Kanye West 2020 presidential campaign

West announced his campaign on Independence Day via Twitter, writing "We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! 🇺🇸 #2020VISION".[34][35] West's campaign announcement went viral, receiving over 100,000 retweets and "Kanye" became the number one trending term in the United States.[36] Various sources questioned whether West was truly running for president or not,[37] as his announcement came after the filing deadlines to run for a major party in all 50 states and most primary elections. He also missed at least four states' deadlines to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate.[38][lower-alpha 2] However, there is no official deadline to have a candidate registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).[39][lower-alpha 3] On July 7, West argued that he could gain access to appear on ballots beyond their deadline, using complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as precedent.[4]

On July 5, West tweeted a photograph of dome-like personal shelters with the caption "YZY SHLTRS in process". The structures are similar to the prefabricated subsidized housing prototypes West built in August 2019 (inspired by settlements on Tatooine from Star Wars) in Calabasas, California, which had to be torn down as a result of lacking proper permits with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.[42] The shelters are designed to be used as housing units for homeless people.[43] On July 7, Entertainment Tonight reported that West was allegedly "telling people close to him that his announcement of running for president is serious".[44] That same day, Trump told RealClearPolitics that he was watching the campaign intently, saying it could serve as a trial run for West if he were to run again in 2024.[45] The FEC began investigating fictitious filings under West's name.[46]

West's candidacy was covered by Forbes on July 8. West stated that he would make the final decision to run within 30 days and denied that his campaign was promotion for his forthcoming tenth studio album. He revealed his two campaign advisors were his wife Kim Kardashian and SpaceX and Tesla, Inc. CEO, Elon Musk. West also stated that he proposed to Musk that he would "be the head of our space program". West registered to vote for the first time within the previous week and selected Michelle Tidball, a relatively unknown Christian preacher from Wyoming, as his running mate.[47] West stated that he would run under the Birthday Party, because "when we win, it's everybody's birthday", and that he was running for president as a service to God.[4][48][49]

Musk reacted to the Forbes piece by tweeting, "We may have more differences of opinion than I anticipated". He later deleted his tweet.[50][51] Musk reiterated his support for the presidential campaign on July 13 after having a conversation with West where he further explained his views. However, Musk stated his opinion that West running in 2024 would be more preferable than 2020.[52] On July 9, Trump downplayed West's recent criticism of him, stating that West and Kardashian were "always going to be for us". Trump speculated that West would likely support him because the "radical left" needed to be stopped.[53] The same day, West tweeted a video of himself registering to vote for the first time at the Park County Clerk's Office in Cody, Wyoming. In the video, West discussed with an office employee about changing the difficulties of voter registration in the United States.[54]

On July 14, Ben Jacobs of Intelligencer reported that a source stated on July 8 that they were paid $5,000 to collect signatures on West's behalf in Florida. They needed to collect 132,781 valid signatures before a July 15 deadline for West to qualify on the ballot as a third-party candidate. The following day, voter turnout specialist Steve Kramer told Jacobs that he had been hired to get West on the ballot in South Carolina and Florida. Kramer stated that at the time, West's team was "working over weekend there, formalizing the FEC and other things that they've got to do when you have a lot of corporate lawyers involved." Kramer followed-up with Jacobs and stated that he had to fire his 180-person staff, made up of paid personnel and volunteers, because West was "out".[55]

West at his first campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina on July 19, 2020.

On July 15, a Statement of Organization (Form 1) was filed with the FEC. The filing declared a "Kanye 2020" campaign committee with West running as a presidential candidate under the Birthday Party.[56][57] The filing listed a property bought by West in October 2019 as its address, along with an inactive website and phone number.[57] West notarized an Oklahoma statement of candidacy while in Miami and had a representative pay a $35,000 filing fee on the day of the state's deadline.[58] The Oklahoma State Election Board later announced that West qualified to appear on the general election ballot as an independent candidate.[59] The following day, West filed a Statement of Candidacy (Form 2) with the FEC, indicating that $5,000 has been raised or spent in campaign-related expenses. Form 2 grants West candidacy status under federal campaign laws.[60]

On July 17, West tweeted out a form for collecting digital signatures from South Carolinians so that he could qualify as an independent candidate in the state; the deadline to collect 10,000 signatures was July 20. The campaign set up nine locations near Charleston, South Carolina, to collect signatures in-person, with West sharing the list of locations through Twitter. The petition locations ran from July 18 to 19.[61] West held his first campaign event at Exquis Event Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, on July 19.[62] West wore a bulletproof vest, spoke without a microphone, and called on audience members to speak. West criticized American abolitionist Harriet Tubman who never freed the slaves and believed that Tubman just had the slaves go work for other white people and cried during a conversation about abortion as an unborn baby and briefly mentioned that he and his wife were almost going to abort his eldest daughter, North.[63] He also discussed his opposition to gun control, his support for the LGBT community, and finding a way to fix drug addiction caused by health care.[64]

