In a new interview, RFK Jr.’s running mate Nicole Shanahan conceded to what we already know: RFK Jr. is a spoiler candidate with no path to victory. Chosen so she could infuse the campaign with badly needed cash, Shanahan now appears to be abandoning ship and opening the door to running for governor of California. Additionally, she discussed the possibility of RFK Jr. joining forces with Trump, effusively praised the Trump-Vance ticket, and floated RFK Jr. for a potential role in a Trump Administration.

In response, Communications Adviser Lis Smith said, 

“Nicole Shanahan isn’t even pretending to be a serious VP candidate anymore. In one interview alone, she floated RFK Jr. for HHS Secretary in a Trump administration, discussed her interest in running for governor of California in 2026, admitted that the Kennedy-Shanahan campaign has no path to victory, and raised the possibility of joining forces with Trump to defeat Vice President Harris. From the beginning of this race, we’ve said that RFK Jr. is nothing more than a spoiler for Donald Trump, and we’re glad that his running mate is finally admitting it.”

Nicole Shanahan’s Interview with Tom Bilyeau 

On Running A Spoiler Campaign with No Path to Victory 

[43:17]  

SHANAHAN: “I did not put in tens of millions of dollars to be a spoiler candidate. […] They have, unfortunately, turned us into a spoiler.  And we don’t want to be a spoiler.  We wanted to win.  We wanted a fair shot.  The DNC made that impossible for us.  They have, banned us, shadow banned us, kept us off stages, manipulated polls, used lawfare against us, sued us in every possible state.  They’ve even planted insiders into our campaign to disrupt it and to create actual legal issues for us.

[44:44] 

And it’s not because of the Republican Party taking us out. […]  It is exclusively because of the Democratic Party taking us out. […] I think had we had a fair shot, had we had a fair shot, we would have won. I still would love to see in the last 80 days of this election, some miracle play out where we get a chance to debate.  I don’t think they’re going to let us and, you know, given this, I think we are taking a very serious look at making sure that the people that have corrupted our fair and free democracy do not end up in office in November.

[46:08] 

BILYEU: “Do you guys see any path to victory at this point?”

SHANAHAN: ““I mean, technically,  if we can stay on the ballots, you know, we’ve qualified for all the ballots now, which is like an enormous feat.  Like it’s, you don’t understand.  The system was designed to after Ross Perot to keep this from ever happening again.

And we accomplish it.  So technically, we could win.  We, uh, we could absolutely win still.  The problem is—  is if you censor a candidate as we’ve been censored, people don’t get a chance to even hear us.  Um, there is there are things that could happen that would still allow us to win in November.  Even in this environment.  And  it would, it could, you know, you can’t predict the number of variables. […] 

But as long as we remain on the ballots, we could win.  The question is, is, you know, is the risk of a Harris Walz presidency worth us staying?  And that’s the question we have to ask ourselves right now is, one, do we trust Trump and his personal sincerity, to really do the right thing for our country, and end chronic disease, balance the budget, end these forever wars?

Is he somebody that’s going to continue to invite people like Bobby and I into the conversation? Or is he going to fall victim again to the things he fell victim to in his first administration?  So these these, we’re— we’re weighting at all.  It’s not an easy calculation. 

On Running for CA Governor in 2026 

[51:37] 

BILYEU: “Now, are you saying that if you did end up deciding to back out, that you would run for governor or you would back somebody for governor?”

SHANAHAN: “Oh, you caught on to that piece, huh? […] I would consider running as well.  I want to be involved in California. 

On Joining Forces with Trump to Stop Harris-Walz

[50:54] 

SHANAHAN: There’s two options that we’re looking at, and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency, because we draw votes from Trump or we draw somehow more votes from Trump. Or we walk away right now and join forces with, with Donald Trump and and, you know, we walk away from that and we explain to our base why we’re making this decision.

On RFK Jr. Joining a Trump Administration 

[41:55] 

SHANAHAN: “I will say that Trump has taken genuine, sincere interest in our policies around chronic disease.  He takes it seriously.  For that reason, I think it behooves us to sit and see if we can actually make some real change. 

[53:30] 

SHANAHAN: I could envision a situation in which Bobby goes and he does an incredible job with, you know, for example, HHS, Human Health Services. It oversees a massive portfolio of, of budgets over $1 trillion budget.  It really has far reach.  So I think that Bobby in a role like that would be excellent.  I fully support it. I have high hopes.  

On Trump / Vance 

[33:03] 

SHANAHAN: “What we’re hearing from the Trump camp is very positive. […] He, his record was reasonable prior to that […] I see him wanting to do things, like, he wants to create a container.  He definitely wants to bring in an administration that, you know, I see him working with Tulsi. Very exciting sign that he wants to de-escalate, uh, the wars de-escalate and withdraw from the enormous amount of military spending.” 

[33:30] 

BILYEU: “What do you think about his pick of JD Vance?”

SHANAHAN: “You know, I like—  I like JD Vance. […] I think is the greatest potential for revival and, and, and I think there’s, you know, when I look at small businesses and small business economy, I think about farming.

I think about rural America.  I think this is the largest untapped opportunity we have right now.  And I think JD Vance has grown from that.  And he gets it.  And I love I love what he’s done with his career. […] And it’s not because of the Republican Party taking us out. […]But I think those are things that as long as he shows growth from, I think he is going to have great potential leading this country.”