Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has just lately approached the N.F.L. quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the previous Minnesota governor {and professional} wrestler Jesse Ventura about serving as his operating mate on an unbiased presidential ticket, and each have welcomed the overtures, two individuals acquainted with the discussions mentioned.
Mr. Kennedy confirmed on Tuesday that the 2 males have been on the high of his listing. It’s not clear if both has been formally supplied the put up, nonetheless, and Mr. Kennedy remains to be contemplating a shortlist of potential candidates, the individuals acquainted with the discussions mentioned.
Mr. Kennedy mentioned that he had been talking with Mr. Rodgers “pretty continuously” for the previous month, and that he had been in contact with Mr. Ventura for the reason that former governor launched him at a marketing campaign occasion final month in Arizona.
A consultant for Mr. Rodgers didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Mr. Ventura’s son, Tyrel Ventura, mentioned in an electronic mail message late Tuesday: “No one has officially asked Gov. Ventura to be a vice-presidential candidate so the governor does not comment on speculation.”
The involvement of Mr. Rodgers — who is predicted to start out for the New York Jets this fall, on the top of marketing campaign season — or of Mr. Ventura might add star energy and unbiased zeal to Mr. Kennedy’s outsider bid.
Polls present Mr. Kennedy pulling roughly equal numbers of votes away from each President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump — however Democrats are way more fearful than Republicans that he might tilt a detailed election to Mr. Trump. Mr. Biden’s allies have been working to block Mr. Kennedy from the poll throughout the nation.
Mr. Kennedy, 70, an environmental lawyer and scion of a storied Democratic household, has lately develop into distinguished for his vaccine skepticism and his promotion of conspiracy theories in regards to the federal authorities and public well being equipment. Mr. Rodgers, too, has more and more embraced the position of celeb provocateur and contrarian for his stances on vaccines, public well being and the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Kennedy is predicted to call his operating mate within the coming weeks, forward of deadlines in states that require him to have a vice-presidential choose to petition for poll entry. He initially ran for president as a Democrat however introduced in October that he would run as an unbiased as an alternative, accusing Democrats of corruptly blocking his problem to Mr. Biden.
In current months, Mr. Kennedy and his camp have approached not less than a half-dozen individuals, with various levels of ritual, to gauge their curiosity in serving as his operating mate. Apart from Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Ventura, he’s mentioned to have spoken with former Consultant Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii; Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky; and Andrew Yang, the previous candidate for president and New York mayor, the 2 individuals acquainted with the discussions mentioned. Puck Information previously reported the outreach to Mr. Yang.
Mr. Yang didn’t reply to requests for remark. Mr. Paul’s workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark. Ms. Gabbard couldn’t be reached for remark.
All have turned him down, or their conversations haven’t superior, aside from Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Ventura, the individuals acquainted with the discussions mentioned.
If something may very well be interpreted as a touch of the place Mr. Kennedy may lean, the area title kennedyrodgers.com was registered final week utilizing a GoDaddy host.
Mr. Rodgers, 40, is a four-time winner of the N.F.L.’s Most Useful Participant award, main the Inexperienced Bay Packers to a Tremendous Bowl victory in 2011. He’s anticipated to start out for the New York Jets this 12 months, after his debut with the group final season ended abruptly with a rupture of his left Achilles’ tendon in the opening minutes of the primary sport.
It’s not clear how operating for the second-highest workplace within the land would work together with his day job. He said recently that he hoped to play within the N.F.L. for “two or three or four more years.”
It will additionally not be the primary time Mr. Rodgers sought so as to add a aspect gig to his soccer profession. In 2021, whereas taking part in for the Packers, he was among those who auditioned to be the host of the quiz present “Jeopardy!”
A spokesman for the New York Jets didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The group is owned by Woody Johnson, a distinguished donor to former President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump appointed Mr. Johnson to be his ambassador to Britain.
Mr. Rodgers has been outspoken on political and social points lately. Final month, in an look on Joe Rogan’s fashionable podcast, Mr. Rodgers mentioned he had misplaced associates, allies and sponsorships over his public determination to not get vaccinated.
Mr. Rodgers has promoted his skepticism about Covid vaccines throughout his common visitor spots on the ESPN present hosted by Pat McAfee, a former soccer punter-turned-podcaster. In January, Mr. Rodgers had a spat with the late-night host Jimmy Kimmel when he falsely prompt court docket paperwork would hyperlink Mr. Kimmel with Jeffrey Epstein throughout an look on Mr. McAfee’s present.
Mr. Rodgers was an early backer of Mr. Kennedy’s presidential bid. Final month, Mr. Kennedy shared a picture on social media of them climbing collectively.
Mr. Ventura, 72, was well-known within the Seventies and ’80s as knowledgeable wrestler generally known as Jesse “the Body” Ventura, and he additionally appeared in motion pictures and tv earlier than he entered politics. He was elected governor of Minnesota in 1998 on the Reform Occasion ticket, and served for one time period.
He has since develop into a distinguished determine in unbiased and third-party politics. He has written a number of books, and now has a Substack, “Die First Then Quit,” together with his son.
In a YouTube interview 4 months in the past, Mr. Ventura mentioned he would take into account a suggestion from Mr. Kennedy to serve on his ticket.
Reid J. Epstein and Maggie Haberman contributed reporting. Kitty Bennett and Susan C. Beachy contributed analysis.
