American voters facing another election featuring Joe Biden and Donald Trump now have an unusual alternative: "Literally Anybody Else." A 35-year-old from Texas, previously known as Dustin Ebey, has legally changed his name to make a statement and entered the 2024 presidential race under this new moniker.
"Literally Anybody Else" reflects his deep frustration with the choices provided by the two major parties. He expressed his concerns in an interview with ABC affiliate WFAA, saying, "People are voting for the lesser of two evils, not someone they actually believe in or support. People should have the option to vote for someone who resembles and represents them, not the lesser of two evils. I reject that."
Else, who is also a U.S. Army veteran and a seventh-grade math teacher in the Dallas suburbs, has gone as far as to offer up his driver's license as proof of his name change. His campaign has been officially filed with the Federal Election Commission under his new name, which he argues is not just about a personal identity but a broader ideological statement.
His campaign website starkly criticizes the current political leadership, positioning his candidacy as a protest against choosing between "the King of Debt" and "an 81-year-old," referring to Donald Trump and Joe Biden, respectively. "Literally Anybody Else isn't a person, it's a rally cry," the website states, echoing his call for a change in how political leaders are chosen and who they represent.
Highlighting the "constant power grab" between the Republican and Democratic parties, Else told WFAA that this tug-of-war offers "no benefit to the common person." He insists, "Three hundred million people can do better," indicating a broad dissatisfaction with the current state of U.S. presidential politics.
To officially get on the ballot, Else faces the daunting task of gathering over 113,000 signatures from non-primary voters in Texas by May—a challenge he acknowledges is formidable. His aspiration is to see his name listed beneath Donald Trump and Joe Biden on the ballot paper, offering voters a starkly different choice. If he fails to secure enough signatures, his backup plan is to encourage voters to write in his name in November.
This move comes at a time when American sentiment about politics is notably bleak. A recent Associated Press-NORC Research Center poll found that 68% of adults are pessimistic about the state of U.S. politics, with significant dissatisfaction evident towards both potential major party nominees—56% reported dissatisfaction with Biden as a nominee, and 58% felt the same about Trump.