Vermin Supreme#"Right to pony" during 2017 Clinton book tour
{{Short description|American novelty candidate (born 1961)}}
{{use mdy dates |date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Vermin Supreme
| nickname =
| image = Vermin Supreme August 2019.jpg
| caption = Supreme in New Hampshire in 2019 during the 2020 United States presidential election wearing his characteristic Wellington boot
| office = Member of the Libertarian Party Judicial Committee
| term_end = May 29, 2022
| birth_date = June 1, 1961 (age {{age in years|1961|6|1}})
| birth_place = Rockport, Massachusetts, U.S.
| nationality = American
| education = Gloucester High School
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Performance artist
- presidential candidate
- activist}}
| party = Democratic (2004–2008, 2012–2016, 2023–present)
| otherparty = {{plainlist|
- Independent (1987–2004, 2023)
- Libertarian (2016–2023)
- Republican (2008–2012)
}}
}}
Vermin Love Supreme (born June 1, 1961) is an American performance artist and activist who has run as a novelty candidate in various local, state, and national elections in the United States. He served as a member of the Libertarian Party's judicial committee.{{Cite web|last=Fishman|first=Dan|date=July 14, 2020|title=LNC Election Results|url=https://www.lp.org/lnc-election-results/|access-date=July 17, 2020|website=Libertarian Party|language=en-US|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717022401/https://www.lp.org/lnc-election-results/|url-status=live}}
{{cite news |title=Dean Wins D.C. Primary |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dean-wins-dc-primary/ |agency=AP |work=CBS News |date=January 14, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912102957/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/14/politics/main593055.shtml |archive-date=September 12, 2011 |url-status=live }}
{{Cite web |url=http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/01/08/new_hampshire_alt_candidates/ |title=New Hampshire's other candidates |last=Lindholm |first=Jane |date=January 8, 2008 |publisher=American Public Media |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718125116/http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/01/08/new_hampshire_alt_candidates/ |archive-date=July 18, 2008 }}{{overcite|date=October 2024}} Supreme is known for wearing a boot as a hat and carrying a comically large toothbrush,{{Cite news |last=Duff |first=Lori |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/photo/vermin-supreme |title=Vermin Supreme |date=April 16, 2010 |work=Concord Monitor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109024753/http://www.concordmonitor.com/photo/vermin-supreme |archive-date=January 9, 2012 }} and has said that if elected President of the United States, he will pass a law requiring people to brush their teeth.{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Pagan |url=https://archive.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2004/01/11/merry_prankster/ |url-status=live |title=Merry Prankster |date=January 11, 2004 |work=Boston Globe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220234642/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2004/01/11/merry_prankster/ |archive-date=February 20, 2009}}
{{cite web | title=Commentary: If Elected, No Flying Toothbrush Monkeys (audio) | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1591727 |work=National Public Radio |date=January 9, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114220434/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1591727 |archive-date=November 14, 2011 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Conaboy |first=Chelsea |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/5-questions-for-vermin-supreme?&CSAuthResp=%3Asession%3ACSUserId%7CCSGroupId%3Aapproved%3ABA4A9537C4BF4594E11F4B09D8217743&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1 |title=5 questions for Vermin Supreme |date=December 28, 2007 |work=Concord Monitor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520113501/http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/5-questions-for-vermin-supreme?&CSAuthResp=:session:CSUserId%7CCSGroupId:approved:BA4A9537C4BF4594E11F4B09D8217743&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1 |archive-date=May 20, 2015 }}
{{cite news |first=Beth |last=Reinhard |title=Vermin Supreme is running for president |url=https://miamiherald.typepad.com/naked_on_the_road/2007/11/vermin-supreme-.html |work=Miami Herald | date=November 13, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702184219/http://miamiherald.typepad.com/naked_on_the_road/2007/11/vermin-supreme-.html | archive-date=July 2, 2011 | url-status=live }}{{overcite|date=October 2024}} He has campaigned on a platform of zombie apocalypse awareness and time travel research,{{Cite news |last=O'Toole |first=James |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12008/1202156-176.stm |title=In New Hampshire, underdogs promote presidential agendas |date=January 8, 2012 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109040140/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12008/1202156-176.stm |archive-date=January 9, 2012 }} and promised a free pony for every American.{{Cite news |last=Williamson |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204262304577068080651797906?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_Top |title=A Pony for Every American? New Hampshire Primary Has It All |date=December 6, 2011 |work=Wall Street Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924114842/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204262304577068080651797906?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_Top |archive-date=September 24, 2018 }}
In 2011, he participated in the Occupy Boston protests.{{Cite news |last=Dwyer |first=John Stephen |url=http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/culturefashion/who-is-occupying-boston-and-why/2/ |title=Who is occupying Boston, and why? |date=October 5, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504211702/http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/culturefashion/who-is-occupying-boston-and-why/2/ |archive-date=May 4, 2012 |publisher=Blast Magazine }}
He is the subject of the 2014 documentary Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey, which follows his 2012 campaign and explores his life as an activist and political prankster.{{Cite web |url=http://www.whoisverminsupreme.com |title=Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey |publisher=Snow Arch Films |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815061044/http://www.whoisverminsupreme.com/ |archive-date=August 15, 2012 }}
Supreme campaigned for the Libertarian Party's 2020 presidential nomination. At the 2020 Libertarian National Convention he came in third place, receiving 206 delegate votes out of 1,026.
