Deez Nuts is running for president
You know the biggest names in the 2016 presidential campaign - Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton, and lately, Donald Trump. But it turns out the field of declared candidates is far larger than the 21 Democrats and Republicans whose candidacies get regular coverage in the media.
An independent named Deez Nuts, for example, filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission Sunday. He joined more than 500 other people who have done the same.
The latest entry to the race is Steven Wayne Covington, who filed his statement of candidacy Monday, the 512th person to do so.
There is a wide list of party affiliations given in the various forms. There are 80 people who say they are part of the Democratic Party, 127 declared Republicans, 135 independents and 12 libertarians. Fifteen people give no party affiliation (including Covington, the latest entrant). Other party affiliations people have written in include the "Ace Party," the "Jewish/Christian National" party, and "HEL" (it is unclear what that stands for).
The 512 declared candidates include a nod more famous political figures: "Sara H. Paylin" is registered to run, as is "Brystol S. Palyn."
There is also at least one cat: Isaac Weiss, a 17-year-old high school student from Louisville, filed a statement of candidacy for his friend's cat "Limberbutt McCubbins." McCubbins was the 192nd entrant into the race.