In an interview with Kris Kaylin of Charleston radio station WWWZ, West outlined the ten principles of his campaign and stated that he asked fellow rapper Jay-Z if he wanted to replace Tidball as his running mate.[65] The South Carolina Election Commission confirmed on July 20 that West failed to submit his petition on time.[66] On July 22, West tweeted that he may postpone his presidential run to 2024, though he subsequently deleted it.[67]

The withdrawn New Jersey petition had several signatures in a row with the same "little circle about the Is".[68]

On July 20, the campaign filed West as an independent candidate in Illinois, where West's childhood home city of Chicago is located, four minutes before the submission deadline.[69][70] Three objections were filed, all from the Chicago area, and one of which had five individual objectors.[70] August 21 was set as the deadline to verify if the campaign has submitted the minimum 2,500 valid signatures that are required for ballot access.[69] On August 7, 2020, Illinois election officials released a statement saying Kanye West only had 1,200 valid signatures, 1,300 short of qualifying for ballot access.[71]

On July 27, the campaign submitted its petition signatures in Missouri just before the deadline.[72] West also filed as a candidate in New Jersey.[73] Former Democratic congressional candidate in 2018 and attorney, Scott Salmon, challenged West's signature submissions in New Jersey on July 29. Salmon alleged several signatures were written by the same person, stating, "[t]he odds that 30 people in a row from all over the state would have a little circle about the Is is a little hard to believe".[68] The campaign withdrew its New Jersey petition on August 4.[74]

On July 29, TMZ reported that the campaign was canvassing in New York and West Virginia.[75] On August 3, Intelligencer reported the campaign had begun to expand signature-collecting operations into the swing states of Wisconsin and Ohio, along with Arkansas.[76] Multiple challenges have been made to West's petition to appear on the Wisconsin ballot.[77] One such challenge suggests numerous problems with West's nomination papers, including incorrect addresses and fake or fraudulent signatures, such as "Mickey Mouse" and "Bernie Sanders."[77] It also included affidavits from six individuals who said they were duped into putting their names on West's paperwork.[77] A lawyer for the campaign responded to the missed deadline allegation by blaming iPhone clocks for being "notoriously faulty".[78] West accused the Democratic Party of hiring a private investigator to follow his signature collectors as part of an "organized effort of harassment and intimidation".[79]

On August 7, 2020 it became mathematically impossible for the campaign to get the required amount of electoral votes for West to win the presidency.[80]

On August 20, 2020 election officials in Wisconsin and Montana decided that West wasn't eligible to appear on their state ballots. A day later, officials in Ohio, Illinois and West Virginia ruled that he didn't qualify either for their respective ballots.[81] On the contrary, West has qualified to appear on the ballot in at least Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah and Vermont, according to spokespersons for the election offices in those states. A spokesman for the Iowa secretary of state's office said West's nominating petitions have been accepted in that state but are still subject to objections.[81]

In Vermont, West submitted three presidential electors which included Chuck Wilton, a Vermont delegate to the 2020 Republican National Convention. Wilton was later replaced by Bradford Broyles, the former chairman of the Rutland County Republican Party, as a presidential elector for West. In Colorado, four of the nine presidential electors for West were Republican operatives.[82][83] In Tennessee, West submitted twelve presidential electors which included Rick Williams, a Tennessee delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention who had supported Trump and served as director of Middle Tennessee for Trump.[84]

Gregg Keller, the former executive director of the American Conservative Union and worker for Mitt Romney and Josh Hawley, was listed as West's point of contact when he filed in Arkansas. Lane Ruhland, who had served as legal counsel for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, was filmed dropping off the signatures to qualify West for the state ballot to the state elections commission.[82][83] In Virginia, West's campaign gives the address of the law firm Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky, whose managing partner is state senator Jill Holtzman Vogel. In Wisconsin, West's legal advocate had been secretary-treasurer of the Minnesota Republican party.[85]

West met with Trump's senior advisor Jared Kushner in Colorado to discuss "black empowerment".[86]

Veteran Republican operatives have been helping him organize and petition. West has accused the Democratic Party of having a “plantation” mentality and hasn't delivered on promises of racial justice.[87]

On August 18, West tweeted a promotional poster for his campaign.[88] It features pictures of diverse people, in between the phrase "Kanye 2020 Vision". An image of Kirsten Dunst is featured prominently, prompting the actress to reply, "What's the message here, and why am I apart [sic] of it?"[89]

West debuted his first official campaign video on October 12, in which he emphasized religious freedom and family values as core issues to his candidacy.[90]

West submitted signatures to obtain ballot access in Ohio, Wisconsin and West Virginia. In all three states the Secretary of State determined there were not enough valid signatures and denied West ballot access. Following these decisions, West filed lawsuits in all three states to overturn these decisions.[148]

On August 5, 2020, West submitted his presidential petition in Ohio with 14,886 signatures, more than the 5,000 required.[149] However, the Secretary of State of Ohio rejected his petition stating that the original declaration of candidacy did not match the copies used on each petition sheet.[150] On August 26, West filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of State to the Supreme Court of Ohio to get onto the ballot, but the Ohio Supreme Court ruled 7–0 on September 10, that West would not appear on the ballot.[151][152]

When West submitted his presidential petitions in Wisconsin multiple witnesses alleged that he was eighteen seconds past the 5:00 p.m. deadline.[153] A challenge to West's petitions was filed.[154] On August 19, the staff of the Wisconsin Elections Commission recommended that West be removed from the ballot, and on August 20, the commission voted to removed West from the ballot.[155][156] West filed a lawsuit after being removed from the ballot.[157] On September 10, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ordered election officials to stop mailing out ballots until the court ruled on whether or not Howie Hawkins and/or West could appear on the ballot.[158] On September 11, Brown County Circuit Judge John Zakowski ruled that the election commission was correct to remove West from the ballot.[159][160]

On September 14, 2020, a U.S. District Judge in West Virginia struck down West's challenge to appear on the West Virginia ballot.[161]

Lawsuits were filed to keep West off the ballot in Virginia,[162] Arizona,[163] and Idaho.[164] On September 3, 2020, a Richmond, Virginia, judge ordered that Kanye West's name not appear on the Virginia ballot,[146] and a Maricopa County, Arizona, judge ordered that Kanye West's name not appear on the Arizona ballot.[139] West appealed the decision, but the decision became final after it was confirmed by Arizona Supreme Court on September 8.[165] West also appealed the Virginia decision to the Virginia Supreme Court.[166] On September 17, 2020, the Virginia Supreme Court rejected West's appeal to appear on the ballot.[167]

An attempt was made to remove West from the Idaho presidential ballot on the grounds that West could not run as an independent candidate while registered as a Republican.[168] However, Lawerence Denney, the Secretary of State of Idaho, stated that West would remain on the ballot.[169] The Idaho Democratic Party filed a lawsuit to remove West from the ballot on the basis that he can't run as an independent because he is registered as a Republican.[170]

In October 2019, West spoke out against abortion, stating "thou shalt not kill". He also alleged that the Democratic Party was pushing black people to use levonorgestrel, commonly known as Plan B, as a form of voter suppression. West's comments were praised by anti-abortion organizations Live Action and Students for Life, and the conservative news website The Daily Wire.[171] In July 2020, West stated "I am pro-life because I'm following the word of the Bible" and expressed his belief that "Planned Parenthoods have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devil's work."[4] Nia Martin-Robinson of Planned Parenthood criticized West's statements, asserting that "[a]ny insinuation that abortion is Black genocide is offensive and infantilizing".[172]

At a July rally in South Carolina, West stated abortion should be legal because "the law is not by God anyway". However, he proposed giving every mother that does not abort their child a financial incentive, using "$1 million or something in that range" as an example. He did not disclose how he would pay for such incentives.[63]

In November 2016, West told black people to "stop focusing on racism", but clarified that his support for Trump did not mean he did not "believe in Black Lives Matter."[173] In June 2020, West participated in the George Floyd protests and donated $2 million to help victims of the rioting that took place during demonstrations. He also paid off Floyd's daughter's college tuition.[174][175] The following month, West stated that one of his priorities would be to end police brutality, adding that "[the] police are people too".[4]

In July 2020, West voiced his support for the legalization of marijuana.[176]

In July 2020, West announced his opposition to capital punishment, citing the biblical phrase "thou shalt not kill", one of the Ten Commandments.[4]

West's platform advocates creating a culture of life, buttressing each position with a verse from the Christian Bible.[7] Supporting a consistent life ethic, he opposes abortion and capital punishment.[8]

West has stated that he contracted COVID-19 in February 2020.[4] In July 2020, West raised his concerns about a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine, calling vaccines the "mark of the beast". West expressed hesitancy with vaccines, alleging that vaccinated children become paralyzed and that "the humans that have the Devil inside them" want to implement microchips into people, therefore preventing them from entering Heaven.[4] West provided no evidence for his claims.[177] When asked about how to address the disease, West suggested prayer and that people "stop doing things that make God mad".[177]

