While recent polls have shown that some voters are not super enthusiastic about the current slate of presidential candidates, one North Texas man has decided to take the race into his own hands.
A North Texas school teacher and U.S. Army veteran has legally changed his name to Literally Anybody Else and announced he is running for U.S. president.
Else, formerly known as Dustin Ebey, said he is deeply unhappy with 2024 presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump so he legally changed his name in January to make a point.
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“America wants something different. We want something better. We deserve something better," said Else.
He lives in North Richland Hills and teaches seventh-grade math.
Else said he bought the domain LiterallyAnybodyElse.com early last year and began designing T-shirts with the name. He admitted it all began as a joke but said he got serious when he realized Biden and Trump would be back on the ballot.
"I didn't change my name when it was a joke. I would not have changed my name. My father-in-law puts it nicely that that juice was not worth the squeeze," said Else.
Else knows he faces near-impossible odds and getting on the ballot would be difficult.
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He needs a certain amount of signatures from non-primary voters by May 13 to even get his quirky name on the ballot. In Texas, an independent candidate needs a whopping 113,151 signatures of registered voters who did not vote in the presidential primary of either party, per state law.
So, Else is encouraging voters to write in Literally Anybody Else.
Else campaigned before a Dallas Stars game and is considering hosting a campaign event this month. Other than that, he is relying on word of mouth.
Else hopes to soon hire an assistant to help field calls from media and supporters.
“Literally Anybody Else isn’t just a person,” Else wrote on his website:
"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.” America should not be stuck choosing between the “King of Debt” (his self-declaration) and an 81-year old. Literally Anybody Else isn’t a just a person, it’s a rally cry."
