After being announced as the running mate for independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Nicole Shanahan contributed $2 million to the Kennedy campaign the following day.
As of the end of March, Mr. Kennedy’s campaign had over $23.6 million in cash, according to recent federal disclosures.
During March, the committee and PAC collectively raised about $6.6 million and spent nearly the same amount. By the end of the month, the campaign had approximately $23.6 million in cash on hand, although they also carried about $1.7 million in debts.
Compared to President Joe Biden’s $187 million campaign funds, Mr. Kennedy’s fundraising efforts fell short.
Shanahan’s Millions
On March 26, Mr. Kennedy announced that Silicon Valley lawyer Nicole Shanahan would be his running mate. The following day, Ms. Shanahan made a significant contribution of $2 million to Team Kennedy as a “candidate for vice president contribution.”
This donation was the largest single contribution received by the Kennedy campaign that month, surpassing the $1.3 million collected by American Values 2024.
Ms. Shanahan, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and investor who was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, had also previously donated $6,600 to Mr. Kennedy in May 2023.
Ballot Access and Online Advertising
As Mr. Kennedy is running as an independent candidate, securing ballot access in all states is a top priority. Winning access in Michigan on April 18 was a significant achievement for the campaign, as Michigan plays a crucial role in presidential politics.
With Michigan included, Mr. Kennedy is now on the ballot in eight states. Voters in Nevada, another key swing state, will also see Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Shanahan on their November ballot.
The campaign is investing heavily in gaining ballot access, with Team Kennedy and American Values spending around $2.1 million in March for this purpose.
Security is another major expense for the campaign, given the history of assassinations in the Kennedy family. The campaign reported apparent threats to Mr. Kennedy’s safety since his candidacy announcement.
During March, Team Kennedy spent approximately $414,000 on security with Gavin deBecker and Associates LP, resulting in debts of about $1.6 million to the security firm.
The campaign’s strategy to attract younger and non-traditional voters includes substantial spending on online advertising.
Not Running with Trump
Despite declining an offer to join the Trump campaign, as stated by the candidate, Mr. Kennedy received a request from representatives of former President Donald Trump regarding a potential partnership on the Republican Party’s ticket. President Trump had previously expressed support for the Kennedy candidacy, calling it “great for MAGA.”
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