New FEC Candidate Committee Filing: Woke Drag Queens for Grayson in Arizona's Ninth Congressional District

A 28-Year-Old’s Diary Entries From Early September, 1979 | Thought Catalog

A 28-Year-Old’s Diary Entries From Early September, 1979 | Thought Catalog

Casper Star-Tribune and Billings Gazette report on Richard Grayson filing as a Democratic candidate for Congress from Wyoming

Today, November 18, 2015, the Casper Star-Tribune and the Billings Gazette have a story on Richard Grayson filing as a Democratic candidate for Congress from Wyoming:

First Democrat enters U.S. House race -- but doesn’t expect to advance his name on the ballot

Laura Hancock 

A Democrat who splits his time between Brooklyn, New York, and the Phoenix area has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the U.S. House representing Wyoming.

But Richard Grayson, whose campaign committee is called Deport Republicans Elect Grayson, said he will likely not request the Wyoming Secretary of State print his name on the ballot. He expects the Wyoming Democratic Party will recruit a candidate who lives in the state and has a chance of winning after U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, announced she will not seek re-election in 2016.

If a Democrat does run, it will free him to drop out of the race. He is running to pressure the state party to find a viable candidate, he said Tuesday.

Grayson is the first Democrat to enter the race.

The executive director of the state party said more Democrats will enter the race. The party is working to increase the number of candidates in state legislative races, too. Wyoming has some of the lowest numbers of contested races nationally.

Among Republicans, Casper pizzeria owner Charlie Tyrrel, state Rep. Tim Stubson, R-Casper, and Yoder resident Jason Senteney have announced they are seeking Wyoming’s single U.S. House seat. Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, said she is seriously considering running.

Grayson challenged Lummis in 2014 with the expectation that he would not win. Back then, he also thought his candidacy would encourage the Wyoming Democratic Party to find an in-state candidate, he said.

However, he ended up being the only Democrat on the ticket. He sailed through the primary and lost to Lummis, receiving 22.9 percent of the vote, with the exception of Teton County, where he won.

This year, Grayson filed paperwork with the FEC on Sept. 21, with the same intention to spur Democrats to find a Wyoming candidate. Then Lummis announced she wasn’t seeking re-election.

Grayson -- who describes his occupations as being semi-retired, a writer, a manager of his investments and caregiver of elderly parents -- said it’s important to have candidates from more than one party in a race.

“It allows the people in the minority party in any district to vote for someone who agrees with their views,” he said. “I believe so strongly in this I have tried to get friends who are Republicans to run for Congress in safe Democratic districts. I’m in New York right now. There were nine congressional districts where there were no Republican candidates.”

In 2014, Grayson appeared in Wyoming just once, on election night. The U.S. Constitution states U.S. representatives must be inhabitants in the state in which they are elected. Grayson was in Jackson at the time.

“I was staying with my cousin’s brother-in-law, who was a hedge fund manager, and they’re Republicans,” he said. “But hey, it’s family.”

Grayson said he spent no money on advertising in 2014. He attended no debates. But he still received nearly 23 percent of the vote because Wyomingites want a choice at the voting booth, he said.

“If I proved anything, it’s that a no-name Democrat or anybody running on the Democratic ticket can get a certain number of votes,” he said.
Democrats

In 2014, Wyoming tied with Arkansas as the third lowest nationally in the percent of contested races. Only 36 percent of the state’s legislative races offered a choice of more than one party, according to an analysis by the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

That’s not news to Aimee Van Cleave, executive director of the Wyoming Democratic Party.

In 2012 and 2010, about 60 percent of state legislative races were unopposed. In 2008, 55 percent were unopposed, Van Cleave said.

Van Cleave, who became executive director in February, said she’s working to reverse that trend with the help of an all-new staff at the Wyoming Democratic Party.

“The best way to combat that is to have a really intensive candidate recruitment program, which is what we have at the state party,” she said.

Van Cleave closed the party offices in Cheyenne to save the party money, she said. She’s working remotely -- traveling the state, meeting potential candidates and donors.

Currently there are nine legislative candidates interested in running, in addition to the Democratic incumbents, she said.

From May 12-27, candidates will file with the Secretary of State’s Office to be placed on the 2016 ballot. Grayson will not file if there is an in-state Democratic candidate, he said.

