Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering American football quarterback Aaron Rodgers or former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura as his running mate.
Kennedy’s campaign announced Tuesday that they are on the shortlist of potential candidates.
Campaign officials did not say who else was on the list.
Kennedy, 70, ran for president last year.
He previously considered challenging Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination and now faces a battle as an independent to get his name on the ballot in most or all 50 states. ing.
Mr Kennedy, a member of America’s most famous political family, worked as an environmental lawyer before founding an anti-vaccination lobby.
Rodgers, a star quarterback currently playing for the New York Jets, was injured in the first game of last season but has vowed to return to action in 2024.
Off the field, he has spoken out about vaccine skepticism and has been criticized for a number of controversial statements.
Kennedy recently posted a photo of them hiking together.
It’s unclear how the quarterback will be able to combine the vice presidential election with a tough NFL season that collides with the November election.
Ventura, a former professional wrestler and actor, was elected governor of Minnesota in 1998 as a member of the Reform Party, defeating Democratic and Republican candidates in an unexpected upset.
He served one four-year term, but has regularly hinted at a return to politics since leaving office.
From 2017, he hosted a show on Kremlin-owned RT America until the station ceased operations after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.
Last month, he appeared with Mr. Kennedy at a campaign event in Arizona.
The BBC has contacted both vice-presidential candidates for comment.
Ballot access rules for independent presidential candidates vary widely by state, with most requiring candidates to gather signatures by a summer deadline.
Many states require independents to choose a running mate before applying for access.
According to Kennedy’s campaign, he has won elections in four states so far: Utah, Nevada, New Hampshire and Hawaii.
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