Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin names Republican activist as running mate
Evan McMullin, the independent presidential candidate who announced in August he was running as a conservative alternative to Donald Trump, named his running mate on Thursday: Republican activist and political and digital strategist Mindy Finn.
"I've been part of the group opposing Donald Trump in the Republican Party really since he announced last summer and as he continued to alienate and vilify people in this country," Finn told ABC News. She has "encouraged others to run for office," she said, adding that this is now an "opportunity to walk the walk." Finn has worked for Twitter, Google, former President George W. Bush, and Mitt Romney, and was once a senior digital strategist for the Republican National Committee. The 35-year-old said it's been "pretty discouraging" to see Republicans embrace Trump, and she's not afraid to go up against him. "I don't think the threat of hearing nasty things should keep people out of the public eye," she said. "You have to be tough. I kind of have to put on my teflon armor and take it."
The McMullin/Finn ticket realizes it's basically impossible for them to win, and their goal is to block Hillary Clinton and Trump from getting the necessary 270 electoral votes, sending the election to the House of Representatives. They also have another issue unique to their campaign: McMullin used the placeholder named Nathan Johnson as his running mate to gain ballot access, and the campaign said it's ready to go to battle in court to make sure Finn gets on the ballot.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Who were the ‘weekend snipers’ of Sarajevo?Under the Radar Italian authorities launch investigation into allegations far-right gun enthusiasts paid to travel to Bosnian capital and shoot civilians ‘for fun’ during the four-year siege
-
A free speech debate is raging over sign language at the White HouseTalking Points The administration has been accused of excluding deaf Americans from press briefings
-
Glinda vs. Elphaba, Jennifer Lawrence vs. postpartum depression and wilderness vs. progress in November moviesthe week recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Wicked: For Good,’ ‘Die My Love’ and ‘Train Dreams’
-
Newsom slams Trump’s climate denial at COP30speed read Trump, who has called climate change a ‘hoax,’ declined to send any officials to this week’s summit
-
UK, Colombia halt intel to US over boat attacksSpeed Read Both countries have suspended intelligence sharing with the US over the bombing of civilian boats suspected of drug smuggling
-
Trump pardons 2020 fake electors, other GOP alliesSpeed Read The president pardoned Rudy Giuliani and more who tried to overturn his 2020 election loss
-
Supreme Court to decide on mail-in ballot limitsSpeed Read The court will determine whether states can count mail-in ballots received after Election Day
-
Democrats split as Senate votes to end shutdownSpeed Read The proposed deal does not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, the Democrats’ main demand
-
USDA orders states to ‘undo’ full SNAP paymentsSpeed Read The Trump administration is telling states not to pay full November food stamp benefits
-
Senate takes first step to end record shutdownSpeed Read Eight senators in the Democratic caucus voted with Republicans to advance legislation to reopen the government
-
Has Zohran Mamdani shown the Democrats how to win again?Today’s Big Question New York City mayoral election touted as victory for left-wing populists but moderate centrist wins elsewhere present more complex path for Democratic Party