There will be Democratic candidates in the U.S. House race, Van Cleave said.

“We’re expecting to have a contested primary of people who live in Wyoming, and who are really viable candidates,” she said. “At this point, I would say Richard Grayson will be a footnote in the 2016 election.”

Follow political reporter Laura Hancock on Twitter @laurahancock.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution publishes article on Richard Grayson's Political Action Committees and the Federal Election Commission

Today, Sunday, July 21, 1984, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published a column, "Washington Notebook" by Cox News Service, that discusses how the Federal Election Commission got Richard Grayson to disband many of his political action committees.

The way Richard Grayson sees it, the federal government just can't take a joke. 

Over the past several years, the 32-year-old unemployed writer from Davie, Fla., has registered several dozen political action committees with the Federal Election Commission in an obvious spoof of modernday campaign financing. Among his more memorable creations: the "Antarctica Freeze Committee," the "Right to be the Life of the Party" and "Mobsters for Mondale." 

But the folks at the FEC weren't amused, and early this year "they began sending me notices saying all these committees of mine would have to be audited and then they started sending me 20-page reports to be filled out," he says. "After they telephoned me for about the fifth time, I got the message." 

The FEC didn't tell him to stop, Grayson says, but they hinted very strongly. "'They suggested that I could withdraw all of the committees and save myself a lot of trouble," he explains. "I could see I was in for hours and hours of paperwork, SO I took the easy way out and agreed."

The FEC may be rid of Grayson for this election year, but probably not forever. "I've already registered with them for 1988," he says. "I'm calling it the Richard Grayson for President Committee."

The Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram publishes article mentioning Richard Grayson's political activities

Today, Sunday, February 4, 1984, The Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram published "Robot, dog, 'archangel' among 170 candidates for U.S. president," an article on page 2E by Hearst Feature Service. It mentions Richard Grayson's political activities at the end of the article.

Federal Election Commission certifies Richard Grayson's political action committee Citizens Who Think Nancy Reagan Should Eat More

Today, October 25, 1983, he Federal Election Commission certified the political action comittee Citizens Who Think Nancy Reagan Should Eat More, the group's treasurer, Richard Grayson of North Miami Beach, Florida, reported.

New York Post Page Six Article on "Inveterate Prankster" Richard Grayson's Committee to Draft Rita Jenrette for Congress in Brooklyn

Today, Friday, June 19, 1981, The New York Post's Page Six has an article on "inveterate prankster Richard Grayson" and his committee to run Rita Jenrette for Congress from Brooklyn.

Chicago Sun-Times features Roger Simon column on Richard Grayson's registering the Nixon/Agnew in '80 Committee with Federal Election Commission

Today, Wednesday, May 14, 1980, the Chicago Sun-Times features a page 4 column by Roger Simon, "Dick, Spiro: The Look-Back Ticket," about Richard Grayson's registering the Nixon/Agnew in '80 Committee with the Federal Election Commission.

A related item appeared on the New York Post's Page Six.

San Francisco Chronicle reports on Richard Grayson's plan to neutralize Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini

Today, Saturday, February 2, 1980, the San Francisco Chronicle features an article, "A Drive to Put Khomeini in Congress":

Washington - A New York City author believes he has found a way to neutralize the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini: elect him to Congress.

"Then he would be as ineffective as any other congressman," said Richard Grayson, treasurer of the "Ayatollah for Congress Committee."

Grayson has duly registered the committee with the Federal Election Commission here, declaring the Iranian religious leader a candidate for the 11th Congressional District in Brooklyn. Grayson also complied with the FEC's campaign financing rules, reporting, "we have taken in no money and spent even less."

The ayatollah was listed as a Democrat.

- Associated Press

Anchorage Daily News reports on Richard Grayson's Plan to Run Ayatollah Khomeini for Congress

Today, Saturday, February 2, 1980, the Anchorage Daily News features an article, "Ayatollah Runs for Congress," about Richard Grayson's plan to neutralize the supreme religious leader of Iran:

Associated Press

Washington - A New York City author believes he has found a way to neutralize the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini: elect him to Congress.

"Then he would be as ineffective as any other congressman," said Richard Grayson, treasurer of the "Ayatollah for Congress Committee."

