Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will reveal his running mate on Tuesday, March 26th, in Oakland, California.

“Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will announce his running mate in Oakland, California. This event will be a pivotal moment in our country’s history! You will not want to miss it,” RFK Jr.’s campaign announced in a press release.

From The Hill:

The announcement will take place in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, March 26, at 11 a.m. PDT. Kennedy is making event tickets available for a campaign contribution of $24, while children may attend free of charge.

For $500, attendees can attend an “exclusive post-announcement reception” and obtain “commemorative merch” from the event.

“This historic event will reaffirm the key principles of the Kennedy campaign of restoring the middle class, ending the chronic disease epidemic, unwinding the war machine, and unraveling corporate capture of our government agencies,” his campaign said in a press release.

The event comes as rumors about Kennedy’s selection for his presidential running mate have swirled in recent days.

On Tuesday, the Kennedy campaign confirmed to The Hill that at the top of his list for vice president are New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former professional wrestler and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura.

RFK Jr. reportedly has been speaking with Rodgers “pretty continuously” in recent weeks.

WATCH:

The New York Times reports:

A representative for Mr. Rodgers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr. Ventura’s son, Tyrel Ventura, said in an email message late Tuesday: “No one has officially asked Gov. Ventura to be a vice-presidential candidate so the governor does not comment on speculation.”

The involvement of Mr. Rodgers — who is expected to start for the New York Jets this fall, at the height of campaign season — or of Mr. Ventura could add star power and independent zeal to Mr. Kennedy’s outsider bid.

Polls show Mr. Kennedy pulling roughly equal numbers of votes away from both President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump — but Democrats are far more worried than Republicans that he could tilt a close election to Mr. Trump. Mr. Biden’s allies have been working to block Mr. Kennedy from the ballot across the country.

Mr. Kennedy, 70, an environmental lawyer and scion of a storied Democratic family, has in recent years become prominent for his vaccine skepticism and his promotion of conspiracy theories about the federal government and public health apparatus. Mr. Rodgers, too, has increasingly embraced the role of celebrity provocateur and contrarian for his stances on vaccines, public health and the coronavirus pandemic.

Aside from Aaron Rodgers and Jesse Ventura, RFK Jr.’s team reportedly has approached the following individuals for the role:

  • Tulsi Gabbard
  • Rand Paul
  • Andrew Yang

“All have turned him down, or their conversations have not advanced, except for Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Ventura, the people familiar with the discussions said,” the outlet wrote.

According to POLITICO, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said he would decline an offer to be RFK Jr.’s running mate.

POLITICO reports:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made a decision on a vice presidential running mate from a short list that includes NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura. He is close to announcing his pick, according to his campaign manager Amaryllis Fox Kennedy.

The environmental and anti-vaccine activist has also approached Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, according to two people with knowledge of the campaign, who were granted anonymity to speak about internal deliberations. One of those people also said motivational speaker Tony Robbins had been in the mix; the two “ spent the day” together in Florida this January.

But not everyone on Kennedy’s list is open to running with him. Paul indicated he would decline an invitation to be on the presidential ticket.

“I’m supportive of his ability to have a platform to speak out. I think he’s saying a lot of good things. But I have no plans to get involved in the campaign,” the Kentucky Republican said in a brief interview on Capitol Hill.

Paul and Kennedy met at his Senate office on Jan. 10, and Doug Stafford, Paul’s chief strategist, is now a consultant with the Kennedy campaign, one person with knowledge of the campaign said. Kennedy has said he supports Paul to be the next Senate GOP leader.

 

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