Donkey, 1990 (Kent, Conn.) -
VP candidate for Independent (aka Shrek-tacular Party) (2016, 2020, 2024)
Running mate with nominee (2016, 2020, 2024): Shrek (b. 1990)
Popular vote (2016, 2020): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2016, 2020): 0/538
The campaign (2016, 2020, 2024):
Shrek was a character in a 1990 book by cartoonist William Steig (1907-2003) that grew into a huge animated franchise starting with the 2001 feature film. The ogre Shrek was voiced by Mike Myers and his companion Donkey by Eddie Murphy.
Shrek joined the legion of commercial fictitious characters who were Presidential candidates either through the efforts of devoted fans and/or run as a marketing gimmick. His running-mate was, of course, Donkey.
DreamWorks launched a satirical Presidential campaign in 2016 where the Shrek/Donkey ticket ran for the top spot in the land of Far Far Away. In that universe Shrek won the election but in subsequent elections he appeared to be electioneering in the real world in what appeared to be a fan-driven campaign.
One could easily assume that with an animal VP that also serves as the symbol of the Democratic Party, Shrek would lean to the Left. But his political stance has actually been the subject of surprisingly serious and widespread discussion. Is he Marxist, libertarian, populist? I have not really followed this character enough to come to my own conclusion.
Steig was a huge influence on my own cartooning. I published a book in 1977 and dedicated it to him. He sent me an encouraging letter of thanks. Then he lifted a story-telling device of my invention and employed it in one of his subsequent books which I found to be both flattering and disappointing.
Election history: none
Other occupations: fictitious character
Notes:
Steig moved to Boston in 1992, "We're living in Boston because we can't run fast enough to live in New York anymore."
