This weekend, Brock Pierce announced that he is running as an independent candidate for the President of the United States. The former child actor and current Bitcoin Foundation Director’s campaign kickoff video can be found on the website brock.vote.
In a statement Pierce said, “I’ve spent my life creating great things from nothing and I can help others do the same.” He went on to remark, “Entrepreneurs are essential to the rebuilding of this nation that we love, and I’m running in this race because I know that together we can help build a pathway towards the rebirth of the America we love so much.”
While Pierce has made his intentions known, getting on the ballot could prove challenging for an independent candidate. Prior to appearing on all 50 state ballots, the Pierce campaign will have to deal with a host of rules and deadlines that vary widely from state to state.
Although the filing fees required by some states may not be an obstacle, several states require Pierce to collect numerous signatures to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate. Major party candidates such as President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden do not face these obstacles.
Like Kanye West, who also announced his intention to seek the presidency this weekend, Brock Pierce faces an uphill battle. Despite the desire for change in the USA, independent candidates rarely do well in presidential contests. Although independent presidential candidate Ross Perot did manage to win 18.9% of the vote in 1992, he earned zero electoral votes.
Brock Pierce’s campaign will play heavily on technological themes. In his campaign launch video, he said, “Technology is a solution we should be proactively using. What’s served us in the past will not serve us in the future.”