Political positions
Supreme generally runs for office as a satirical candidate, making proposals that are considered outlandish or unrealistic and communicating in an unorthodox way in order to mock politicians and the political system. His eccentric attire includes multiple ties and a boot on his head, and he sometimes carries a giant toothbrush. He has created attention by giving interviews to reporters and crashing campaign events for major candidates. Some of the main themes of Supreme's campaigns are instituting a mandatory tooth brushing law, giving every American a free pony, using zombies for renewable energy, zombie apocalypse awareness, and time travel research. He largely avoided discussing major political issues until his 2020 presidential campaign, which was more serious. Supreme has run variously as a Republican, a Democrat, and a Libertarian.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/long-shot-candidates-look-beyond-new-hampshire-n518686 |title=Vermin Supreme 2012-and Mrs. Supreme |last=Petri |first=Alexandra |date=August 29, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114202945/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/long-shot-candidates-look-beyond-new-hampshire-n518686 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://filmdaily.co/news/vermin-supreme/ |title=Kanye West, weird? Meet Presidential candidate Vermin Supreme |last=Wade |first=Bethany |date=July 11, 2020 |publisher=Film Daily |access-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118100807/https://filmdaily.co/news/vermin-supreme/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://filmdaily.co/news/vermin-supreme-legacy/ |title=The legacy of Vermin Supreme is anything but normal |last=Wade |first=Bethany |date=July 11, 2020 |publisher=Film Daily |access-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130043211/https://filmdaily.co/news/vermin-supreme-legacy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/long-shot-candidates-look-beyond-new-hampshire-n518686 |title=Long-Shot Candidates Look Beyond New Hampshire |last=Greenberg |first=Eric |date=February 14, 2016 |publisher=NBC |access-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114202945/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/long-shot-candidates-look-beyond-new-hampshire-n518686 |url-status=live }}
Supreme discussed his political views in a 2008 promotional video. He said he was registered as a Republican at that time, but that he leaned toward anarchism and was influenced by the Situationist International, dadaism, and discordianism.{{cite web |last1=Carico |first1=Jae |title=Interview With Vermin Supreme |url=https://thefifthcolumnnews.com/2015/07/interview-with-vermin-supreme/ |website=The Fifth Column |access-date=February 8, 2021 |date=July 20, 2015 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114124526/https://thefifthcolumnnews.com/2015/07/interview-with-vermin-supreme/ |url-status=live }} He asserted that libertarians "are just about abolishing the government and letting shit fall where it may", which he called a mistake, though he later said that assertion was based on a "prejudice" for "lack of knowing."{{cite web |title=Vermin Supreme Announces Presidential Campaign 2020 | date=June 26, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EhVAsg8jBE |via=YouTube |language=en |access-date=September 10, 2019 |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131133920/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EhVAsg8jBE&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }} He asserted that Republicans want to nullify the government, but "offer no alternative to helping people other than charity." Supreme's vision of anarchism holds no need for government and depends on citizens to take responsibility for themselves and for others, citing "mutual aid and support and care to our fellow citizens" as key elements. To that end, Supreme has called for a gradual dismantling of the government, while citizens take up the slack. He asserted that Americans no longer know how to be citizens, placing some of the blame on schools that teach in a "very twisted and jingoistic fashion".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd1xWBPHc3U |title=Anarchist Runs for President...since 1988 |publisher=Fluxview.com |year=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804204541/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd1xWBPHc3U |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |format=YouTube |url-status=live}}
Discussing his presidential campaign in the video, Supreme describes his "joke humor" campaign as a response to the lies people are fed by the media and by the government.
In an interview with New Hampshire magazine in 2018, Supreme labeled his political beliefs as "social anarchist" and opined that Peter Kropotkin "was a great anarchist thinker and writer".{{Cite news |last=Broussard |first=Rick |url=https://www.nhmagazine.com/vermin-supreme/ |title=Vermin Supreme |date=January 18, 2018 |work=New Hampshire Magazine |access-date=February 23, 2020 |archive-date=February 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223055114/https://www.nhmagazine.com/vermin-supreme/ |url-status=live }}
Political campaigns
=Early political activity=
In 1986, Supreme joined the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament in protest of nuclear weapons. Supreme's first political campaign was for Mayor of Baltimore in 1987. At the time, Supreme was without income, and later said that he ran "mainly to give myself a project...something to do." The election was won by Kurt Schmoke.{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/citypaper/bcp-cms-1-1265403-migrated-story-cp-20120201-featu-20120201-story.html |title=For 25 years, anarchist, 'psy-ops clown,' and former Baltimore club promoter Vermin Supreme has occupied the narrowing gap between the candidates and the cops. |last=Ericson |first=Edward |date=February 11, 2012 |access-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020033434/https://www.baltimoresun.com/citypaper/bcp-cms-1-1265403-migrated-story-cp-20120201-featu-20120201-story.html |url-status=live }}
=Presidential campaigns=
Supreme has run in every presidential election since 1992.