In November 2019, West called for a more sustainable economy, which would include plans to commence hydroponic cotton, wheat and hemp farming in Cody, Wyoming. West envisioned that manufacturing for his Yeezy brand would be entirely moved to the Americas, including his ranch in Cody.[31] In July 2020, West called for the return of a pre-industrial agrarian society.[178] That same month, West stated that he wanted to revitalize the economy by reducing household debt, national debt, and student debt. He stated that the U.S. should remain a net exporter of gas, oil, and coal.[65]

In November 2016, West stated he wanted to create "new schools that approach the way we should receive our education post-the internet" instead of a "1930s idea of how to put everyone in the same factory."[173] In October 2019, West condemned "woke" culture, saying it would soon "take Jesus out of school."[179] In July 2020, West stated that schools were "made for us to not truly be all we can be but to be just good enough to work for the corporations that designed the school systems". West expressed his belief that removing prayer in school was a plot by the Devil that increased the suicide rate among children and murder rate in Chicago.[4]

That same month, West stated he wanted to restructure the education system by providing multiple vocational options, with a focus on aiding the most at-risk students.[65]

In November 2019, West called for research on making the process of dyeing more eco-friendly, stating that "dyeing is one of the main things that's impacting the planet and the fashion industry".[31] In July 2020, he stated that he wanted "environmentally-friendly solutions in every area".[65]

In July 2020, West stated that he would adopt an America First stance; however, he also stated that he needed to further develop his foreign policy. West expressed his admiration for China, stating: "The money is gonna come back. I love China. I love China. It's not China's fault that [COVID-19] disease. It's not the Chinese people's fault. They're God's people also."[4] West lived in Nanjing, China, during his childhood.[180] That same month, West stated he wanted to build strong relations with nations committed to fair trade.[65] Back in 2010, in a remix to his hit-song, Power, which was backed by Jay-Z, he rapped in favor of bringing troops home from the war with Iraq and against military action in Iran and North Korea.[181][182]

West said that he would model the running and management of his potential administration on the "framework" of the Marvel Comics country of Wakanda, stating that "...it's the best explanation of what our design group is going to feel like in the White House." West elaborated that he would collaborate with scientists and industries like "big pharma" to "work, innovate, together."[183]

In an Oval Office visit in October 2018, West voiced his support for the Second Amendment, stating: "The problem is illegal guns. Illegal guns is the problem, not legal guns". His statement drew support from the National Rifle Association (NRA).[184] In July 2020, West stated that foreign countries would enslave Americans if guns were taken away, adding that "Guns don't kill people. People kill people."[64]

In July 2020, West expressed his support for illegal immigrants.[185]

In July 2020, West stated that he wanted to reform the legal system. He claimed that the Department of Justice has unfairly treated its citizens, especially African-Americans.[65]

West has advocated for the release of Chicagoan gang leader Larry Hoover, who is serving six consecutive life sentences. In October 2018, West elaborated that "in an alternate universe, I am [Hoover] and I have to go and get him free."[186]

In July 2020, West stated that he wanted to cut the military budget while maintaining "commitment to rule of law and strong national defense".[65]

In September 2018, West called for the alteration of the Thirteenth Amendment because of a loophole that suggests it is legal to enslave convicts.[187] During a meeting with Trump the following month, West called the Thirteenth Amendment a "trap door".[188] In October 2019, West stated during a performance with the Sunday Service Choir that people were too busy discussing music and sports instead of focusing on a broken system that he claims imprisons "one in three African-Americans...in this country."[189] The following month, West alleged that the media calls him "crazy" to silence his opinion, connecting this to the incarceration of African-Americans and celebrities.[40] On his album Jesus Is King (2019), West discussed the Thirteenth Amendment, mass incarceration, criticized the prison–industrial complex, and connected three-strikes laws to slavery.[190][191][192]

The first item on Kanye West's platform is the restoration of school prayer in the American educational system.[7]

In May 2018, West espoused the "Democratic plantation" theory that welfare is a tool used by the Democratic Party to keep black Americans as an underclass that remains reliant on the party.[193] During a September 2018 special guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, after the show had already gone off the air, West alleged to the crowd that it was a Democratic Party plan "to take the fathers out [of] the home and promote welfare."[194][195]

The following month, West alleged that homicide was a byproduct of a "welfare state" that destroyed black families. Jelani Cobb challenged West's claim in The New Yorker (at least as much as it applied to Chicago), arguing that "the catalysts for violence in that city predate the 'welfare state' and the rise of single-parent black households, in the nineteen-seventies." He pointed to findings from Chicago Commission on Race Relations regarding the violence of the Chicago race riots of 1919 and a 1945 study entitled Black Metropolis, published by sociologists St. Clair Drake and Horace Cayton, which Cobb wrote, "detailed the ways in which discrimination in housing and employment were negatively affecting black migrants." He also noted similar observations made by W. E. B. Du Bois in Philadelphia, in 1903.[196]