Teenager running for governor of Kansas warns a dog might soon join the race

A patriotic dog.
(Image credit: iStock)

You must be a natural-born citizen to run for president, 21 to purchase alcohol, and 16 to get your driver's license, but it seems all you need to become the governor of Kansas is a pulse.

That worries one of the state's newest gubernatorial candidates, Ethan Randleas, a 17-year-old "conservatarian" from Wichita. He just announced he's entering the race, joining two other fresh-faced high school students: Democrat Jack Bergeson, 16, and Republican Tyler Ruzich, 17. This lack of requirements has Randleas wondering if he'll be up against Fido on the ballot. Kansas needs "some way to make sure we don't have, like, a dog run," Randleas told The Kansas City Star. "Because I'm sure someone's going to think about it and be like, 'Well, you know, it might be funny to have my dog run. I'm going to have my dog run for governor.' And they'll fork over $2,000 to get it on the primary ballot as a joke."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.