==2004==
Supreme campaigned in the Washington, D.C. presidential primary in 2004,{{Cite news |last=Franke-Ruta |first=Garance |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/27812/running-gag/ |title=Running Gag: A campaign veteran comes to the D.C. primary. |date=January 9, 2004 |work=Washington City Paper |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013040139/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/27812/running-gag |archive-date=October 13, 2012 }} where he received 149 votes.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2004/1212.html#12 |title=2004 Presidential Vote |date=December 12, 2004 |work=Ballot Access News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418150714/http://www.ballot-access.org/2004/1212.html#12 |archive-date=April 18, 2010 }}
==2008==
Supreme campaigned in the New Hampshire Republican primary in 2008. He received 41 votes (0.02%) in the New Hampshire primary. According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), he also received 43 votes nationally in the general election.{{Cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/48093-final-2008-tally-in-bill-clinton-edges-out-santa/ |title=Final 2008 tally in: Bill Clinton edges out Santa |last=Wilkie |first=Christina |date=August 8, 2009 |publisher=TheHill.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916092912/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/54093-final-2008-tally-in-bill-clinton-edges-out-santa |archive-date=September 16, 2012 }}
==2012==
File:Vermin Supreme glitterbombs Randall Terry.jpg Randall Terry during a forum at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in December 2011.|alt=]]
Supreme campaigned as a Democrat in the 2012 U.S. presidential election.{{Cite magazine |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/10/vermin-supreme-the-presidential-candidate-who-promises-free-ponies/ |title=Vermin Supreme: The Presidential Candidate Who Promises Free Ponies |last=Grossman, Samantha |date=January 10, 2012 |magazine=TIME Magazine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126031314/http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/10/vermin-supreme-the-presidential-candidate-who-promises-free-ponies/ |archive-date=January 26, 2012 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/9/vermin-supreme-rears-his-bearded-head-in-new-hamps/ |title='Vermin Supreme' rears his bearded head in New Hampshire |last=McLaughlin, Seth |date=January 9, 2012 |website=The Washington Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215174017/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/9/vermin-supreme-rears-his-bearded-head-in-new-hamps/ |archive-date=February 15, 2012 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/317812 |title=Is Vermin Supreme the next President of the United States? |last=Moran, Andrew |date=January 13, 2012 |website=Digital Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128063307/http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/317812 |archive-date=January 28, 2012 }} His candidacy was supported by the Good Humor Party.
On April 14, 2011, Supreme participated in the First Debate of the New Election Cycle at the IGLO Dissidents' Convention which also included Jimmy McMillan, Jill Stein, and others.{{Cite web |url=https://shadowproof.com/2011/04/04/first-debate-of-the-new-election-cycle-at-the-iglo-dissidents-convention-independents-greens-libertarians-others/ |title=First Debate of the New Election Cycle, at the IGLO Dissidents' Convention - Independents, Greens, Libertarians & Others |date=April 4, 2011 |work=Firedoglake |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708060943/http://my.firedoglake.com/normanb/2011/04/04/first-debate-of-the-new-election-cycle-at-the-iglo-dissidents-convention-independents-greens-libertarians-others/ |archive-date=July 8, 2012 }}{{Cite web |url=http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.gathering.rainbow/2011-04/msg00175.html |title=Re: april 14 presidential debate in northampton, MA to kick off campaign 2012 |date=April 7, 2011 |publisher=Newsgroups.derkeiler.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726114132/http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.gathering.rainbow/2011-04/msg00175.html |archive-date=July 26, 2012 }} He qualified to be listed on the 2012 Democratic Party primary ballot in New Hampshire.{{Cite web |url=http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/c18042144b184e038a6ffe641d0ab245/NH--Primary-Filing/ |title=30 Republicans, 14 Democrats sign up for NH presidential primary |last=Ramer |first=Holly |date=October 30, 2011 |website=The Republic |publisher=Home News Enterprises |location=Columbus, Indiana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104054857/http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/c18042144b184e038a6ffe641d0ab245/NH--Primary-Filing/ |archive-date=November 4, 2011 }} On October 29, 2011, Supreme participated in a satirical debate against a representative of the campaign of deceased British occultist Aleister Crowley.{{Cite web |url=http://blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/talkingpolitics/archive/2011/10/30/video-vermin-supreme-vs-aleister-crowley-the-2012-presidential-debate.aspx |title=Video: Vermin Supreme vs. Aleister Crowley: The 2012 Presidential Debate |last=Carioli |first=Carly |date=October 30, 2011 |website=Boston Phoenix |publisher=The Phoenix Media/Communications Group |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111103139/http://blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/talkingpolitics/archive/2011/10/30/video-vermin-supreme-vs-aleister-crowley-the-2012-presidential-debate.aspx |archive-date=January 11, 2012 }} On December 19, he participated in the "Lesser-Known Democratic Candidates Presidential Forum", at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College and "glitterbombed" fellow candidate Randall Terry.{{Cite news |last=Ríos |first=Simón |url=http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111220/NEWS0605/712209967 |title=Lesser-known candidates bring colorful campaigns to St. Anselm |date=December 20, 2011 |work=New Hampshire Union Leader |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308183649/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111220/NEWS0605/712209967 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 }}
He was a candidate in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, and received 1.4% of the votes on January 3, 2012.{{cite news |first=John |last=Deeth |url=http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/01/11/screw-iowa-fails-again/ |title=Screw Iowa Fails Again |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710122059/http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/01/11/screw-iowa-fails-again/ |archivedate=July 10, 2012 |work=Des Moines Register |date=January 12, 2012 }} On January 10, 2012, in the Democratic Primary in New Hampshire, Supreme received 833 votes. (Barack Obama won the primary with 49,080 votes.){{Cite news |url=http://www.sos.nh.gov/presprim2012/DemSummaryPres.htm |title=Summary Democratic President |date=January 18, 2012 |work=New Hampshire Department of State |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629131613/http://www.sos.nh.gov/presprim2012/DemSummaryPres.htm |archive-date=June 29, 2012 }}
File:Vermin Supreme (6544304867).jpg
Supreme participated in the Anti-NATO protests at the May 20–21 Chicago NATO Summit.{{Cite web|last=Ciaramella|first=CJ|date=March 25, 2015|title=There's Finally a Documentary About Perpetual Presidential Candidate Vermin Supreme|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/someone-finally-made-a-documentary-about-vermin-supreme-324/|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=VICE|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516122453/https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/qbegq5/someone-finally-made-a-documentary-about-vermin-supreme-324}}{{Cite web|last=Sullivan|first=James|date=September 2, 2012|title=Vermin Supreme offers humorous take on politics|url=https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/09/02/vermin-supreme-offers-humorous-take-on-politics|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=Boston.com|language=en-US|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516122344/https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/09/02/vermin-supreme-offers-humorous-take-on-politics}} In May 2012, he visited the second largest regional high school in Maine to give a speech about his campaign style to a government class.{{Cite web |url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-796799 |title=Presidential Candidate Visits High School |last=Svennjhami |date=May 30, 2012 |website=iReport |publisher=CNN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606062329/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-796799 |archive-date=June 6, 2012 }} The HS visited was [https://archive.today/20121224125801/http://www.mvhs.sad3.k12.me.us/sad3/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100&Itemid=189 Mount View High School] in Thorndike, Maine. He introduced himself to the assembled students by saying: "I am Vermin Supreme and I am from the internet." In June 2012, he participated in the Rainbow Gathering in Tennessee.
