Rapper Kanye West files in Wisconsin to run for president

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Rapper Kanye West filed signatures in Wisconsin Tuesday to run for president as an independent candidate in November.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission said signatures were submitted on behalf of West on the last day for independent presidential candidates to submit the required 2,000 signatures of Wisconsin voters to get on the ballot. But those signatures could be challenged.

.⁦@kanyewest⁩ gets helping hand from Republicans in bid to get on Wisconsin presidential ballot https://t.co/ZuFmZza8lN via ⁦@DanielBice⁩

— Molly Beck (@MollyBeck) August 5, 2020

West and running mate Michelle Tidball listed themselves as candidates of the BDY, The Birthday Party. A former supporter of Republican President Donald Trump, West broke with Trump and announced his own presidential bid last month.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission staff will be reviewing the petitions in coming days to determine if there are enough valid signatures and if the candidates meet all qualifications to get on the ballot. Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016, snapping a string of Democratic presidential candidates winning the state going back to 1988.

A little update — The GOP lawyer who helped @kanyewest get on the ballot in Wisconsin is actively working for @realDonaldTrump's campaign. She's the lawyer of record in their lawsuit to try to get a @prioritiesUSA anti-Trump ad pulled. Original story: https://t.co/HL2EDzLYNj

— Cameron Joseph (@cam_joseph) August 5, 2020

West also submitted signatures in Arkansas this week to appear on that state’s ballot this fall, and he also has submitted paperwork on appear on the ballot in Oklahoma. But West withdrew his petition to appear as a presidential candidate on New Jersey’s ballot.