The curious case of Evan McMullin

by Jake Carmin McMullin has only been in candidate from the race since August, so their surveys. With less than two weeks many polls have excluded the Additionally, until the general election, FiveThirtyEight, support for upon examining major and is largely McMullin’s Policy Views polls, found their solidifying. Historical methodology favored Republican stronghold states Trump and Clinton, as some like Texas and Ohio, which Economy/Jobs: pollsters believe third-party seemed vulnerable just weeks After years of low growth and voters generally break for one ago, are buckling down for high unemployment, we need of the major party candidates. the GOP standard-bearer, to get our economy back on Because of his high polling Trump. Support for third-party track. We must cut through numbers, as well as the candidates and the excessive regulations that aforementioned poll bias, it are slowly declining, are stifling new businesses and is safe to say among third- and undecided voters, it seems, inhibiting job creation. We also party candidates, McMullin are settling down. need to invest in workforce has the best shot at winning Not so in Utah. Polls in training for 21st century jobs, a state. He’s already garnered the state show a surprising so that Americans are ready some hefty conservative amount of support for Evan to meet the demands of future endorsements both in and McMullin, a candidate who has industries. out of Utah; most notably, Bill flown largely under the radar Kristol of the Weekly Standard, of email- throughout his campaign. Immigration: a conservative magazine. related evidence McMullin, the current House Immigrants built America. Yet the most interesting announced Republican Chief Policy Yet while we are a nation feature of McMullin’s this weekend), a Director, is a former CIA agent of immigrants, we are also campaign is not the chance stalemate is hardly out and Mormon missionary a nation of laws. My plan that he may be the first third- of the question. who hopes to sweep the would secure the border first, party candidate to win a state If McMullin wins #NeverTrump crowd. then deal with the illegal since 1968; it’s his chance to Utah, and neither McMullin’s Mormon faith immigrants who are already actually become president. In Clinton nor Trump reaches and BYU alumni status lend here. What’s clear is that fact, it’s safe to say McMullin 270, the election will be well to the candidate’s chances mass deportations are simply has the third-highest chance decided by the House of in Utah, where many find impractical. On immigration, to be president in 2016. Of Representatives per the Donald Trump’s policies and I want to bring Americans course, a number of unlikely Constitution. In the House, personality unfavorable. State together by focusing on events have to line up for this to representatives must choose polls show Trump holding solutions. happen, but it’s certainly more the president from the top 35 percent of Utahns, while likely than a win by Johnson. three electoral vote getters. Clinton and McMullin both National Security: For McMullin to become Since the House will likely hold just under 27 percent. As the only candidate in this President, he first must win keep its Republican majority, However, FiveThirtyEight, a race who has fought terrorism Utah. Then, Clinton and there is a significant chance news outlet with a particular on the front lines, I know how Trump must fail to win 270 McMullin could be chosen focus on polls and statistics, to defeat the Islamic State. votes. This is fairly unlikely, as a compromise candidate. reports these numbers may be I’ve also learned that fighting because Clinton is leading in It’s no secret that American misleading. terrorism depends on support most swing state polls, and democracy has quirks, but First, not many polls have from our Muslim partners. Trump has halted fundraising even in an election cycle as been conducted in Utah, as Our security depends on our and pulled out of many media unusual as 2016, it is hardly its voters have a high level strength, so we must repair the markets (leaving states like surprising an unknown of religiosity, a historical damage done to our military Arizona and Ohio vulnerable). candidate, not selected by preference for far-right by the harmful cuts known as However, if Trump supporters primary race and popular in Republicans, and only offer sequestration. rally or Clinton hits a snag (such only a single state, could be Photo Courtesy | six Electoral College votes. as the FBI’s reconsideration eligible for the presidency. Evan McMullin Gary Johnson: Who is the Libertarian candidate? by Ashlyn Gerbaz Gary Johnson is a fraternity. reached his office. Andagain won as a Republican businessman, author, former Fresh out of college, keeping his promise to nominee. While he promised governor and the Libertarian Johnson opened his own lower government spending, to continue his platform from Party’s nominee for both the business, Big J Enterprise, reducing 10 percent of the his first term, he added a 2012 and 2016 presidential focusing on mechanical few more improvements for elections. contracting. In the his second term, including Johnson was born on Jan. beginning, Johnson was the the improvement of public 1, 1953 in Minot, N.D. He company’s only employee. schools. grew up in an upper-middle- The first major break for Johnson’s Policy Views Johnson announced his class neighborhood in Minot. the business came when Presidential candidacy on Johnson’s father was a teacher Johnson received a contact Economy/Jobs: April 21, 2011, via as and his mother worked for from Intel’s expansion in We simply need to apply a Republican. This candidacy the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Rio Rancho. This increased common sense to regulatory was short-lived, and in Johnson’s family later Big J Enterprise’s revenue to policy. Let’s get rid of the December of 2011 Johnson relocated to New Mexico. $38 million. unnecessary laws and taxes made the decision to switch In 1971, Johnson graduated Johnson was able to grow that syphon the resources over and started campaigning from Sandia High School his business into a multi- businesses use to create the as a Libertarian. in Albuquerque. Johnson million dollar corporation. jobs we need. Johnson spent much attended the University Big J Enterprises was sold by of 2012 campaigning on of New Mexico (UNM) Johnson in 1999, and by then Immigration: television. He made guest where he graduated it was one of New Mexico’s We should appreciate and appearances on shows such with a Bachelor of leading construction respect the diversity of as “The Daily Show with Science in political companies. immigrants that come to the Jon Stewart” and “Red Eye science in 1975. Johnson entered politics United States to be productive with Greg Gutfeld.” During While at UNM, in 1994 when he ran for New members of society. But we September 2012, Johnson also Johnson was Mexico’s governor. His intent also need to recognize that spent three weeks touring a member of in running was to bring a everyone who comes here is and campaigning on college the Sigma “common sense business not so well-intentioned. campuses. Alpha approach” to government Johnson’s goal with the Epsilon and his slogan was “People National Security: 2012 election was to receive at before Politics.” As President, Gary Johnson least 5 percent of the popular Johnson’s platform will move quickly and vote. This would allow the emphasized tax cuts, job decisively to cut off the funding Libertarian Party equal ballot creation, law and order and on which violent extremist access and federal funding for restraint on state government armies depend. He will repair the next election cycle. In the spending. Despite his current relationships with our allies. final results, he received 0.99 libertarian standing, Johnson And he will only send our percent of votes. While 0.99 won the Republican brave soldiers to war when percent of votes was not the nomination and the spot clearly authorized by Congress 5 percent Johnson had hoped in office. after meaningful, transparent for, it was the best result in the Johnson followed deliberation and debate. Libertarian Party’s history. a strict small- Johnson announced government he would be seeking the approach as Libertarian nomination in governor. His the Presidential election on first six months annual growth of the state Jan. 6, 2016. He chose former in office,budget. governor of Massachusetts, Johnson He also proposed many tax William Weld, as his running vetoed 200 cuts. These included a cut mate. of the on prescription drug tax, an It is very unlikely Johnson 424 bills income tax cut and a gasoline will be anywhere close to the that tax cut. Only the gasoline Oval Office in 2017, as his tax cut passed, dropping the poll numbers are at a low 5.6 price of gasoline by six cents percent. a gallon. Johnson ran for reelection Photo Courtesy | as governor in 1998, he once Gary Johnson