File:Vermin Supreme, The Yes Men and monochrom's Johannes Grenzfurthner at HOPE 2012.jpg and monochrom's Johannes Grenzfurthner at HOPE 2012|alt=]]
On August 25, Supreme announced his new political party, the Free Pony Party, where he will give all citizens "a free pony" and that he has chosen fellow fringe opponent Jimmy McMillan as his running mate. Conversely, McMillan stated he was still running for president on his own Rent Is Too Damn High Party platform, and that Supreme would be McMillan's running mate.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/blog/breaking-exclusive-vermin-supreme-running-president-jimmy-rent-too-damn-high-mcmillan |title=Vermin Supreme Running for President with Jimmy 'Rent Is Too Damn High' McMillan |last=Giunta |first=Eric |date=August 25, 2012 |publisher=Sunshine State News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014075927/http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/blog/breaking-exclusive-vermin-supreme-running-president-jimmy-rent-too-damn-high-mcmillan |archive-date=October 14, 2012 }} In October, Supreme participated in a debate hosted by Peter Schiff in the Peter Schiff Radio Show, which featured a panel of overlooked presidential candidates including McMillan, independent write-in candidate Santa Claus, and write-in Republican presidential candidate Edgar Lawson.{{Cite web|url=https://schiffradio.com/the-peter-schiff-show-10-05-12/|title=The Peter Schiff Show – 10/05/12|date=October 5, 2012|access-date=January 20, 2023|archive-date=May 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526200529/https://schiffradio.com/the-peter-schiff-show-10-05-12/|url-status=live}}
==2016==
Supreme attempted another presidential run in 2016.{{Cite news |last=Seitz-Wald, Alex |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/can-a-zombie-powered-presidential-candidate-go-legit-20140522 |title=Can a Zombie-Powered Presidential Candidate Go Legit? |date=May 22, 2014 |work=National Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522233822/http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/can-a-zombie-powered-presidential-candidate-go-legit-20140522 |archive-date=May 22, 2014 }} He embarked on a tour of 20 cities to build support for his campaign and sought to qualify for matching funds from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).{{Cite news |last=Hofherr, Justine |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/05/27/one-presidential-candidate-will-run-zombie-powered-platform-and-from-mass/VDscqsJY2fhRr8Y3k7agmL/story.html |title=One 2016 Presidential Candidate Will Run on A 'Zombie-Powered' Platform. And He's from Mass. |date=May 27, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529073032/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/05/27/one-presidential-candidate-will-run-zombie-powered-platform-and-from-mass/VDscqsJY2fhRr8Y3k7agmL/story.html |archive-date=May 29, 2014 |publisher=Boston.com }} He filed as a candidate in the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary on November 21, 2015.{{Cite news |last=Nick Reid |url=https://politics.concordmonitor.com/2015/11/politics-election/photos-ben-carson-and-vermin-supreme-file-for-president-on-deadline-day/ |title=Ben Carson and Vermin Supreme file for president on deadline day |date=November 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125113610/https://politics.concordmonitor.com/2015/11/politics-election/photos-ben-carson-and-vermin-supreme-file-for-president-on-deadline-day/ |archive-date=November 25, 2015 |publisher=The Concord Monitor }} He was not invited to return to the Lesser-Known Democratic Candidates Presidential Forum, due in part to him glitter bombing Randall Terry at the event in 2011.{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/18/inside-the-beltway-vermin-supreme-banned-from-cand/ |date=January 18, 2016 |title=Inside the Beltway: Fringe candidate 'Vermin Supreme' banned from New Hampshire candidate forum |last=Harper |first=Jennifer |website=The Washington Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211130752/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/18/inside-the-beltway-vermin-supreme-banned-from-cand/?page=all |archive-date=February 11, 2016}} Shortly before the primary, he was observed questioning Republican candidates Chris Christie and Ted Cruz through a bullhorn. Supreme engaged Christie in an informal debate over his free pony platform, during which he accused Christie of hating ponies, and asked Cruz whether he thought that water being used during waterboarding should include fluoride.{{Cite web |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/big_tent/Vermin-Supreme-Mocks-Christie-in-NH.html |first=Thomas |last=Fitzgerald |date=February 9, 2016 |title=Vermin Supreme mocks Christie in N.H. |website=Philly.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210092337/http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/big_tent/Vermin-Supreme-Mocks-Christie-in-NH.html |archive-date=February 10, 2016}}{{Cite web |url=https://jezebel.com/ted-cruz-gets-trolled-by-pro-pony-presidential-candidat-1758050869 |date=February 9, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz Gets Trolled by Pro-Pony Presidential Candidate Vermin Supreme |last=Rothkopf |first=Joanna |website=The Slot |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210093021/http://theslot.jezebel.com/ted-cruz-gets-trolled-by-pro-pony-presidential-candidat-1758050869 |archive-date=February 10, 2016}}
Supreme received 256 votes in the primary on February 9, 2016, coming in fourth after former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who had dropped out after the Iowa caucuses.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vermin-supreme-finishes-fourth-in-new-hampshire-democratic-primary/ |title=Vermin Supreme finishes fourth in N.H. Democratic primaries |last=Kaplan |first=Rebecca |publisher=CBS |date=February 10, 2016 |access-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114124937/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vermin-supreme-finishes-fourth-in-new-hampshire-democratic-primary/ |url-status=live }}
On March 4, Supreme switched his affiliation to the Libertarian Party.{{Cite web |url=http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/has-a-presidential-candidate-switched-to-the-libertarian-party/ |title=Presidential Candidate Switches to the Libertarian Party |last=Jent |first=Greg |date=March 1, 2016 |website=The Libertarian Republic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326183228/http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/has-a-presidential-candidate-switched-to-the-libertarian-party/ |archive-date=March 26, 2016 }} He received the vote of a single delegate in the first round of presidential nomination voting at the 2016 Libertarian National Convention.
