His name is Evan McMullin and up until the day he announced his candidacy, he was the Republicans House of Representative Director of Policy. He is also an ex-CIA officer and former Goldman-Sachs banker, experience he claims, gives him unique insights into the problems facing this country. McMullin says “With the stakes so high for our nation and at this late stage in the process, I can no longer stand on the sidelines” and this Monday, he announced his candidacy for the 2016 Presidential election.
Why I’m running for President of the United States: https://t.co/FcISqRxRth
— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) August 8, 2016
There is no doubt, at best, he has an outside shot at winning the national election, but what is truly strange is the level of attention he is getting from press around the country. There are independent candidates popping up every day all around the country, that get little to no recognition. So, what is it about Mr McMullin that makes him so special?
- He has served as chief policy director of the House GOP Conference since 2015. This conference regularly holds meetings with Republican officials serving in the House of Representatives; to lay out policy and set talking points ahead of important events/discussions – he essentially advises Republican representatives on what to say to the public. He held this position from 2015 until the day he resigned this Monday, to announce his candidacy.
- He was accepted into the CIA and served until 2011 working in counter-terrorism. He served active field duty in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
- In addition to his work with the CIA, McMullin has worked for the United Nations – volunteering to serve in humanitarian aid in Jordan
- For his time spent with the CIA, in 2013, he was appointed senior advisor to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
- He served his church as a Mormon missionary in Brazil
- He has also worked in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs
Certainly an extensive resume that would impress anyone; it is no surprise why he has been able to work himself up through the ranks. Most importantly to the topic at hand, running for President, McMullin allegedly has the endorsement of top officials inside the GOP – the same people he has been advising for months.
McMullin, along with several other Republicans, is a member of the “Never Trump” movement – a large faction of Republicans who refuse to vote for someone with the demeanor of Trump, believing Trump does not represent GOP ideals. In an unprecedented move at this point in any election, just last week, 50 elected Republicans that are part of the Never Trump movement, signed an open letter refusing to endorse Donald Trump – saying he would “be the most reckless President in American history.” It is being rumored that many of these people will soon sign on with the McMullin campaign.
One of the oddest elections in U.S. history is still getting weirder. In 2012, Gary Johnson, the leading 3rd party candidate finished the election with just 3% of the national vote. In 2016, with so many disenfranchised voters on both sides of the political isle, there are two candidates polling above this figure. Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson is now polling between 8-12% and Jill Stein, Green Party nominee, is polling between 4-6%.
It is debatable whether this will work towards McMullin’s benefit or against it; whether this means the election is more open to an outside candidate or the market is already overly saturated with candidates. On one hand there are a ton of Republicans who have left the Party and refuse to vote for Trump, but on the other hand many of these people have already left the party to sign on with Gary Johnson. It is unclear if these people would leave a second party, simply to sign on with a new candidate this late in the game.
As it stands today, as first reported by NBC News, “the deadline to get on the ballot has already passed in 26 states that have a total of 294 electoral votes, meaning the most votes he could get is 244 out of the 270 needed to win the presidency.” Though he may not be officially allowed to get on all the ballots and has his work cut out to get on the remaining ballots, there is always the option of becoming a write-in candidate – though this would be less than ideal.
There are rumors, perhaps unfounded, that Donald Trump may step out of the race. If so, who would take his place? Would it be Ted Cruz who finished 2nd in the Republican primary, or would the party embrace their old policy advisor Evan McMullin? Only time will tell and as this election is teaching the national, always expect the unexpected…
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