Grayson has duly registered the committee with the Federal Election Commission here, declaring the Iranian religious leader a candidate for the 11th Congressional District in Brooklyn. Grayson also complied with the FEC's campaign financing rules, reporting, "we have taken in no money and spent even less."

The ayatollah was listed as a Democrat.

US Magazine covers Richard Grayson's candidacy for Vice President

US Magazine in its current (November 13, 1979) issue features an article on political candidates in the 1980 election that includes a section on Richard Grayson's campaign for Vice President.

Federal Election Commisson issues advisory opinion on Richard Grayson's candidacy for Vice President

The Federal Election Commission has issued an advisory opinion to Richard Grayson regarding his candidacy for the Vice Presidential nomination in the 1980 New Hampshire Democratic primary:

October 5, 1979

CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
ADVISORY OPINION 1979-43

Mr. Richard Grayson
1607 East 56th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11234

Dear Mr. Grayson:

This is in response to your letters of July 21 and 31, 1979, requesting an advisory opinion on the applicability of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, ("the Act") to your candidacy in the New Hampshire Presidential Preference Primary.

Your letter states that you are a candidate for thenomination of the Democratic Party for the office of Vice President of the United States. You add that you are planning to circulate petitions to have your name on the ballot in "the 1980 New Hampshire Vice Presidential Preference Primary on the Democratic side." Since you are a candidate for Vice President, and since SS 100.6(b) (1) (ii) of Commission regulations speaks only of presidential preference primaries, you ask whether the "New Hampshire Vice Presidential Preference Primary" would be considered an "election" under the Act.

An "election" is defined in the Act to include a "general, special, primary, or runoff election". 2 U.S.C. SS 431(a) (1). Commission regulations go on to state that a primary election is an election held prior to a general election" as a direct result of which" candidates are nominated for election to Federal office, or which "is held to elect delegates to a national nominating convention." See 11 CFR 100.6(b) (1) (i), and (iii).

Under New Hampshire law, its presidential primary shall be held "for the purpose of determining the preferred candidates for president and vice president to be selected at the national conventions of the various political parties."1/ While New Hampshire law permits the separate designation of presidential and vice presidential candidates, the allocation of delegates among candidates is based upon the percentage of vote received by presidential candidates only, and only presidential candidates may designate delegates to be certified.

2/
The candidate of the Democratic Party for the office of Vice President is nominated at the Democratic National Convention, and not "as a direct result" of the New Hampshire Vice Presidential Primary. Furthermore, because the New Hampshire Vice Presidential primary does not elect delegates to a national nominating convention, the Commission concludes that such Vice Presidential primary is not an "election" under the Act or Commission regulations.

In the circumstances presented here, the "primary election" for candidates for the Democratic nomination for the office of Vice President is considered to be the Democratic National Convention since that convention has the authority to select a nominee. See 11 CFR 100.6(d) See also Advisory Opinions 1976-58, and 1978-30 copies enclosed. Therefore, limitations on contributions to Democratic Vice Presidential candidates apply separately with respect to two "elections", the Democratic National Convention and the general election.

See 2 U.S.C. SS 441a. Similarly reporting requirements relating to the filing of 10 Day Pre-Election and 30 Day Post-Election Reports would be met with the timely filing of such reports before and after the two "elections" noted above. 2 U.S.C. SS 434(b). See also Commission regulations at 11 CFR 104.4.

This response constitutes an advisory opinion concerning the application of a general rule of law stated in the Act, or prescribed as a Commission regulation, to the specific factual situation set forth in your request. See 2 U.S.C. SS 437f.

1/ N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. SS 58:1
2/ See N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. SS 57:5, SS 57:8

New York Daily News reports on Richard Grayson's candidacy for Vice President

In "Hats in the Ring: A Soap Box Derby," an article by White House correspondent Frank Van Riper, the New York Daily News today (September 9, 1979) discussed the Vice Presidential candidacy of Richard Grayson.

Asbury Park Press features news article on Richard Grayson's campaign for Vice President: "He'll Be No. 2 on Anybody's Ticket"

Today, August 6, 1979, the Asbury Park Press features a story, "He'll Be No. 2 on Anybody's Ticket," about Richard Grayson's candidacy for the 1980 Democratic nomination for President.

Washington Star covers Richard Grayson's candidacy for Vice President

The Washington Star today (August 3, 1979) covered Richard Grayson's candidacy for Vice President in a short article.