==2020==
{{main|Vermin Supreme 2020 presidential campaign}}
File:Vermin Supreme at Wikipedia Day NYC 2017.jpg]]
Supreme ran again for president in 2020, this time as a Libertarian. This marked the first time that Supreme ran a "legitimate" campaign, focusing on real rather than satirical issues and using the slogan "In On The Joke".{{Cite news |last=De Leon |first=Andres |url=https://thelibertarianrepublic.com/2020-the-year-of-the-libertarians/ |title=2020: The Year of the Libertarians? |date=April 19, 2019 |work=The Libertarian Republic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425152715/https://thelibertarianrepublic.com/2020-the-year-of-the-libertarians/ |archive-date=April 25, 2019 }} While Supreme continued to use satirical humor, he focused more on legitimate political issues. He called for ending foreign wars and voiced support for pardoning non-violent drug offenders, ending the war on drugs, and reducing incarceration, which he called his top priority. On the COVID-19 pandemic, Supreme criticized President Donald Trump, arguing that he should have paid better attention to the virus and have made testing more widely available. He satirically promised to make COVID-19 illegal and, in a play on his campaign promise to go back in time and "kill baby Hitler," vowed to go back in time and "kill baby COVID." He facetiously pledged to create "COVID-19 free zones" because "they work so well for things like guns and drugs."{{cite news |url=https://www.amarillopioneer.com/blog/2020/5/22/vermin-supreme-gets-satirically-serious-in-libertarian-presidential-campaign |title=Vermin Supreme Gets Satirically Serious in Libertarian Presidential Campaign |last=Warren |first=Thomas |date=May 22, 2020 |newspaper=The Amarillo Pioneer |access-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114095234/https://www.amarillopioneer.com/blog/2020/5/22/vermin-supreme-gets-satirically-serious-in-libertarian-presidential-campaign |url-status=live }}
He won the Libertarian Presidential Preference Primary in New Hampshire on February 11, 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://lpnh.org/2020/01/14/results-2020-libertarian-presidential-preference-primary/ |title=Results - 2020 Libertarian Presidential Preference Primary |date=January 14, 2020 |website=Libertarian Party of New Hampshire |language=en-US |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227081915/https://lpnh.org/2020/01/14/results-2020-libertarian-presidential-preference-primary/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://reason.com/2020/01/13/more-holes-in-the-imminent-threat-story-on-soleimani/ |title=More Holes in the 'Imminent Threat' Story on Soleimani |last=Brown, Elizabeth Nolan |date=January 13, 2020 |website=Reason |access-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114002704/https://reason.com/2020/01/13/more-holes-in-the-imminent-threat-story-on-soleimani/ |url-status=live }} On March 3, 2020, Supreme was declared the winner of the Massachusetts primary.{{cite news |title=PD43+ » Search Elections |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/date:2020-03-03/office_id:1/stage:Libertarian |access-date=March 13, 2020 |work=PD43+ |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616183845/https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/date:2020-03-03/office_id:1/stage:Libertarian |url-status=live }} He dropped out on May 23, 2020, after Jo Jorgensen received the Libertarian Party's nomination for president. Incidentally, Supreme's running mate Spike Cohen was chosen to be the Libertarian vice presidential nominee.
