Idaho has 7 candidates on its presidential ballot, including Kanye West – KTVB.com
All seven of Idahos current general-election presidential candidates have met the criteria to be on the ballot, although West faces a legal challenge.
BOISE, Idaho Beyond the marquee matchup of Biden vs. Trump, there are five more names on Idahos presidential ballot, from Kanye West to Rocky De La Fuente.
Rap star Wests ballot status is under legal challenge, but ballots already are being printed. And Idaho is notorious for having an easy process to get on its ballot; back in 2008, a Texas prison inmate, Keith Russell Judd, appeared on the ballot for the states Democratic presidential primary simply by sending a $1,000 check from his prison account.
Idaho was the only state where Judd made the ballot; at the time, then-Secretary of State Ben Ysursa said, We got conned. But the Democratic primary that year was of no legal significance anyway, as the party was using caucuses to select its presidential electors.
For the general election, there are two ways candidates can qualify for the Idahos presidential ballot: Either be the certified nominee of a recognized political party, or, when filing as an independent, submit at least 1,000 verified signatures of registered Idaho voters. All seven of Idahos current general-election presidential candidates have met one or the other of those criteria.
The four recognized political parties in Idaho with ballot status are Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Constitution Party. The chair of the party does that certification, said Jason Hancock, deputy Idaho secretary of state.
So here are the candidates those four parties have certified:
Republican: Incumbent President Donald Trump and incumbent Vice President Mike Pence. Trumps campaign website is donaldjtrump.com, where he touts his America First platform, promising to lower taxes, repeal and replace Obamacare, end stifling regulations, protect our borders, keep jobs in our country, take care of our veterans, strengthen our military and law enforcement, and renegotiate bad trade deals. Pence is the former governor of Indiana and served in Congress for 12 years.
Democrat: Former Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential running mate Kamala Harris of California. Bidens campaign website is joebiden.com, where he promotes his Build Back Better platform, promising to rebuild the backbone of the country: The middle class, while also offering detailed proposals issues ranging from jobs to racial equity to energy. Harris is the former California attorney general and currently serves in the U.S. Senate.
Constitution Party: Presidential nominee Don Blankenship of Henderson, Nevada; and running mate William Mohr of Michigan. Blankenships campaign website is donblankenship.com, where he touts his Third Way for America, based on equality, ethics and exactness. The former CEO of Massey Energy served a year in federal prison and a halfway house on misdemeanor charges of conspiring to violate federal mine safety laws related to a 2010 West Virginia coal mine explosion in which 29 workers died. Mohr is a former truck driver who chairs the Michigan affiliate of the Constitution Party.
Libertarian Party: Presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen of Greenville, South Carolina, and running mate Jeremy Spike Cohen of Boston. Jorgensens campaign website is jo20.com, where she advocates U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations and NATO; free-market economic policies; and decriminalizing drug use. Jorgensen, who was the Libertarian Partys nominee for vice president in 1996, is a psychology instructor at Clemson University with advanced degrees and a background in high-tech; Cohen is a retired web designer and podcast host.
Jorgensens campaign bus tour is bringing her to Idaho this week, with stops planned Wednesday in Boise and Thursday in Idaho Falls.
The three independent candidates who are currently scheduled to appear on the Idaho presidential ballot assuming the court challenge doesnt remove West are:
Roque Rocky De La Fuente of San Diego, who on his candidacy papers asked that he be listed on the ballot as Rocky Rocky De La Fuente, and running mate Darcy Richardson of Jacksonville, Florida. De La Fuentes campaign website is rocky101.com. A businessman and perennial candidate, De La Fuente has run multiple times for president and Congress, and has run as a Democrat, Republican, third-party candidate and independent. Richardson is a former Democrat and founder of the Florida Peace and Freedom Party.
In this years presidential primary, De La Fuente paid the $1,000 filing fee and ran as a Republican in Idaho, garnering 637 votes. At the same time, his son, also named Roque De La Fuente, ran in Idahos Democratic primary; he collected just 22 votes.
Brock Pierce of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and running mate Karla Ballard of Jacksonville, Florida. Pierce is a cryptocurrency entrepreneur and former child actor originally from Minnesota; his campaign website is brock.vote, where he lists his campaign principles as liberty, sustainability, wellness, humanity and truth. Ballard is a businesswoman and founder and CEO of YING, a peer-to-peer skill sharing platform.
Kanye West and running mate Michelle Tidball, both of Cody, Wyoming. Tidball is a self-described biblical life coach. Wests minimal campaign website is kanye2020.country; on it, he quotes from the Bible and supports school prayer, reforming policing; and avoiding foreign quagmires, among other aims.
West, a famed rap star who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, is a former supporter of President Trump who filed to run as an independent in Idaho, certifying that he wasnt a member of any political party, but hes actually a registered Republican in Wyoming, which he listed as his state of residence. West also noted on a Federal Election Commission filing an affiliation with the BDY party, an apparent reference to the Birthday Party, which West has cited in public statements but which isnt a recognized political party in Idaho.
West told Forbes in July he picked that party name Because when we win, its everybodys birthday. Hes qualified for the ballot in 10 states, including such battleground states as Colorado, Iowa and Minnesota. Hes made rambling statements about his reasons for running; in several states, Trump campaign backers have worked to help him qualify for the ballot, according to national news reports on CNN, Forbes and Politico.
The Idaho Democratic Party and two Idaho voters filed suit to have West removed from the ballot, contending in court documents that as a registered Republican, hes ineligible to run as an independent, and that votes for an ineligible candidate will dilute the voting power of Democratic voters, which will result in votes being effectively wasted, effectively disenfranchising voters.
Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, when asked about the West candidacy and the legal challenge, said, Im not surprised by anything any more.
West qualified for the Idaho ballot by collecting 1,000 verified signatures of Idaho registered voters between Aug. 17 and Aug. 24, all in Ada County. Those signing included registered Republicans, Democrats, third-party members and unaffiliated voters.
You know, I didnt even know Id signed that, said retired Boise real estate broker Randy Hickox, a registered Republican, when asked why hed signed. Mustve been something that popped up on my computer or something. I think he has the right to be on the ballot, but I didnt sign up for him. Hes not my guy.
Molly OShea, a registered Democrat and retired educator, said she was approached by a gentleman in the parking lot at Albertsons on Broadway and said shed not at that point heard about Wests support for Trump. The intention was not to take votes away from the Democratic Party, but rather to give voice to independents as I feel we need to be more inclusive in our ballot process, OShea said. I am so taken aback.
If you enjoy reading articles like this one from our partners at the Idaho Press, please considersubscribing to them for newspaper delivery or digital accessto help ensure stories like this are told.
See all of our latest political coverage in ourYouTube playlist:
Read more:
Idaho has 7 candidates on its presidential ballot, including Kanye West - KTVB.com
- Is Trump the most libertarian president ever? Left and Right alike misunderstood his worldview - UnHerd - January 9th, 2025 [January 9th, 2025]
- Its a Weird Time to Be a Libertarian - The New Republic - January 9th, 2025 [January 9th, 2025]
- British politicians are turning me into a libertarian - The Critic - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Our Libertarian moment is coming. Why opposition will weather it better | Opinion - The Topeka Capital-Journal - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Libertarian Populism Killed the Spending Bill - The American Conservative - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Analysis | Will Trump have a Libertarian in his Cabinet? - The Washington Post - December 18th, 2024 [December 18th, 2024]
- Reports of the NC Libertarian Partys death have been exaggerated - Carolina Journal - December 18th, 2024 [December 18th, 2024]
- Time Reflects the Revolution of Libertarian Liberalism: Trump and Milei on the Global Stage - InfoNegocios Miami - December 14th, 2024 [December 14th, 2024]
- ARGT: Riding The Libertarian Wave Of Economic Revival - Seeking Alpha - December 12th, 2024 [December 12th, 2024]
- The Washington Post's Kate Cohen Discovers Inner Libertarian - RealClearMarkets - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Heres to hoping Trump delivers on some of his Libertarian promises - OCRegister - November 23rd, 2024 [November 23rd, 2024]
- Publish more libertarian and conservative voices, and more Cameron Smith columns | Letters - Tennessean - November 23rd, 2024 [November 23rd, 2024]
- Liberal, conservative and libertarian students discuss the state of the country after election - Wyoming Public Media - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Expecting pardon from Trump, libertarian writer pleads guilty in Capitol riot case - WUSA9.com - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- ITS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFETIME TO BE THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT - Chase Oliver - November 14th, 2024 [November 14th, 2024]
- 2024 Election Wrap Up - Libertarian Party of Michigan - November 14th, 2024 [November 14th, 2024]
- RFK Jr., who dropped out of presidential race in August, received more votes in Alabama than Green Party, Libertarian Party combined - Yahoo! Voices - November 14th, 2024 [November 14th, 2024]
- Who is Chase Oliver? What to know about the Libertarian candidate appearing on US ballots - USA TODAY - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- Colorado fights Libertarian Party lawsuit seeking hand count after leak of voting-machine passwords - Washington Times - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- How the Libertarian presidential candidate could be a spoiler for Trump - Washington Examiner - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- Excluding the Libertarian may have saved Miller-Meeks in IA-01 - Bleeding Heartland - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- Who is Chase Oliver, Libertarian candidate garnering attention in the US elections? - Firstpost - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- Colorado Libertarian Party calls for hand count in lawsuit over leaked voting-machine passwords - Washington Times - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- Opinion: Masks are over, and so is the Libertarian Party in Indiana - IndyStar - October 31st, 2024 [October 31st, 2024]
- Mailer in CD-3 appears aimed at boosting Libertarian candidate - The Durango Herald - October 31st, 2024 [October 31st, 2024]
- Raw interview with Bernard Johnson, Libertarian candidate for U.S. Representative, District 19 - MyFoxZone.com KIDY - October 31st, 2024 [October 31st, 2024]
- Meet the Libertarian running for Congress in IN-3 - WANE - October 28th, 2024 [October 28th, 2024]
- Q&A: Gideon Oakes, Libertarian candidate for Public Utilities Commission - News From The States - October 16th, 2024 [October 16th, 2024]
- Libertarian Donald Rainwater thinks he can win it all in 2024 - WTHITV.com - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Libertarian Rainwater thinks he can win it all in 2024 - pharostribune.com - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Libertarian Donald Rainwater thinks he can win it all in 2024 - Chronicle-Tribune - October 9th, 2024 [October 9th, 2024]
- Harry Bronson, candidate for NYS Assembly; the state of the Libertarian party; How to make college more accessible: coming up on... - October 4th, 2024 [October 4th, 2024]
- Opinion | Vivek Ramaswamy Is No Friend of the Libertarian Movement - The Wall Street Journal - October 1st, 2024 [October 1st, 2024]
- Libertarian Party has the right platform to restore America -- Tim Johnson - Madison.com - September 22nd, 2024 [September 22nd, 2024]
- Lyon Countys current sheriff will appear on November ballot as Libertarian candidate - Dakota News Now - September 22nd, 2024 [September 22nd, 2024]
- N.H. Libertarian Party encourages 'assassination' of Harris, drawing scrutiny from state, federal authorities - WBUR News - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Feds aware of' NH Libertarian Party's post glorifying killing of VP Harris - NBC Boston - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- N.H. Libertarian Party shares, deletes post on X endorsing the assassination of VP Harris - The Boston Globe - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Libertarian Party NH Posts Position on Political Assassinations - InDepthNH.org - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- New Hampshire Libertarian Party shares and deletes post that suggests assassinating Harris would be heroic - The Independent - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Lyon Countys current sheriff will appear on November ballot as Libertarian candidate - KTIV Siouxland's News Channel - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Libertarian Party of New Hampshires Post on X Urging Assassination of Harris Prompts Visit From FBI - The New York Sun - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Demands for investigation after NH Libertarian Party shares threatening Harris - AlterNet - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Libertarian candidates for Congress will not be on Iowa ballots after final court decision - KCRG - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Iowa Libertarian Party appeals to Supreme Court to have names on ballot - WHO TV 13 Des Moines News & Weather - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Newscast 9.12.2024: Libertarian congressional nominees won't be on Iowa ballots; College enrollments up at all 3 Iowa public universities &... - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Libertarian will run write-in campaign - Southeast Iowa Union - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- New IMF chief negotiators leave Libertarian gov't reassessing the turf - MercoPress - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Meet the gay, gun-toting libertarian whos giving Trump a run for his money in swing states - Reckon - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Libertarian candidates for Congress will not be on Iowa ballots after final court decision - WOWT - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Iowa Libertarian Congressional candidates say the race isnt over - KCRG - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Iowa Supreme Court: Libertarian candidates for Congress wont be on the ballot - The Gazette - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Libertarian candidates for Congress will be left off Iowa ballots after final court decision - Houston Chronicle - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Chase Oliver seeks to build Libertarian Party through White House run, targeting ballot access wins - 11Alive.com WXIA - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Iowa Supreme Court rules that Libertarian candidates can be kept off the ballot - The Center Square - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Libertarian candidates for Congress will be left off Iowa ballots after final court decision - The Caledonian-Record - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Libertarian Congressional Candidates Lose Bid To Be On Iowa Ballot - iHeart - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against putting Libertarian candidates on the ballot - ABC 6 News KAAL TV - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Iowa Supreme Court rejects Libertarian Party bid to appear on November ballot - kwwl.com - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - News-Press Now - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - The Associated Press - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa Judge Rules Against Libertarian Candidates, Keeping Their Names off the Ballot for Congress - U.S. News & World Report - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - KCCI Des Moines - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - ABC News - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - Local 5 - weareiowa.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- OPB Politics Now: Why Oregons Republican Party is so focused on the tiny Libertarian Party - Oregon Public Broadcasting - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Libertarian Candidate for State Treasurer Hopes to Give the People a Window into the Treasury - Arkansas Money & Politics - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - The Caledonian-Record - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa court heart arguments over Libertarian candidates ballot access - ABC 6 News KAAL TV - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - Globe Gazette - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - LocalNews8.com - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress - Oil City Derrick - September 8th, 2024 [September 8th, 2024]
- Libertarian candidates argue to judge to get back on Iowa ballot. When will a ruling come? - Des Moines Register - September 6th, 2024 [September 6th, 2024]
- Libertarian candidates in Iowa fighting to place their names on the ballot - WQAD Moline - September 6th, 2024 [September 6th, 2024]
- I want to provide an alternative to voters: Libertarian nominee Chase Oliver | The Hill - NewsNation Now - September 6th, 2024 [September 6th, 2024]
- Current Lyon County Sheriff allowed to appear on ballot as Libertarian - KCAU 9 - September 6th, 2024 [September 6th, 2024]
- Current Lyon County Sheriff allowed to appear on ballot as Libertarian - KELOLAND.com - September 6th, 2024 [September 6th, 2024]
- Judge gives Libertarian Party a court win, temporarily halting ballot certification - KGAN TV - September 6th, 2024 [September 6th, 2024]
- Hearing held for sheriff to be allowed as libertarian candidate - Dakota News Now - September 6th, 2024 [September 6th, 2024]
- Iowa Libertarian Party granted a temporary injunction on ballot approval - UI The Daily Iowan - September 6th, 2024 [September 6th, 2024]