'QAnon Shaman' wants to run for Congress? CD8 just gets wackier and wackier

Laurie Roberts, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
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Jake Angeli, known as the QAnon Shaman, at the Arizona State Capital for a photo shoot, May 24, 2023, Phoenix, Arizona.
Jake Angeli, known as the QAnon Shaman, at the Arizona State Capital for a photo shoot, May 24, 2023, Phoenix, Arizona.

Two carpet baggers, a fake elector, an ex-congressman who asked female staffers to carry his baby and House Speaker Ben Toma.

Could the race to replace Rep. Debbie Lesko get any wackier?

Yes, as it turns out. Why, yes, it could.

Add now the painted, bare-chested, behorned face of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

That’s right, America’s QAnon Shaman — Arizona’s own Jacob Chansley or Jake Angeli or whatever he’s calling himself these days — is evidently preparing to toss his horns into the race for Congressional District 8.

QAnon shaman can't vote, but he can run

When we last left the shaman in May, he was out of federal prison and hawking merch to cash in on his celebrity. The Viking look had been replaced with a flag-themed bandana and tie.His heavily tattooed bare chest was covered with a bright white sports coat as he waxed on about his prison experience, sounding suspiciously like a late-night infomercial.

Or a politician.

Now, he’s aiming for federal office.

Why is everyone carpet bagging: To run in CD 8?

Last week, Chansley/Angeli/The Shaman filed a statement of interest to run for Congress in CD8, as a Libertarian.

He is one of a legion of hopefuls, headlined by defeated 2022 candidates Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh (the carpetbaggers), state Rep. Anthony Kern (the fake elector), former U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (the creepy ex-congressman) and state House Speaker Ben Toma, (who really needs a moniker of his own).

I don’t give Chansley much of a shot of winning, given that this northwest Valley district is a heavily Republican and he can’t even vote for himself.

Chansley pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding, a federal felony, and served a portion of a 41-month prison sentence before being released to a halfway house in March.

As a felon, he’s ineligible to vote.

But not to serve in Congress.

Explains a lot, doesn’t it?

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @LaurieRoberts or on Threads at @laurierobertsaz.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'QAnon' Shaman wants to run for Congress in Arizona? Sure, why not?