==2024==
Supreme ran for president again in 2024, this time for the Democratic nomination. Supreme obtained ballot access in one state for the Democratic primaries, New Hampshire.{{Cite web|last=Porter|first=Steven|title=Eccentric candidates 'part of the color' of N.H. primary process - The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/30/metro/eccentric-candidates-part-color-nh-primary-process/ |access-date=November 5, 2023|date=October 30, 2023 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}} On December 8, 2023, Supreme appeared at the Lesser-Known Candidates Forum hosted by Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.{{cite news |last=Robertson |first=Nick |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4349685-paperboy-love-prince-vermin-supreme-nh-hears-from-lesser-known-2024-candidates/ |title=Paperboy Love Prince and Vermin Supreme: NH hears from lesser-known 2024 candidates |work=The Hill |access-date=January 5, 2024 }} Supreme placed fifth in the New Hampshire Democratic primary with 0.7% of the vote.{{cite news|title=Trump defeats Haley: New Hampshire 2024 primary results in full|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/jan/23/new-hampshire-primary-election-results |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=24 January 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian }} Supreme also appeared on the ballot for the Legal Marijuana Now Party's presidential nomination primary in Minnesota on March 5, 2024.{{cite news |last1=Winger |first1=Richard |title=Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party Will Hold State's First Presidential Primary for a Third Party |url=https://ballot-access.org/2024/01/02/minnesota-legal-marijuana-now-party-will-hold-states-first-presidential-primary-for-a-third-party/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |work=Ballot Access News |date=2 January 2024}} He placed third among five candidates with 15.08% of the vote.{{cite web |url=https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/Results/Index?ersElectionId=162&scenario=PresidentPnp&electionDate=3%2F5%2F2024%2012%3A00%3A00%20AM |title=Unofficial Results Tuesday, March 5, 2024>Legal Marijuana Now |work=Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State }}
In June 2024, the US Pirate Party officially voted to endorse Supreme's candidacy for President.{{Cite web|url= https://uspirates.org/icymi_june_10/ |title= ICYMI: VERMIN, PRIDE, A NEW BOARD |language= en |work= uspirates.org |last= Mitch |first= Jolly |date= 2024-06-10 |access-date= 2024-06-12}} He was also nominated by the Conservative Party of Delaware, and appeared on the general election ballot.{{cite web |title=General Election 11/5/2024 |url=https://elections.delaware.gov/candidates/candidatelist/genl_fcddt_2024.shtml |website=Delaware Elections |access-date=13 September 2024}}
=Other campaigns=
In 2018, Supreme expressed interest in running for Governor of Kansas. Although he did not live in the state, Kansas had very few strict requirements for running for office. Several teenagers taking advantage of the lack of requirements had filed to run for governor, and in order not to take any votes away from them, Supreme decided to run for Attorney General instead, becoming a challenger to incumbent Republican Derek Schmidt. The lack of requirements in order to run for office, as outlined in the state's Constitution, has been heralded by Supreme: "This is indeed a very interesting and attractive loophole," he said. "I think that's a very good thing for democracy." Desarae Lindsay of Texas was named his campaign treasurer and would accompany him to his 2020 presidential campaign. Supreme was eventually disqualified from running on the basis of his non-residency in the state, his home address being in Massachusetts.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hutchnews.com/news/20180330/supreme-candidate-could-enter-ag-race |title=Supreme candidate could enter A.G. race |last=Clarkin |first=Mary |date=March 30, 2018 |website=The Hutchinson News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192014/http://www.hutchnews.com/news/20180330/supreme-candidate-could-enter-ag-race |archive-date=April 17, 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Dental-activist-horse-lover-Vermin-Supreme-files-for-Kansas-attorney-general-484302141.html |title=Vermin Supreme removed from running for KS attorney general |date=June 1, 2018 |website=KWCH12 |access-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130210533/https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Dental-activist-horse-lover-Vermin-Supreme-files-for-Kansas-attorney-general-484302141.html |url-status=live }}
On August 24, 2020, Supreme announced that he would be launching a write-in campaign for the Libertarian nomination for the 2020 Massachusetts senatorial election.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/VerminSupreme/status/1297881343607492608|title=I am announcing a write-in campaign for the US Senate vote in the Libertarian primary.|first=Vermin|last=Supreme|date=August 24, 2020|access-date=August 25, 2020|website=Twitter|archive-date=August 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824130308/https://twitter.com/VerminSupreme/status/1297881343607492608|url-status=live}}
"Right to pony" during 2017 Clinton book tour
File:Vermin Supreme-w Pony (24348932539).jpg
In December 2017 Hillary Clinton planned to visit Concord, New Hampshire, for a book tour promoting her new book What Happened. In advance of her presentation, Supreme planned a demonstration in front of the bookstore during the event.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/2017/12/06/clinton-book-signing-targeted-by-vermin-supreme/ |title=Clinton book signing targeted by Vermin Supreme |last=Fisher |first=Damien |date=December 6, 2017 |website=www.nashuatelegraph.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224155404/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/2017/12/06/clinton-book-signing-targeted-by-vermin-supreme/ |archive-date=December 24, 2017 }} The demonstration was to be a "pony protest" and include at least one pony.
- {{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Elizabeth Nolan|title=Prohibited Pony Protest at Clinton Event Spurs Vermin Supreme Speech Suit|url=http://reason.com/blog/2017/12/04/prohibited-pony-protest-spurs-supreme|website=Reason|language=en|date=December 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101326/http://reason.com/blog/2017/12/04/prohibited-pony-protest-spurs-supreme|archive-date=December 24, 2017|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web|last1=Andrews|first1=Caitlin|title=Vermin Supreme sues Concord to have pony protest|url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/Vermin-Supreme-sues-city-of-Concord-ahead-of-Clinton-booksigning-14105729|website=Concord Monitor|date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224042430/http://www.concordmonitor.com/Vermin-Supreme-sues-city-of-Concord-ahead-of-Clinton-booksigning-14105729|archive-date=December 24, 2017|url-status=live}}
Supreme has a history of making the election promise of ponies to constituents and has asserted that Clinton does not like ponies enough.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dangerous.com/37716/surrender-hillary-we-have-you-surrounded-with-ponies/ |title=Surrender Hillary, We Have You Surrounded With Ponies |last=Vidal |first=Alex |date=December 9, 2017 |website=www.dangerous.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101353/https://www.dangerous.com/37716/surrender-hillary-we-have-you-surrounded-with-ponies/ |archive-date=December 24, 2017 }} When Supreme sought a protest permit for his demonstration the police ordered the city to deny his request.
