Nicole Shanahan
Nicole Shanahan
California Governor winner?
$46.6M
NOV 4, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleAttorney
PartyIndependent
Political ideologyConservative Independent
Age40 years old (Sep 26, 1985)
GenderFemale
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LocationCalifornia
BackgroundAttorney
EducationUniversity of Puget Sound (B.A.)
Notable personal detailsNicole Ann Shanahan is an American attorney, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She founded ClearAccessIP, a patent-management company that was sold in 2020, and she leads the Bia-Echo Foundation, which funds work including reproductive science, criminal justice reform, and environmental causes. She was the running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on an independent presidential ticket in 2024.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Healthcare
Nicole Shanahan emphasizes health philanthropy and biomedical research (notably reproductive longevity and “food as medicine”), has criticized IVF while funding reproductive-research initiatives, supports abortion rights with gestational limits she has described, and promotes use of AI and unconventional approaches to address chronic disease and public-health concerns rather than endorsing a clear systemic health-care reform such as Medicare for All or major market-based dismantling of existing programs.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports abortion access with legal limits and has said she personally would not feel right terminating a viable pregnancy; has indicated an appropriate federal limit would be in the mid-second trimester (around 15–18 weeks) and supports state-level decision-making.
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Climate & Energy
Supports environmental and regenerative agriculture initiatives through philanthropic work and film production, and has publicly called for transparency and oversight of geoengineering/solar radiation management activities. Positions emphasize research, transparency, and market/technology-based climate interventions rather than explicit advocacy for Green New Deal–style fossil-fuel phaseouts or specific emissions targets.
News
Nicole Shanahan is in the mix of Democratic candidates in California’s 2026 governor’s race as party leaders warn the field is too crowded. State Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks has urged lower-polling candidates to reassess their viability and potentially drop out ahead of filing deadlines to avoid splitting the vote under the top-two primary system. Recent analysis and simulations have fueled concerns that fractured Democratic support could allow Republicans to take both spots in the general election.
Top California Democrat Flops With Call for Candidates to Exit Governor's Race
Can't win in primary election? Drop out, California Democrats say
Fearing GOP Upset, Top California Democrat Urges Lagging Candidates for Governor to Drop Out of Race
California governor's race simulator shows 2 Republicans likely advancing through primary
Endorsements
Endorsers of Nicole Shanahan for California Governor winner?
Lincoln Club of Orange County
Public endorsement
Lincoln Club of Orange County endorsed Nicole Shanahan.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising