41:
330:, in 2013. Claus has stated that he believes legislators engage with him and his ideas more readily as a result, partially as a result of the positive media attention it garners. Indeed, during his 2022 congressional run, political analysts noted that, optically, campaigning against 'Santa' would be challenging. In spite of this, competing candidate
502:
Claus has a stepson, but is not currently married. He has confirmed that he has had multiple cancers, but has not shared any specific diagnoses. As a monk, Claus has taken a religious vow of poverty, making just $ 300 a month as a North Pole councilman. He reportedly volunteers over 1,000 hours per
399:
for the first time. The top four candidates will contest the
Special General Election on August 16. A poll of 605 voters from Alaska Survey Research in May 2022 placed Claus with approximately 6% of the vote, which would have seen him place fourth, proceeding to the general election. Claus finished
318:
values to the "plethora of ills that plague
America’s youth" he observed during his time in public service. He has spent much of his life campaigning to bring greater protections to underprivileged and marginalized children, especially in the U.S., where he has volunteered with around 30 different
264:'s National Defense Executive Reserve. Claus's team favoured an active approach to investigating sources of terrorism, involving seeking out the underlying problems, however, he reports that this approach was dismissed by national security officials.
195:
in 2005, to help bring awareness to his advocacy for children's health and welfare, a time during which he engaged in a nation-wide tour to champion that cause. Claus has expanded his advocacy as a congressional candidate into the broader sphere of
1297:
As a Native woman, I understand that
Alaskans are a diverse people who need leaders who can unite us. We also need a federal government that helps stabilize our economy. My top priority is to improve Alaskans quality of
360:, which trains teachers to recognize signs of child abuse. Claus was elected to the North Pole City Council in 2015 as a write-in candidate, winning with 58 votes. In 2016, Claus spoke out against a proposed ban of
279:
television station. His tenure in public service broadcasting continued as he moved north, serving a stint on the Alaska Public
Broadcasting Commission. Before becoming a councillor, Claus also worked as a senior
1466:
431:. He describes himself as having a strong affinity with Bernie Sanders, sharing many of the Vermont senator's positions on racial justice, corporate accountability, and election freedoms. Claus does not accept
260:. He was a founding director of the Terrorism Research and Communications Center, an academic collective researching the formation and foundations of terrorist groups. That position led him to be appointed to
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in North Pole, successfully swaying his council colleagues to reject the proposition. Claus was re-elected to the council in 2019, with 100 votes. As of 2022, he is the
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term, and made clear that he was not interested in running for the additional full term, to be contested in
November 2022. Claus was among 48 candidates running in the
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1177:
356:
After moving to Alaska in 2013, he became the president of the North Pole
Chamber of Commerce. During that time he successfully lobbied Alaska to pass
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773:
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territory port, overseeing two international airports and four marine ports. Before moving to Alaska, Claus also worked at a radio station in
1000:
695:
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417:
341:
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1255:
1128:"I'm happy to announce that I'm a Candidate in the Special Election for the U.S. House of Representatives for Alaska in 2022!"
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858:
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In 2009, Claus won the
International Peace Prize presented by the Santa Claus Peace Council for his child welfare advocacy.
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413:
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967:
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After growing out his beard in monk tradition, he realized he could achieve greater recognition by leaning into the
448:
228:. He also completed a doctoral course in educational communication and technology, although he never completed his
1361:
334:
willingly characterised his own campaign as "waging a war on Santa", calling Claus' policies "Marxist fantasies".