In response, Supreme asserted his "right to pony" and retained Marc Randazza, an attorney with a reputation for advocacy of First Amendment rights, to represent him in suing the city of Concord for the permit. The court found in favor of Supreme, issuing an injunction that the city give him a permit, allow him to protest the event, and allow him to bring ponies. A stipulation was that Supreme had to pay for parking for ponies at the rate for cars.{{Cite web |url=https://gumshoenews.com/2017/12/10/happened-hillary-ponies-paynes-obama-got-elected-2008/ |title=What Happened to Hillary? Ponies, Paynes, and How Obama Got Elected in 2008 - Gumshoe News |last=Maxwell |first=Mary W |date=December 10, 2017 |website=Gumshoe News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224102814/https://gumshoenews.com/2017/12/10/happened-hillary-ponies-paynes-obama-got-elected-2008/ |archive-date=December 24, 2017 }}
When Supreme presented the pony protest, there was a parade.{{Cite web |url=http://nhpr.org/post/vermin-supreme-hosts-pony-parade-protest-outside-clinton-event-concord#stream/0 |title=Vermin Supreme Hosts 'Pony Parade' Protest Outside Clinton Event In Concord |last=Sutherland |first=Paige |date=December 5, 2017 |website=New Hampshire Public Radio |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101241/http://nhpr.org/post/vermin-supreme-hosts-pony-parade-protest-outside-clinton-event-concord#stream/0 |archive-date=December 24, 2017 }} More than 1,000 people attended the book signing and protest.{{Cite web |url=http://www.unionleader.com/politics/hillary-draws-more-than-1000-people-and-a-pony-to-concord-book-signing-20171205 |title=Hillary draws more than 1,000 people, and a pony, to Concord book signing |last=Solomon |first=Dave |date=December 5, 2017 |website=UnionLeader.com |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224213626/http://www.unionleader.com/politics/hillary-draws-more-than-1000-people-and-a-pony-to-concord-book-signing-20171205 |archive-date=December 24, 2017 }}
Filmography
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of acting performances in film and television |
scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Genre |
---|
scope="row" |Subdue the Universe
| style="text-align:center;"| 1997 | Himself | Documentary |
scope="row" | Winning New Hampshire
| style="text-align:center;"| 2004 | Himself | Documentary |
scope="row" | 2008 Uncut
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 | Himself | TV series |
scope="row" | Vote Jesus: The Chronicles of Ken Stevenson (documentary)
| style="text-align:center;"| 2009 | Ken Stevenson | Film |
scope="row" | Learnin' with Vermin
| style="text-align:center;"| 2012 | Himself | Educational |
scope="row" | Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey
| style="text-align:center;"| 2014 | Himself | Documentary |
scope="row" | Rich Hall's Presidential Grudge Match
| style="text-align:center;"| 2016 | Himself | Documentary |
Electoral history
=2008 Republican presidential primaries=
{{Election box begin no party no change
| title = New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, 2008
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
| candidate = John McCain
| votes = 88,571
| percentage = 37.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Mitt Romney
| votes = 75,546
| percentage = 32.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Mike Huckabee
| votes = 26,859
| percentage = 11.4%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Rudy Giuliani
| votes = 20,439
| percentage = 8.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Ron Paul
| votes = 18,308
| percentage = 7.8%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Fred Thompson
| votes = 2,890
| percentage = 1.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Duncan Hunter
| votes = 1,217
| percentage = 0.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Alan Keyes
| votes = 203
| percentage = 0.086%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Stephen Marchuk
| votes = 123
| percentage = 0.058%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Tom Tancredo
| votes = 80
| percentage = 0.034%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Hugh Cort
| votes = 53
| percentage = 0.023%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Cornelius Edward O'Connor
| votes = 45
| percentage = 0.019%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Albert Howard
| votes = 44
| percentage = 0.0187%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Vern Wuensche
| votes = 44
| percentage = 0.0187%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Vermin Supreme
| votes = 41
| percentage = 0.0175%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = John H. Cox
| votes = 39
| percentage = 0.017%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Daniel Gilbert
| votes = 33
| percentage = 0.014%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = James Creighton Mitchell Jr.
| votes = 30
| percentage = 0.013%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jack Shepard
| votes = 27
| percentage = 0.011%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Mark Klein
| votes = 19
| percentage = < 0.01%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = H. Neal Fendig Jr.
| votes = 13
| percentage = < 0.01%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Hudson Starnes
| votes = 5
| percentage = < 0.01%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Other
| votes = 227
| percentage = 0.097%
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
| votes = 234,851
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2016 Democratic presidential primaries=
{{Election box begin no party no change
| title = 2016 Democratic presidential primaries{{Cite web |url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/D |title=Democratic Delegation 2016 |last=Berg-Andersson |first=Richard E. |year=2016 |editor-last=Tony Roza |website=thegreenpapers.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20161108193436/http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/D |archive-date=November 8, 2016 }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
| candidate = Hillary Clinton
| votes = 16,917,853
| percentage = 55.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Bernie Sanders
| votes = 13,210,550
| percentage = 43.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Martin O'Malley
| votes = 110,423
| percentage = 0.4%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Uncommitted
| votes = 101,481
| percentage = 0.3%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Rocky De La Fuente
| votes = 67,468
| percentage = 0.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = No Preference
| votes = 50,990
| percentage = 0.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Scattering
| votes = 48,576
| percentage = 0.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Willie Wilson
| votes = 25,796
| percentage = 0.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Paul T. Farrell Jr.
| votes = 21,694
| percentage = 0.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Keith Russell Judd
| votes = 20,305
| percentage = 0.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Michael Steinberg
| votes = 20,126
| percentage = 0.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Henry Hewes
| votes = 11,062
| percentage = 0.065%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = John Wolfe Jr.
| votes = 7,369
| percentage = 0.044%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Star Locke
| votes = 5,202
| percentage = 0.031%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Steve Burke
| votes = 4,893
| percentage = 0.029%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Lawrence "Larry Joe" Cohen
| votes = 2,407
| percentage = 0.014%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Calvis L. Hawes
| votes = 2,017
| percentage = 0.012%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = James Valentine
| votes = 1,726
| percentage = 0.01%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Uninstructed Delegation
| votes = 1,488
| percentage = 0.0089%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jon Adams
| votes = 486
| percentage = 0.0029%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Vermin Supreme
| votes = 268
| percentage = 0.0016%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Mark Stewart
| votes = 236
| percentage = 0.0014%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = David John Thistle
| votes = 226
| percentage = 0.0013%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Graham Schwass
| votes = 143
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Lloyd Thomas Kelso
| votes = 46
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Mark Stewart Greenstein
| votes = 41
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Eric Elbot
| votes = 36
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = William D. French
| votes = 29
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Edward T. O'Donnell Jr.
