In a high-profile display of dissatisfaction with the two-party system in United States, a Texan man legally changed his name to “Literally Anybody Else” in a bid to stand for the presidential elections. This move echoed a similar incidence back in 2000, when a potted plant called “Ficus” ran for a New Jersey congressional seat, a reflection of the public’s increasing disillusionment with the conventional political landscape.
The man, formerly known as Dustin Ebey, is a 7th grade math teacher and U.S. Army veteran from North Richland Hills, Texas. As reported by People, “Literally Anybody Else” aims to rally the public’s support for an independent candidate rather than being forced to choose between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
His website biography states, “For too long have Americans been a victim of its political parties putting party loyalty over governance. Together lets send the message to Washington and say, ‘You will represent the people or be replaced.’”
Running for president only requires candidates to be a natural born citizen, be a U.S. resident for at least 14 years, and be at least 35 years old. Ebey, now known as Literally Anybody Else, satisfies all these preconditions, affirming that he is indeed serious about his political move.
“There really should be some outlet for folks like me who are just so fed up with this constant power grab between the two parties, that has just no benefit to the common person,” Literally Anybody Else explained, emphasizing the absence of a fair “neither” option for voters who share his sentiments for change.
The bid initiates a broader conversation on potential shifts in partisan leaning for legal professionals. It is well-known through donation figures that lawyers leaned against Trump in 2020. Now, with dissatisfaction looming over Biden’s stance on international law and resolutions, Literally Anybody Else could potentially serve as a conduit for change—until, possibly, a Supreme Court decision jeopardizes their right to vote. This raises a speculative question – could we also consider nominating Literally Anyone Else for the Supreme Court?