Vermin Supreme 2020 presidential campaign

The 2020 presidential campaign of Vermin Supreme began on June 26, 2019.[2][3]

Pony Up for Vermin Supreme
Campaign2020 United States presidential election (Libertarian primaries)
CandidateVermin Supreme
Perennial candidate and performance artist
Spike Cohen
Podcaster
AffiliationLibertarian Party
StatusEnded
AnnouncedMay 18, 2019
Key peopleDesarae Lindsey (campaign manager)
Richard Manzo (chief strategist)
ReceiptsUS$59,068.35[1] (05/13/2020)
SloganThis is the way.
In on the joke.
Pony up America.
Website
verminsupreme2020.com inonthejoke.net

Background

Vermin Supreme is a perennial candidate who has run in several United States presidential primaries. Supreme has run in the 2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries,[4] the 2008 Republican presidential primaries,[5] and the 2012[6] and 2016[7] Democratic Party presidential primaries.

After having announced plans in 2018 of running for the 2020 Libertarian Party presidential nomination, Supreme filed his candidacy with the FEC on June 26, 2019.[8][3] According to FEC filings, he chose Desarae Lindsey as his campaign manager. He also chose Richard Manzo, budget committeeman in Goffstown, New Hampshire as his chief strategist. Supreme has described his campaign staff as including "about a dozen people around the country with the various state coordinators," and his effort as "ultimately [his] first real campaign".[9]

Campaign

Vermin Supreme appeared on Fox News' Watter's World on May 18, 2019 to discuss his campaign for the Libertarian nomination.[10]

In December 2019, Supreme selected Spike Cohen as his running mate.[11][12]

On January 11, 2020, Supreme won a non-binding presidential preference poll conducted internally by the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire, winning 26 out of 44 votes cast.[13][14][15] The primary was tabulated using Bucklin voting.[16] On the 3rd of March 2020, Supreme was declared the winner of the Massachusetts primary.[17] On May 23, Supreme placed third on the party's final round of balloting. Supreme's former running-mate, Spike Cohen, went on to win the Libertarian Party's vice presidential nomination.

Policies

In May 2020, Vermin Supreme and his VP running mate, Spike Cohen, released their initial policies. These policies, which were not satirical in nature, sought to address ways to approach real world challenges in a Libertarian fashion with minimal disruption to those affected.

Initial policies covered were: [18]

  • Gender / Sexual Minorities
  • Pandemic Preparedness
  • Sex Work
  • Drug Policy
  • Immigration
  • Abortion
  • Firearms
  • Environmental Disasters
  • Climate Change

Satirical candidacy

Many have cited Vermin Supreme's presidential campaign as harmful to the credibility or image of the Libertarian Party.[19][20] As Supreme told New Hampshire magazine, "It’s been a very interesting sell trying to convince the Libertarian Party that a serious party can take a joke candidate and get their 5% without being pegged as a joke party."[21] Spike Cohen, Supreme's running mate, remarked that their campaign is "perfectly serious". Explaining the campaign's message, Cohen said, "it's the system that's a joke and it treats us as a joke and it treats the idea of having more than two options as a joke. We're changing the punch line by trolling the system."[22]

Supreme has said that, in contrast to his past runs for the presidency, he considers this campaign a "serious" bid.[23][24]

Endorsements
State legislators
Municipal officials
  • Spencer Dias, Goffstown, NH budget committee member and Vice Chair of Southern New Hampshire Libertarian Party[27]
  • Richard Manzo, Goffstown, NH budget committee member and Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire[28]
Party officials
Individuals
Organizations

References
  1. "PONY UP FOR VERMIN SUPREME - committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  2. De Leon, Andres (19 April 2019). "2020: The Year of the Libertarians?". The Libertarian Republic. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. "FEC FORM 2 : STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY" (PDF). Docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  4. Franke-Ruta, Garance (January 9, 2004). "Running Gag: A campaign veteran comes to the D.C. primary". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  5. Johnson, Bridget (8 August 2009). "Final 2008 tally in: Bill Clinton edges out Santa". TheHill. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  6. Grossman, Samantha. "Vermin Supreme: The Presidential Candidate Who Promises Free Ponies". Time. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  7. "Can a Zombie-Powered Presidential Candidate Go Legit?". National Journal. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  8. "Adam Kokesh vs Vermin Supreme 2020". May 28, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2020 – via YouTube.com.
  9. Diavolo, Lucy. "Vermin Supreme Is Getting Real for 2020". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  10. "Vermin Supreme makes his 2020 bid for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination". Fox News. May 18, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  11. "Please Meet my Vice President Spike Cohen". December 17, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2020 – via Twitter.com.
  12. Bouchelle, Sydney (January 4, 2020). "PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL CAMPAIGNS IN WILMINGTON". WWAY. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  13. Brown, Elizabeth Nolan (January 13, 2020). "More Holes in the 'Imminent Threat' Story on Soleimani". Reason. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  14. Dwilson, Stephanie Dube (12 January 2020). "Yes, Vermin Supreme Won the New Hampshire Libertarian Party Primary". Heavy.com. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  15. "Vermin Supreme Wins New Hampshire LP Primary!". Free Keene. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  16. Dance, George J. (January 14, 2020). "Strange doings in New Hampshire". The Nolan Chart. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  17. "PD43+ » Search Elections". PD43+. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  18. "#InOnTheJoke".
  19. Bentley, Robert J. (March 16, 2019). "Vermin Supreme Is What's Wrong With The Libertarian Party". The Liberty Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  20. Henderson, Luke (June 7, 2019). "Vermin Supreme, Volodomyr Zelensky & Political Spectacle – World Liberty Weekend". Being Libertarian. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  21. Frantz, Elizabeth (December 18, 2019). "Meet the Primary Superfans". New Hampshire. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  22. Papantonis, Nicholas (January 29, 2020). "Myrtle Beach man plans to ride ponies and plutonium to 2020 VP nomination". WPDE-TV. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  23. Sullivan, Max (July 28, 2019). "Seabrook's Abramson seeks Libertarian presidential nomination". The Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  24. Diavolo, Lucy (February 5, 2020). "Vermin Supreme, the "Elder Statesman of Wingnuts," Says His 2020 Presidential Campaign Is for Real". Teen Vogue. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  25. "Caleb Q. Dyer" – via www.facebook.com.
  26. "Brandon Phinney" – via www.facebook.com.
  27. "Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com.
  28. "Richard Manzo - Twitter".
  29. "Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com.
  30. "Peyton Kunselman". www.facebook.com.
  31. "A Case for Vermin Supreme in 2020 | Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  32. "Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com.
  33. "Kim Ruff Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com.
  34. Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/roman.king.35325/posts/937659446667825%7CRoman King Endorses Vermin Supreme|website=www.facebook.com}}
  35. "James M. Ray endorses Vermin". www.facebook.com.
  36. "Craig Bowden endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com.
  37. "Rachel Johnson endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com.
  38. "Kryssi Witchers endorses Vermin Supreme".
  39. "Sanj Mohip endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  40. "Proud to endorse @VerminSupreme for president". twitter.com.
  41. "Bennet Morris endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com.
  42. "Scott Zimmerman endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  43. "Brian Ellison Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  44. "Ashley Shade Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  45. "Jon-Luc Tesky Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  46. "Dave Jones Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  47. "Rachel Johnson Endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  48. "Peyton Kunselman Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  49. "Debra Altman Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  50. "Justin Tucker Endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  51. "Brent DeRidder Endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  52. "Morgan Rigg Endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  53. O'Brien, Avens (2020-05-22). "Politics Is A Joke- But What If The Libertarian Party Was In On It?". The Libertarian Republic. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  54. "Zachary Houk Endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  55. "Dan "Taxation Is Theft" Behrman endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  56. "Philip Labonte on Instagram: "Because who doesn't want a pony?!"". Instagram.
  57. "Vermin Supreme is a solid stable genius!! He's the ideal Presidential Candidate to lead America into a new decade of absurdity!! Vote 4 Verm in 2020". November 22, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019 – via Twitter.
  58. Supreme (TM), Vermin (February 8, 2020). "Very glad to further the US-UK special relationship by receiving an endorsement from Prime Minister @LordBuckethead last night. #fitn #nhpoliticspic.twitter.com/6smX7CdLOk".
  59. "Hodey Johnson endorses Vermin Supreme". Faceboook.
  60. Lindsey, Ryan (2020-05-17). "I Endorse Vermin Supreme". Editor and Contributors Blog. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  61. "Rachael Belle Endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  62. "Howie Snowdon (Lions of Liberty) Endorses Vermin Supreme / Spike Cohen". youtube.com.
  63. "Joshua Dial (Tiger King) Endorses Vermin Supreme 2020". youtube.com.
  64. Brian McWilliams (Lions of Liberty) Endorses Vermin Supreme 2020, retrieved 2020-05-20
  65. "Chuck Smitley Endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  66. "Scott Zimmerman Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  67. "Jake Leonard Endorses Vermin Surpeme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  68. "Kenny Kelly Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  69. Briones 💡, Heidi (2020-05-22). "Heidi Briones endorses Vermin Supreme". @HeidiBriones. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  70. "Thadeus Freed Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  71. "Dan Smotz endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  72. Party, Libertarian Socialist Caucus-Libertarian (2 February 2020). "Vermin Supreme, duh!https://twitter.com/ToddHagopian/status/1224080983349252097 …". @LibSocCaucusLP. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  73. "Liberty Republicans on Facebook". Facebook.
  74. "Thevoluntaryist". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  75. "Pro-choice Libertarians endorses Vermin Supreme for President". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  76. Express, Free Pony (2020-05-22). "Free Pony Express Endorses Vermin Supreme and Spike Cohen". @FreePonyExpress. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  77. "Ruff/Phillips Campaign Endorses Vermin Supreme". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
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