Jacob Chansley is running for Congress in 2024, Axios reports.
Chances are that you, the reader, may not be familiar with this name. But, you probably do know who Chansley is.
Chansley is the man who gained national attention for wearing an animal fur hat with horns during the Capitol protest on Jan. 6, 2021.
In photographs and videos from that day, it can also be seen that Chansley was shirtless, carried a megaphone and the American flag, wore gloves, and had his face painted red, white, and blue.
He has been nicknamed the January 6 "shaman," or the "QAnon Shaman." The latter is actually a nickname that he gave to himself.
The 35-year-old Chansley was punished for his involvement in the protest. The Associated Press reports:
Chansley pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding in connection with the Capitol insurrection. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison in November 2021 and served about 27 months before being transferred to a Phoenix halfway house in March 2023.
During court proceedings, Chansley made it clear that he no longer supports QAnon conspiracy theories. But, his nickname - the QAnon Shaman - has stuck, and he continues to be called this until this day, including by the mainstream media, which continues to try to link QAnon to former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
Chansley recently filed the paperwork necessary to run for Congress in the 2024 general election. He has indicated that he will be running as a Libertarian candidate.
Axios reports, "Chansley . . . filed paperwork on Thursday declaring his interest in running as a candidate in Arizona's 8th Congressional District."
This seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ). Lesko has indicated that she will not be seeking re-election in 2024.
The Washington Examiner reports:
Chansley is entering a crowded field seeking Lesko's seat. Others seeking her spot include Blake Masters, who lost a 2022 bid for the U.S. Senate, and at least one other candidate who was at the Jan. 6 riot, state Sen. Anthony Kern.
You may be asking, given his criminal conviction, whether Chansley is even allowed to run for Congress. The answer is yes.
"Arizona law prohibits people convicted of felonies from voting until they have completed their sentence and had their civil rights restored," AZ Central reports.
"But," the outlet adds, "the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit felons from holding federal office."
