Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign is reportedly considering the possibility of ending his bid for the White House to “join forces” with Republican nominee Donald Trump, according to his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, in a recent interview.
Shanahan mentioned that the campaign is also weighing the option of continuing their run to secure over 5% of the popular vote. This would help establish a third-party alternative to the Republican and Democratic parties, potentially building momentum for the 2028 election.
“There are two options we’re considering,” Shanahan said on the Impact Theory podcast. “One is staying in the race to form a new party, but that risks a Kamala Harris and Tim Walz presidency because we might draw votes from Trump. The other option is stepping back now and aligning with Donald Trump, explaining to our base why we made that choice.”
She acknowledged that this is a difficult decision, adding that if they do exit the race, she might consider running for governor of California.
It’s uncertain whether Kennedy and Shanahan’s supporters would shift their votes to Trump if they were to leave the race. Some polls suggest that Vice President Harris might have a stronger chance against Trump in key swing states if Kennedy remains in the race.
Shanahan emphasized that their campaign was not intended to be a spoiler but aimed to win and address key issues in the country. Kennedy, in a recent tweet, expressed his willingness to work with leaders from any political party to further his campaign’s goals, including addressing chronic diseases, reducing corporate influence in government, and protecting free speech.
In response to Shanahan’s comments, Lis Smith, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Party, criticized her for not being a serious vice-presidential candidate, citing her openness to various political roles and alliances. Smith reiterated that the Kennedy-Shanahan campaign had no path to victory and accused them of potentially aiding Trump.
This development comes just before Harris is set to formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago, alongside her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Kennedy, who had initially sought the Democratic nomination, switched to running as an independent after facing challenges within the party. Despite claims of securing ballot access in all 50 states, Kennedy is currently facing legal challenges to his candidacy in several key states.