Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Reportedly Mulls Jesse Ventura and Aaron Rodgers as Potential Vice Presidential Picks

Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly considering former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers as potential vice presidential choices, according to two individuals “familiar with the discussions” who recently spoke to the New York Times.

According to the report published on Tuesday, Kennedy has been in communication with both Ventura and Rodgers about the vice presidential spot on his ticket. He has been in contact with Ventura ever since Ventura introduced him at a February campaign event in Arizona, while he told the New York Times that he has been in continuous communication with Rodgers for the past month. While Kennedy did not confirm whether he formally offered them the role, he did tell the NYT that both men were at “the top of his list.”

While only one of the two men has political experience, both have been in the public eye for some time, although for vastly different reasons. Jesse Ventura was a professional wrestler for many years before transitioning to politics in the early 1990s. In 1998, he was elected governor of Minnesota as a member of the Reform Party, becoming its only third party governor to date. Ventura later joined the newly-formed Independence Party of Minnesota, which had broken away from the Reform Party due to intraparty disputes between factions sympathetic to Patrick Buchanan and late founder Ross Perot.

Ventura has remained active in politics since, voicing support for various candidates and parties, including Republicans like former Rep. Ron Paul, independents like Maine Senator Angus King, and the Green Party. In 2020, Jesse Ventura appeared on the Alaskan ballot as the Green Party’s presidential nominee alongside 2008 Green Party nominee and former Georgia Rep. Cynthia McKinney. The decision to field Ventura instead of Howie Hawkins ultimately led to the Green Party of Alaska’s de-accreditation.

Kennedy’s other potential consideration, Aaron Rodgers, is a professional football player and philanthropist. Rodgers has been a long-time player in the National Football League, first selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2005 draft. He spent most of his career as a quarterback for the Packers, winning MVP twice, before being traded to the Tampa Bay Jets in 2023. Outside of his football career, Rodgers runs a Wisconsin-based charity with attorney David Gruber called itsAaron, which seeks to “create awareness for organizations and people who are changing the world.”

Rodgers publicly expressed support for Kennedy in early 2023 via social media before Kennedy officially announced his presidential candidacy.

With thanks to both Gadfly Politics and SocraticGadfly for notifying Independent Political Report of Kennedy’s considerations within a similar timeframe.