By Austin Alonzo
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. closed March with access to more than $23.6 million in cash, according to newly released federal disclosures.
On April 20, Mr. Kennedy’s principal campaign committee, Team Kennedy, and an allied hybrid political action committee, American Values 2024, released their monthly reports with the Federal Election Commission. The filings show the campaign lags far behind the leading presidential candidates.
Collectively, the committee and the PAC brought in about $6.6 million and spent nearly the same amount—about $6.7 million—in March. The campaign ended the month with access to about $23.6 million in cash on hand, however. The two groups carried about $1.7 million in debts into the month.
By comparison, Mr. Kennedy’s fundraising amount pales in comparison to the massive $187 million at President Joe Biden’s disposal.
Shanahan’s Millions
On March 26, Mr. Kennedy announced he will run for office with Silicon Valley lawyer Nicole Shanahan at his side. On March 27, Ms. Shanahan sent $2 million to Team Kennedy as a “candidate for vice president contribution.”
The donation was the largest single contribution to the Kennedy campaign during the month. It surpassed the about $1.3 million American Values 2024 collected in March.
Ms. Shanahan, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and investor, was formerly married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. In May 2023, she sent Mr. Kennedy $6,600.
According to donor records maintained by watchdog group OpenSecrets, Ms. Shanahan is not a significant political donor. However, she has given limited amounts to Democratic candidates, including President Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in the past.
Ballot Access and Online Advertising
As Mr. Kennedy is not running with a political party, his highest priority is appearing on the ballot in every state. He secured a significant victory on April 18 when he won ballot access in Michigan. The Wolverine State is critical to presidential politics.
With that achievement, Mr. Kennedy is now on the ballot in eight states. Along with Michigan, voters in the swing state of Nevada will see Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Shanahan on their November ballot.
The campaign continues to spend heavily to get on the ballot. Combined, Team Kennedy and American Values spent about $2.1 million in March on ballot access.
The campaign also spends big on security. Both Mr. Kennedy’s father and uncle were assassinated. The Kennedy campaign says there have been multiple apparent attempts on Mr. Kennedy’s person since the announcement of his candidacy.
Team Kennedy spent about $414,000 on security with Gavin deBecker and Associates LP during the month, and incurred about $1.6 million in debts to the private security firm.
Gavin de Becker, the leader of the firm, is a significant donor to the Kennedy campaign as well.
The campaign, which aims to win the support of younger voters and those who do not typically participate in elections, is also spending aggressively on online advertising.
In March, Team Kennedy spent about $487,000 on online ads with the leading firms Facebook and Google.
Not Running With Trump
Mr. Kennedy will not be joining the Trump campaign, according to the candidate. However, he has already fielded a request from “emissaries” of former President Donald Trump about joining the Republican Party’s presidential ticket. President Trump previously called the Kennedy candidacy “great for MAGA.”
Mr. Kennedy has also said he will not be running as a member of the Libertarian Party, either.
As for his politically famous family, several members of the Kennedy family formally endorsed President Biden on April 18.
