Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign faced financial challenges as it accrued debts and allocated funds for various expenses like ballot access, security, and consultants. However, a significant turning point occurred at the end of March when his newly appointed running mate, Nicole Shanahan, injected $2 million into the campaign, as revealed in a recent filing.
In March, the campaign raised $5.4 million, with the contribution from Shanahan recorded on March 27, following the announcement of her as the running mate. The campaign also reported spending $4.5 million during the month, showing an increase from the previous period, and disclosed debts amounting to $1.6 million, primarily owed to Kennedy’s security consultant, Gavin de Becker.
The campaign has disbursed $2.5 million to de Becker’s firm over the past year and concluded March with $6 million in hand, according to the filing submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
Under federal regulations, candidates have the liberty to inject unlimited personal funds into their campaigns, bypassing individual contribution limits. Shanahan, a prosperous Silicon Valley lawyer and investor, previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, has shown generous support for Kennedy’s candidacy by contributing $4 million to a super PAC endorsing him. This funding was utilized for a Super Bowl advertisement, a brainchild of Shanahan earlier this year.
In March, the campaign also expended $326,000 on campaign consulting to Accelevate 2020, a Texas-based ballot access and signature-gathering firm. Securing ballot access, especially in key battleground states, remains a top priority for Kennedy as he prepares to challenge President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump in the upcoming election.
Gaining ballot access across all 50 states is a complex and costly endeavor, requiring a mix of independent petitions and third-party nominations. Kennedy recently announced his successful ballot placement in Michigan, a crucial swing state, after receiving the nomination of the Natural Law Party, which already had ballot access in the state.
Mr. Kennedy’s progress in securing ballot access, including the recent milestone in Michigan, signifies a significant step forward in his presidential campaign strategy.
