidate signatures in Nevada, underscoring the intense political opposition faced by Kennedy’s independent campaign.

Democrats pushing back on Kennedy’s campaign for ballot access.

Despite facing hurdles, Kennedy’s candidacy has sparked widespread support, necessitating grassroots efforts to ensure his presence on the ballot, particularly in critical states like Michigan. In the Mitten State, 12,000 signatures are needed to get on the ballot with a deadline of July 18th.