With his face painted red, white, and blue beneath a horned headdress, Jacob Chansley became a symbol of Jan 6. 2021, and wants to return to the Capitol, but this time, he wants to enter as an actual member of Congress.
The QAnon Shaman has filed a statement of interest to pursue the open seat in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
Chansley, who called himself Jacob Angeli-Chansley on the form he filed, is seeking to run as a Libertarian, according to reports from The Arizona Republic.
In November 2021, Chansley was sentenced to 41 months in prison. He served approximately 27 months and was released earlier this year. As a felony convict, Chansley cannot vote in the election. However, Arizona law allows felons to hold public office once they have served their required time or paid all the necessary fines.
Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko, who stated she would not seek re-election last month, currently represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
Republican state House Speaker Ben Toma, Republican state Sen. Anthony Kern, Republican Blake Masters, and Republican Abe Hamadeh are all running for the seat.
The Arizona Republic has added former Republican Rep. Trent Franks, as well as Seth Coates, Isiah Gallegos, Jimmy Rodriguez, Rollie Stevens, and Brandon Urness, to that list.
In August, Chanely expressed his disapproval at former President Trump’s indictment on federal election interference charges, stating that Trump had “no role whatsoever in the Capitol invasion.”
“I feel the notion of a Trump indictment related to the events of Jan 6 is further evidence that federal agencies have been corrupt and weaponized for decades by the D.C. Uniparty,” Chansley said. “Nothing surprises me anymore. My sympathies go out to Trump for everything he has endured for the American people due to the corruption in D.C,” he added.
Chansley, who worked as an executive assistant for a filmmaker this summer, has expressed mixed views on some of his fellow protesters from Jan 6.
“There were people who assaulted police officers,” he said. “There were people who vandalized the Capitol. I don’t care what side of the aisle you are on; if you assault a police officer, you should be charged.”
Chansley has been vocal about the need for election reforms, telling the New York Post, “Every time the Democrats lose an election, they cry about fraud. I’m a centrist. The centrist view is that America’s elections are corrupt and have been for decades,” he added.
Chansley said this summer that he would not be invisible in the future, adding, “My face has become associated for a lot of people with a desire for freedom. I would be a fool for that message not to get out one way or another.”