Aaron Rodgers in the West Wing? Here's how the former Packer and RFK Jr. could get on the ballot

Could Aaron Rodgers make the leap from the gridiron to the West Wing?

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has approached the former Green Bay Packers quarterback about potentially serving as a running mate in his bid for the White House — in a year that Wisconsin will once again be one of several hard-fought battleground states.

Like Kennedy, Rodgers is a longtime skeptic of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and has already said he plans to vote for Kennedy for president. And like Kennedy, Rodgers isn't a fan of Democratic President Joe Biden.

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer who is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, has built a platform based on his opposition to vaccines and his storied family in Democratic politics, raising concerns among Democrats he may draw votes away from President Joe Biden.

Kennedy campaign press secretary Stefanie Spear told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the candidate is considering Rodgers and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura as running mates "along with others on a short list." The New York Times, which first reported Kennedy's plans, reported Kennedy has been speaking with Rodgers "pretty continuously" for the past month. Rodgers has not responded to a request for comment.

Sports commentator and former NFL punter Pat McAfee said Wednesday that Rodgers was in Costa Rica when the VP news was reported.

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Here's a look at the candidate and the quarterback's existing relationships with the state, and how they might come into play between now and November.

Rodgers is a four-time MVP with the Packers

This one is obvious. Rodgers, 40, ended an 18-year run with the green and gold last year when he was traded to the New York Jets for draft compensation. He is expected to return to the Jets this fall after missing all but the first four plays of the season in 2023 with a torn Achilles.

More: Aaron Rodgers as VP is a joke. So is his commitment to the New York Jets

With the Packers, he set numerous franchise records, including most touchdown passes (475), won four MVPs as he authored a first-ballot Hall of Fame career and led the Packers to a Super Bowl in his third year as the starter.

"This is not the end for us, I will see you again Green Bay, you’ll always have my heart," Rodgers wrote in a 2023 Instagram post thanking the team and its fans.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has backers in Wisconsin

Supporters with the Wisconsin chapter of People for Kennedy have held events, including a recent meet-and-greet in Wauwatosa.

They're prepared to gather signatures to place Kennedy on the ballot, a process that begins July 1.

In Wisconsin, an independent presidential candidate needs to file between 2,000 and 4,000 signatures with the Wisconsin Elections Commission by 5 p.m. Aug. 6 for ballot access. The nominations must include the names of the candidates for president and vice president.

In addition to filing nomination papers, an independent candidate is required to file a declaration of candidacy with the commission by the same deadline.

When will we know who RFK Jr. is picking as his running mate?

The candidate is set to announce his veep pick in Oakland, California, on March 26, according to the campaign.

Aaron Rodgers has voted in Wisconsin

According to state records, Rodgers has voted at least three times in Wisconsin in the last decade: November 2014, November 2016 and November 2020. He voted at the polls every time.

Rodgers is still registered to vote in Wisconsin.

RFK has a friend in Sen. Ron Johnson

Wisconsin's Republican Sen. Ron Johnson told reporters last year that he watched Kennedy's two-hour campaign announcement speech in its entirety, and has read several books the candidate has recommended to him. One of those is "JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters," which argues government agencies were behind the assassination of Kennedy's uncle, President John F. Kennedy, Jr. Another is "The Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government."

Asked in an interview last summer who he thinks is a "remarkable character" in the 2024 presidential election, Johnson pointed to Kennedy, noting he shares "a lot of views" with Kennedy on the coronavirus pandemic.

While he's on good terms with Kennedy, Johnson has pledged to do as he always has and support the Republican Party's nominee in November.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. polls higher in Wisconsin than Stein, West

A Marquette University Law School poll released Feb. 7 found that, with third-party candidates included in the mix, Republican former President Donald Trump is backed by 40% of Wisconsin registered voters, followed by Biden at 37%. Next is Kennedy, at 16% followed by Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 4% and independent candidate Cornel West at 2%.

In a five-way ballot test, Kennedy drew more votes away from Republicans, 16%, than from Democrats, 12%. He received 28% from independents.

News about Rodgers keeps coming out

Late Wednesday afternoon, CNN reported that Rodgers had in at least two private conversations shared conspiracy theories about the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting not being real. One source was granted anonymity; the other was CNN reporter Pamela Brown.

Molly Beck and Christopher Kuhagen contributed.

Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's how Aaron Rodgers and RFK Jr. could make the ballot