Majeeli Aref
VP candidate for Free Palestine Party (aka Independent) (2016)
Running mate with nominee: Fahim Fahim Aref Jr. (b. 1980)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Fahim Fahim Aref Jr. of Bridgeview, Ill. filed for US President as an Independent with the FEC on Oct. 7, 2015, also using the banner of the Free Palestine Party.
Aref announced his campaign on Facebook--
Oct. 8, 2015
You know, I heard it a few times jokingly that I should run for President, and with all this chatter about a Muslim can never be President of the United States got me thinking. So I figured why not, since I fulfilled the requirements when I turned 35 years old and by being an American born citizen that lived in the states for at least 14 years earned me the minimum requirements I needed. So I just registered with the Federal Elections Committee and entered the race. Now all I need is a 100 million dollar donation, a Jewish campaign manager and a way to convince the American People to vote for a devoted Muslim who follows the Sunnah teachings of Islam, but yet is still able to pull his weight in society. Anyone??
Actually, it was pretty much an invisible campaign. Rather than electioneering in 2015-2016, the candidate was busy with an internationally active nonprofit humanitarian group he co-founded, Pious Projects.
As the election neared, Aref posted an image of a ballot with his name as a write-in alongside that of his running-mate, Majeeli Aref, aka his spouse.
Other married couples who ran as a ticket include Marvin Edward Perkins/Dorothy Louise Perkins - Independent (1980), Henry R. King/Sandra M. King - Independent (1984, 1988, 1992), David C. Byrne/Karen Byrne - Common Citizens of the United States of America (2000), Stanford Eugene Andress/Irene Altahelle Markley Deasy - Unaffiliated (2004), Debra Joyce Renderos/Oscar Renderos Castillo - Independent (2004), Oscar R. Renderos/Debra Joyce Renderos - Independent (2008), Debra Joyce Renderos/Oscar R. Renderos - Independent (2008), Christopher Michael Padgett/Linda Aileen Padgett - Independent (2012), Louis Todd House/Suzanne Marie Dudgeon House - Independent (2012), Zoltan Istvan Gyurko/Lisa Marie Memmel - Transhumanist Party (2016), Khadijah Maryam Jacob-Fambro/Milton Lewis Fambro III - Loyal Trustworthy Compassion Party (2016), Jennifer Joy Vogel-Walcutt/Christopher Barrett Walcutt - Non Affiliated (2016), Janet Louise Reid/John Ellis Reid - Independent Republican (2016), Samuel Lewis Tabor/Sonya Sharlet Tabor - Independent (2016), Srinivasa Krishna Mallapadi/Sripriya Madhavan Mallapadi - Independent (2016), and Michael Don Jenkins/Nancy Kay Jenkins - Independent (2016).
The fact both candidates were residents of the same state posed a potential Constitutional problem in the event of their victory. As it was they were not registered as write-ins in any state.
Election history: none
Other occupations: housewife and mom
Notes:
Another mystery third party VP.
Instead of wasting his time gladhanding the voters during the campaign season, this candidate spent his time accomplishing something with real results and helping others. Imagine that.
