This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…From what we read in the mainstream media, one would think that there are quite a plethora of candidates running for the November 8, 2016 presidential election. According to a cute little graphic from Ballotopedia, here is a listing of the candidates for both parties and the dates that they announced their candidacy:
Here is a listing of declared, possible and declined candidates including a third-party candidate:
While it seems to be a ridiculous number of candidates, particularly given that many of them can only be termed a long-shot, in fact, according to the Federal Election Commission, the situation is far worse. To be listed as a candidate, an individual must file a Statement of Candidacy known as FEC Form 2 with the FEC within 15 days of declaring their candidacy. If the candidate chooses, they may file a letter than contains the information required on the FEC Form 2 in lieu of the form itself.
Here's what FEC Form 2 looks like:
In addition to Form 2, under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, an individual becomes a candidate for federal office when he or she meets two prerequisites:
1.) The individual must have received contributions totalling more than $5000 or made expenditures totalling more than $5000 (a laughably small amount given the billions of dollars that are spent on Presidential elections).
2.) The individual must have given consent to another person to receive contributions or make expenditures on behalf of himself or herself and that person must have made expenditures totalling more than $5000.
The FEC notes that funds received and payments made for the purpose of determining whether or not an individual should become a candidate are not considered either contributions or expenditures.
Now, let's look at a list of who has filed Form 2 so far starting with the most recent and working back to March 23, 2015, the day that Ted Cruz filed as the first headline GOP/Tea Party presidential candidate:
Yes, you are not mistaken, that's 248 Americans of all parties (and independents) who have declared their candidacy for president since Ted Cruz announced his fateful decision to the voting public. As well, while my screen capture doesn't show it, there were five candidates that declared their intentions on that same day as Mr. Cruz; one Democrat, one Republican, one United Party, one Independent and one "unknown".
In fact, while it is little discussed in the mainstream media, Americans were lining up to be presidential candidates for the 2016 election cycle way back in time. All you have to do is look back through the FEC Form 2's that have been completed for the 2016 Run for the Oval Office and you will find an interesting cross section of Americana like this:
This couple (who may have misspelled "capitalism" but I can't be certain because it could be a play on the word Capitol) want to be president and vice president respectively. You will note that their application was received by the FEC on January 2, 2014.
Here's another interesting presidential candidate who represents the Bull Moose Party:
Obviously, Mr. Jones was thinking ahead, planning what he was going to be doing in 2016 back in October 2013.
Here's one of the more interestingly completed forms:
Here's the first candidate that actually filed his (I assume) paperwork to become a candidate for the 2016 presidential election back on December 12, 2008:
Now that's what I call planning ahead…but not as far as this gentleman who filed this FEC Form 2 on February 19, 2013 for the 2020 presidential election:
Lastly, here is a gentleman who has already prepared the stationery required for his campaign:
In total, as of July 6, 2015, there were 443 Americans of all political stripes that were prepared to run for the most powerful office in the world. The first Republican submitted his name on December 12, 2008 and the first Democrat submitted his name on November 13, 2012.
So, when you hear or read about the crowded field in the 2016 presidential election from the mainstream media, keep this posting in mind. The headline candidates are just a tiny fraction of the total number of men and women seeking the job.
As an aside, if you happen to be interested at a run for the Oval Office, here is a link to the FEC's Form 2 webpage. All the best!
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