The Democratic National Committee responded strongly to independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s announcement of his running mate, labeling him as someone trying to imitate Donald Trump with a Kennedy name. Surrogates from the DNC expressed concerns about Kennedy's chances of winning the presidency and criticized his choice of vice presidential candidate, Nicole Shanahan, who they claimed could buy her way onto the ballot in several states.
Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow highlighted the potential spread of misinformation by Kennedy and Shanahan, particularly regarding vaccine safety. California Rep. Robert Garcia joined in, denouncing Kennedy as a conspiracy theorist who promotes anti-vaccine sentiments and spreads lies that harm public health.
During a speech in Oakland, California, Shanahan called for more research into the causes of chronic diseases and raised questions about the impact of prescriptions and vaccines on children's health.
The DNC surrogates dismissed the notion that Kennedy's selection of Shanahan, a past donor to Democratic candidates, signaled a shift in party support away from President Joe Biden. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis emphasized the continued enthusiasm among Democratic donors for Biden's campaign and accused Kennedy of running solely to disrupt the election by drawing votes away from Biden in favor of Trump.
