Most absurd political campaigns

01

Pigasus (politics)

The Yippies hauled a 145-pound pig named Pigasus to Chicago's Grant Park in 1968 and held a formal press conference nominating him for president — police arrested both the pig and seven activists within minutes.

02

Cacareco

Cacareco, a four-year-old female rhinoceros at the São Paulo zoo, received 100,000 votes in the 1959 city council election — more than any human candidate — apparently written in by voters exhausted with corruption.

03

Best Party

Iceland's Best Party ran on free towels at city pools, a polar bear for the zoo, and a promise to be 'the best party' — and won Reykjavík's city hall in 2010 with 34.7% of the vote.

04

Mr. Floatie

James Skwarok spent years campaigning for Victoria, BC mayor while dressed in a full-body human-excrement costume as Mr. Floatie, arguing the city was pumping raw sewage into the ocean and no one in office would say so plainly.

05

Jón Gnarr

Jón Gnarr promised Reykjavík voters a polar bear, free bus rides for respectful teenagers, and a 'vegan option on Thursdays' — then served a full mayoral term, governing a city of 120,000 with genuine competence.

06

Screaming Lord Sutch

Screaming Lord Sutch lost 40 consecutive British elections across 35 years, founding the Official Monster Raving Loony Party — yet outlasted so many rivals that he became the longest-serving party leader in UK history.

07

Norman Mailer

Norman Mailer's 1969 NYC mayoral run proposed making New York City the 51st state, hosting jousting tournaments in Central Park to settle civic disputes, and banning private cars from Manhattan — losing with just 5% of the primary vote.

08

Vermin Supreme

Vermin Supreme has campaigned in every U.S. presidential race since 1992 wearing a rubber boot as a hat, promising mandatory tooth-brushing laws and one free government pony for every American citizen.

09

Duke (dog mayor of Cormorant)

Duke, a Great Pyrenees, has been re-elected mayor of Cormorant Township, Minnesota three times, each election costing one dollar per vote — and the township of 1,000 residents appears entirely satisfied with his tenure.

10

Bosco Ramos

Bosco, a black Labrador–rottweiler mix, was elected mayor of Sunol, California in 1981 over two human candidates — and held the role until his death in 1994, becoming the town's most beloved public figure.