| votes = 26
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Robert Lovitt
| votes = 22
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = William H. McGaughey Jr.
| votes = 19
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Edward Sonnino
| votes = 17
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Steven Roy Lipscomb
| votes = 15
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Sam Sloan
| votes = 15
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Brock C. Hutton
| votes = 14
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Raymond Michael Moroz
| votes = 8
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box write-in no party no change
| votes = 60
| percentage = < 0.001%
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
| votes = 30,633,131
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2020 Libertarian presidential primaries=
{{Election box begin no party no change
| title = 2020 Libertarian presidential primaries
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jacob Hornberger
| votes = 9,177
| percentage = 20.3%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Jo Jorgensen
| votes = 5,110
| percentage = 11.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Vermin Supreme
| votes = 4,277
| percentage = 9.4%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Ken Armstrong
| votes = 3,507
| percentage = 7.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Kim Ruff
| votes = 3,030
| percentage = 7.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Adam Kokesh
| votes = 2,865
| percentage = 6.3%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Dan Behrman
| votes = 2,392
| percentage = 5.3%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Max Abramson
| votes = 2,039
| percentage = 4.5%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Sam Robb
| votes = 1,951
| percentage = 4.3%
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Other
| votes = 7,193
| percentage = 15.9%
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
| votes = 45,306
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2024 Democratic Party primary in New Hampshire=
{{2024NHDem}}
Personal life
Supreme grew up near Boston, Massachusetts,{{cite news |last=Garance |first=Franke-Ruta |url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/250650/running-gag/ |title=Running Gag: A campaign veteran comes to the D.C. primary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013040139/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/27812/running-gag |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |url-status=live |work=Washington City Paper |date=January 9, 2004 |access-date=February 20, 2016 }}{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=Leslie F. |url=https://archive.org/details/letmeeatcakecele00mill |url-access=registration |title=Let Me Eat Cake: A Celebration of Flour, Sugar, Butter, Eggs, Vanilla, Baking Powder, and a Pinch of Salt |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2009 |page=[https://archive.org/details/letmeeatcakecele00mill/page/73 73] |isbn=9781416591979 }} and is the oldest of three children.{{Cite news |last=Connors |first=Molly A.K. |url=https://www.concordmonitor.com/Archive/2012/01/999694861-999694862-1201-CM |title=Primary 2012: He Reigns Supreme |date=January 15, 2012 |work=Concord Monitor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811115017/https://www.concordmonitor.com/Archive/2012/01/999694861-999694862-1201-CM |archive-date=August 11, 2018}} He graduated from Gloucester High School in 1979, then moved to Baltimore to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art.{{cite web |title=Vermin Love Supreme |url=http://idioideo.pleintekst.nl/VS.html |website=idioideo.pleintekst.nl |access-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027054550/http://idioideo.pleintekst.nl/VS.html |url-status=live }} He eventually dropped out of college and began booking bands for underground music clubs.
He legally changed his name to Vermin Supreme in the 1990s while still in Baltimore.
In 2006, Supreme donated one of his kidneys to his mother, who was suffering from renal failure.
Supreme is married and has no children. He resides in Rockport, Massachusetts.{{cite news |last1=Writer |first1=Dimitra Lavrakas Staff |title=Rockporter Vermin Supreme on NH presidential primary ballot |url=https://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/local_news/rockporter-vermin-supreme-on-nh-presidential-primary-ballot/article_9cc7b950-d5f9-5237-bc36-4fc6769c95cb.html |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=Gloucester Daily Times |date=28 November 2015 |language=en}}
See also
- List of frivolous political parties
- Pat Paulsen, often seen Presidential candidate
- Lord Buckethead, a British satirical candidate
- Screaming Lord Sutch, a satirical politician in the United Kingdom
- Count Binface, a British satirical candidate
- Rhinoceros Party, a satirical Canadian political party
- Situationism, an avant-garde social and political art movement which influenced Vermin Supreme
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Vermin Supreme}}
- [https://vermin2024.com/ Vermin Supreme 2024], official 2024 website
- [https://verminsupreme2016.wordpress.com/ Vermin Supreme 2016], official 2016 presidential campaign website
- [https://www.facebook.com/Vermin-Supreme-for-Overlord-of-Planet-Earth-1433543993632621/?fref=ts Vermin Supreme for Overlord of Planet Earth], official Facebook page
- [https://www.youtube.com/@VerminSupremeOfficial Vermin Supreme Official] YouTube Channel
- [http://votesmart.org/candidate/53133/ Biography] at Project Vote Smart
- {{C-SPAN|64473}}
- {{IMDb name|1742517}}
{{2004 United States presidential election}}
{{2008 United States presidential election}}
{{2012 United States presidential election}}
{{2016 United States presidential election}}
{{2020 United States presidential election}}
{{2024 United States presidential election}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Supreme, Vermin}}
Category:American libertarians
Category:American performance artists
Category:American political satire
Category:Articles containing video clips
Category:Artists from Baltimore
Category:Candidates in the 2008 United States presidential election
Category:Candidates in the 2012 United States presidential election
Category:Candidates in the 2016 United States presidential election
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States presidential election
Category:Candidates in the 2004 United States presidential election
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:Maryland Libertarians
Category:Massachusetts Libertarians
Category:New Hampshire Libertarians
Category:People from Rockport, Massachusetts