In just two weeks, which feels like an eternity during quarantine, Kanye West began to turn the wheels of his 2020 presidential career that he has been bragging about since the 2015 MTV VMAs.
Down, Billboard He has compiled a timeline of West’s career to make his name officially appear on the ballots this year.
July 4, 2020: West officially declares that he is running for president in the 2020 election.
Fans might have thought West would verify Trump’s name on the ballot, but West announced on July 4 of this year that he plans to have his name on the 2020 presidential ticket, without announcing which party he plans to run for. “Now we must deliver on the promise of the United States by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for President of the United States! # 2020VISION,” wrote the rapper-turned-political candidate on Twitter.
July 5, 2020: West builds “YZY SHLTRS” as part of his presidential campaign.
A day after announcing his career, the Yeezy founder posted a photo of dome-shaped structures that he designed as a solution to the housing problem in the United States. “YZY SHLTERS in process # 2020VISION,” he wrote on Twitter.
July 6, 2020: Political experts weigh whether the Late registration The rapper also registered a little, well, late.
Robert Shapiro, professor of government at Wallace S. Sayre and professor of international and public affairs in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University, said Billboard two days after West’s announcement that “third-party candidates generally try to come early and vote in all states.” But at this point, West pressed the ‘Ye button too late and postponed the filing deadline to appear on the ballot as an independent in six states, according to Ballotpedia, including New York, Texas, North Carolina, Maine, New Mexico, and Indiana.
Shapiro also believed that “this is not a serious offer” because the rapper had not yet set his political agenda and, as a third-party candidate, the small chance of winning creates a unique reason to run: to draw attention to themselves.
July 7, 2020: West puts # 2020VISION at the forefront of its campaign as a catchphrase.
A smart catchphrase? Check. The necessary paperwork? A spokesman for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) confirmed to Billboard West did not submit the required documentation at the time to make his offer official. But two Yeezy fans did their best to help University dropout artist with her homework, as one filed under the pseudonym “Ye West” with an address listed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House. The second fan incorrectly wrote the musician’s full name, Kanye Omari West, as “Mr. Kenye Omari West”.
July 7, 2020: President Donald Trump comments on his competition with West.
In an interview with RealClearPolitics from the Oval Office, Trump chimed in about his friend joining the race, specifically when he decided to do so. “It would have to be limited to certain states, because in some states the deadline has been missed,” he said of West’s late fashion registration. But for the Commander-in-Chief, he believes West should think of the 2020 elections as a practice by 2024. “If I did, I would have to see this as proof for what will happen in four years.”
July 8, 2020 – In a Forbes interview, officially throws the MAGA hat and presents his own campaign.
West made his political agenda clear in a recent Forbes feature with a new simple catchphrase: “YES!” Yes, you read that right. Readers also discovered that rapper “No More Parties in LA” will host their independent platform as “Birthday Party” because “when we win, it’s everyone’s birthday … When he’s president, let’s have fun too.”
West, who also believes that God appoints the President of the United States regardless of demographic or electoral college, wants to lead the nation as Wakanda, the fictional African country of the 2018 movie. Black Panther. “A lot of Africans don’t like the movie and the portrayal of themselves in … Wakanda. But I’m going to use the Wakanda frame right now because it’s the best explanation of how our design group will feel in the White House, “he said in the interview. “Let’s go back to Wakanda … like in the Wakanda movie when the king went to visit that leading scientist to put his shoes on.” Maybe he plans to double the White House as another Yeezy shoe factory.
July 9, 2020: West documents registering to vote for the first time in his life on video.
The 43-year-old multihipenate has a rapper, songwriter, producer, fashion designer, father, and more titles to his name, but as of July 9, the registered voter was not one of them. In a 1.5-minute clip he posted on Twitter, “ You showed people how easy it was to do by heading to the County Clerk’s Office in Cody, Wyoming, their home in good faith.
July 9, 2020: Planned Parenthood speaks out against West’s “offensive” claims about abortion.
In the above Forbes He claimed it was “pro-life because I am following the word of the Bible” and described Planned Parenthood as an institution “placed within cities by white supremacists to do the work of the Devil” with no evidence to support their position. Nia Martin-Robinson, director of Black Leadership and Engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said Billboard“Any suggestion that abortion is black genocide is offensive and infantilizing.”
“Black women are free to make our own decisions about our bodies and pregnancies, and they want and deserve to have access to the best medical care available,” added Martin-Robinson. “At Planned Parenthood, we trust and support black women who have and continue to lead the charge when it comes to the health, rights and bodily autonomy of people in their communities.”
July 14, 2020 – West polls 2% in a United States presidential poll.
According to a national presidential poll dated July 9 by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, rapper “Power” garnered 2% of the vote after being added to the poll as a potential candidate. It is the first count since its announcement on July 4.
July 16, 2020: West finally filed with the FEC, so his career is far from over.
the Associated Press confirmed that the Graduation Star finally finished her homework and qualified to appear on the Oklahoma presidential ballot. She met the deadline to get a place on the state presidential ballot on November 3 and paid the $ 35,000 filing, according to Oklahoma Board of Elections spokeswoman Misha Mohr.
Here is a summary of the West team’s work so far: Their campaign submitted a “Statement of Organization” on July 15 to the FEC stating that their team would act as the lead campaign committee for West’s bid. On Form FEC 1 filed under Kanye 2020, Kanye West is listed as Cody’s nominee with an address, Wyo. And BDY (Birthday) as your third affiliate.
Then on Thursday (July 16), he took the second step by filing FEC Form 2, or “Declaration of Candidacy,” which is only accomplished when an individual raises or spends more than $ 5,000 in campaign activity, activating the candidacy status under federal campaign finance law.
July 17, 2020 – Political pundits analyze if rapper “Famous” is only running because he wants to be, well, more famous.
John Mark Hansen, professor of political science at the University of Chicago in West’s hometown, said Billboard He thinks the underlying reason behind his campaign “is that you can say that you are a presidential candidate, you will get additional publicity, and you can afford it.” He continues: “He seems to have a great opinion of himself. However, like many celebrities, I suspect he is hungry for attention and will get it.”
Robert Shapiro, professor of government at Wallace S. Sayre and professor of international and public affairs in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University, echoed his earlier sentiments to Billboard about West’s obsession with being in the spotlight. But he also believes that during a time when the world is plagued by the coronavirus pandemic that is hitting the economy, and divisive partisanship has been rampant since the 2016 elections, voters are less likely to become third parties. “Voters in this election are less likely than the last one, I think, to waste their votes on third / fourth party candidates,” he said.
