Ammon Bundy enters Idaho governor race
Best known for leading armed stand-off at Oregon wildlife refuge in 2016
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Anti-government militant Ammon Bundy has filed paperwork to run for governor in Idaho.
Mr Bundy is currently banned from the Idaho State Capitol Building after being wheeled out in an office chair by state troopers after he refused to leave during last year’s coronavirus protest.
He is best known for leading a right-wing armed stand-off at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016 to protest federal government control of public land.
The 45-year-old conservative, who has been a vocal critic of mask mandates during the pandemic, was arrested but later acquitted in that case.
He was also a part of the effort to recall Republican governor Brad Little over the state’s stay-at-home order put in place to deal with Covid-19.
The Idaho Secretary of State’s office confirmed on Twitter that Mr Bundy had filed paperwork to run in 2022 as a Republican.
But Mr Bundy has already run into government red tape.
He will need to refile the paperwork because he listed himself as treasurer on it, and anyone holding that position needs to be a registered voter in the state.
As he is not a registered voter in Idaho he will either have to register to vote and refile, or refile with with another registered voter as treasurer.
Mr Bundy, who lives in Emmett, Idaho, would join four other Republicans in the race but so far no Democrats have filed to run.
Candidates have up to 1 March 2022 to file the paperwork needed to run.
Mr Bundy, who has been arrested in the state five times since August, was arrested twice in April for trespassing in the State Capitol and faces two misdemeanor criminal trespassing cases pending against him.
He is representing himself and has pleaded not guilty in one case and not yet entered a plea in the second.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments