"I met with Kennedy several times, and we have become good friends," she said in a statement. "He asked if I would be his running mate. After careful consideration, I respectfully declined."

Gabbard declined to explain why she turned down that offer, which has not previously been reported.

She is among an eclectic group of people whom Kennedy had considered for the role, including former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and TV host Mike Rowe.

He announced at an Oakland, California, rally last week that he had chosen Silicon Valley lawyer Nicole Shanahan, whose younger age, work in health and artificial intelligence appealed to him.

Kennedy and his campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Gabbard's statement. However, a person close to him told ABC News, "There were definitely meetings, but it didn't work out."

"We talked to a bunch of people," this person added. "Tulsi's a rock star no matter what."

Gabbard's name has also been floated by some allies of former President Donald Trump to be his potential vice-presidential pick.

She ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic presidential nominee in 2019 before departing the party three years later, an exit she chronicled in a book she is releasing this month, "For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind."