Musician and entrepreneur Kanye West stunned Americans last month when he abruptly announced his campaign for President of the United States.
Though West has missed the filing deadline for multiple states, efforts to get him on the ballot in some states—including the crucial swing state of Wisconsin—are very much alive, largely thanks to local Republican politicos.
According to Vice, Lane Ruhland—a Republican elections lawyer—was seen by Wisconsin journalist Matt Smith submitting signatures in support of West's candidacy to the election office in Wisconsin.
She was caught on video.
“No comment" as woman enters election commission building just after 5p in Madison to drop off signatures for Kanye West pic.twitter.com/zVxePn5Fe2
— Matt Smith (@mattsmith_news) August 4, 2020
Ruhland is active in Wisconsin GOP politics and without securing the state's 10 electoral votes, Trump's pathways to reelection all but evaporate. Recent polls have shown Wisconsin leaning toward Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Ruhland was the lawyer on record in the Trump campaign's efforts to censor an ad from the Democratic political action committee Priorities USA. She was representing the campaign in court only one week before filing on behalf of West.
Another operative is Mark Jacoby, an executive at Let The Voters Decide, which the New York Times reported is collecting signatures for West's candidacy in three states. Jacoby was arrested in 2008 on voter fraud charges while working with the California Republican Party.
Chuck Wilton, a pro-Trump convention delegate from Vermont, is a West campaign elector as well. Wilton's wife is a Trump appointee at the United States Department of Agriculture.
Gregg Keller, former executive director of the American Conservative Union, is listed as the West campaign's contact person in the state of Arkansas.
.@RGreggKeller, a veteran Republican operative, was listed as the point of contact on Kanye West's submission to get on the ballot in Arkansas pic.twitter.com/4TNZhr6rfm
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) August 3, 2020
It's becoming more and more clear that Republicans are hoping West can attract enough would-be Biden votes to eke out a victory in crucial states. This would be a similar dynamic to 2016, with third party candidacies like Jill Stein's and Gary Johnson's blamed by many for preventing nominee Hillary Clinton from securing a majority in states like Pennsylvania and Michigan.
West suffers from bipolar disorder and has had severe public mental health episodes in the past. West's wife, Kim Kardashian West, recently pleaded on Instagram for privacy and respect for her husband's condition as he navigates his mental health.
People are accusing Republicans of using West with total disregard for his health and circumstances.
If people in Wisconsin want to vote for a man in poor mental health, that's their business. If the Trump campaign is behind the sham half- campaign of @kanyewest it's everybody's business. Having said that, like everything else Trump does this year, it will probably backfire.
— Steve Redmond (@sjredmond) August 5, 2020
Always pay attention to the story behind the story. Republican operatives are using Kanye West as part of the Trump re-election strategy. They don't care about him or his mental health. They care about diverting Black voters and creating a new Jill Stein. https://t.co/ogru275pTO
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 5, 2020
The GOP doesn't believe in democracy, they certainly don't care that @kanyewest's in the midst of mental hlth crisis & has no business "running" for POTUS." If it helps them further demoralize, disenfranchise or deprive ppl from voting it's fair game, regardless of who it hurts. https://t.co/o3Rh0SE7PR
— Michelle X (@mjxiggy) August 5, 2020
Just a Republican operative trying to get Kanye West on the ballot. What a disgusting dirty trick that shows no respect for voters or whatever Kanye is going through. https://t.co/VjeI3SCMah
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) August 5, 2020
Have a good night everybody except @kanyewest, who has somehow allowed his very name to be colonized by white Republican apparatchiks in Wisconsin.
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) August 5, 2020
This is sick. Republicans, including @realDonaldTrump, have exploited this man's illness for years. Shame on them. https://t.co/txMHTRlOn0
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) August 5, 2020
Republicans apparently believe that a wide margin of Black Democrat voters will vote for West over Biden, but many see that as a faulty, monolithic view of Black voters.
NYT: Republicans are working to get Kanye West on multiple state ballots in order to siphon black voters away from Biden. I think this action is yet more evidence that GOP hold black voters in complete contempt. GOP showing its belief that Black voters are easily swayed.
— LiberalNavySeal (@LiberalNavySeal) August 5, 2020
GOP operatives all over the country are rushing to help Kanye West get on ballots. It won't work. They think Black voters are not on to their scam. They are. https://t.co/I5htBoHDP5
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) August 5, 2020
We are not stupid and I really wish white people will stop assuming we are by suggesting a wide swath of black folks will vote for Kanye.
— Musings (@ChinnyChin_U) August 5, 2020
Interestingly enough, a Redfield and Wilton national poll conducted last month showed Biden's lead over Trump expand by one point with West included on the ballot.
National Poll:
Biden 48% (+8)
Trump 40%
Jorgensen (L) 1%
Hawkins (G) 1%
When @kanyewest included in the poll:
Biden 48% (+9)
Trump 39%
West 2%
Jorgensen (L) 2%
Hawkins (G) 1%@RedfieldWilton (July 9)
— Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) July 13, 2020
It's unclear though if this phenomenon would be consistent, especially within swing states.
UPDATE: Old Bull TV has obtained a copy of West's Wisconsin filing. Hundreds of names are scratched out and inadmissible, calling into question whether or not West has a sufficient amount of signatures to appear on the ballot in November.
I mean it seems like a solid piece of petitioning. pic.twitter.com/bTKAhfcX1E
— Old Bull TV (@OldBullTV) August 5, 2020
Will count after we get it uploaded, but this thing could be under 2,000 even before challenges.
— Old Bull TV (@OldBullTV) August 5, 2020
Correction. It appears to be 377 pages. The 1st 50 pages contain 233 unscratched out signatures.
If that ratio holds, Kanye submitted around 1,750 signatures (before objections).
Meanwhile, uploading... uploading...
Done soon though.
— Old Bull TV (@OldBullTV) August 5, 2020
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