1441:
487:
183:, 1947) is an American politician, monk, and child welfare activist. Claus gained recognition as a member of the
943:
891:
476:
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285:
268:
1471:
253:
612:
1153:"Sarah Palin Leads Alaska Congressional Primary, Poll Finds—Even Though 51% Of Voters Don't Like Her"
300:
529:"In North Pole, Alaska, Santa Claus is a bastion of blue on a city council as red as Rudolph's nose"
436:
31:
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Jaded with federal government, Claus secured a job as chief of safety and security at the
8:
468:
440:
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1178:"Alaska's first ranked-choice election will be a special vote to replace Rep. Don Young"
40:
472:
327:
184:
125:
56:
23:
824:"The strange story of a real-life Santa Claus, North Pole's newest city councilperson"
803:"The strange story of a real-life Santa Claus, North Pole's newest city councilperson"
256:. In 1971, he began serving as special assistant to the deputy police commissioner in
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Claus has disavowed Alaska's "extractive oil economy", pointing to the effects of
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421:
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555:
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1107:
835:
696:"A Man Named 'Santa Claus' Was Elected to City Council in North Pole, Alaska"
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257:
159:
459:. He has questioned the power and influence of social media companies like
401:
365:
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To further maximize the effect of his advocacy, Claus ran for president in
326:
image that many people perceived. He changed his name in 2005 and moved to
774:"Talking to the Real-Life Santa Claus, a Monk Who Lives at the North Pole"
1070:"Shoo-in: Man named Santa Claus wins 2nd term on North Pole City Council"
392:
323:
292:
281:
192:
1227:"Ivan Moore 🇺🇦 on Twitter: "OFFICIAL RELEASE: Begich in strong posit…"
1001:"Meet Santa Claus, North Pole politician and medical marijuana advocate"
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and the reduction of federal defense spending, describing himself as "
435:, nor does he accept personal donations. He supports the expansion of
491:
381:
296:
233:
1336:"Sarah Palin faces formidable opponent in Congress run: Santa Claus"
494:, which is currently underserved in many rural parts of the state.
464:
345:
303:
1311:"Sarah Palin and Santa Claus file to run for Congress from Alaska"
1203:"Everything You Need To Know About the Special Election In Alaska"
859:"Santa Claus is running for Congress for Alaska's lone House seat"
400:
in sixth place in the election and subsequently endorsed
Democrat
944:"Tahoe's Santa Claus Wins International Peace Prize | Tahoetopia"
460:
249:
229:
129:
919:"Alaska's unusual House primary draws Palin, Santa, 46 others"
378:
2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election
189:
2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election
1386:"Alaska expecting infrastructure funds for broadband efforts"
1052:"Meet Santa Claus, city council member in North Pole, Alaska"
750:"You Better Watch Out: Santa Claus May Be Coming to Congress"
371:
380:. He intended to only complete the remainder of Congressman
314:
Claus attributes his interest in child welfare and his
224:
He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree from
721:"Q&A with Alaska U.S. House candidate Santa Claus"
643:"North Pole's Santa Claus speaks to News of the North"
1096:"Santa Claus is Real and He's a Democratic Socialist"
1026:"That's not mistletoe ... North Pole OKs pot sales"
968:"'Santa Claus' Elected to North Pole City Council"
744:
742:
740:
1408:
1256:"Alaska is having the wildest election of 2022"
637:
635:
633:
556:"City Council Home | City of North Pole Alaska"
527:Boots, Michelle Theriault (December 15, 2020).
486:and environmental pollution, especially on the
737:
252:at several New York bars and clubs, including
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911:
1273:
630:
853:
851:
215:
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372:2022 Alaska congressional special election
351:
187:City Council, and was a candidate for the
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490:. He has also vowed to improve Alaska's
418:2020 United States presidential election
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892:"Santa is running. And Santa's serious"
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424:dropped out of the Democratic primary.
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1362:"Santa Claus is coming … to Congress?"
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613:"Santa Claus is coming … to Congress?"
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16:American politician and Anglican monk
513:
447:". Claus is in favor of an expanded
391:, including former Alaskan Governor
288:at the Chena Lakes Recreation Area.
81:October 2019 – October 2022
70:October 2015 – October 2018
1050:Walling, Aaron (25 December 2021).
596:
191:. He changed his name to match the
13:
1287:from the original on July 31, 2022
1150:
1094:Robinson, Nathan J. (2022-04-24).
801:Kaplan, Sarah (October 16, 2015).
14:
1483:
1452:21st-century American politicians
309:
291:Claus is a Christian monk of the
212:, and student loan cancellation.
1281:"Mary Peltola for U.S. Congress"
1201:Rakich, Nathaniel (2022-06-10).
890:Samuels, Iris (April 10, 2022).
497:
1378:
1353:
1328:
1303:
1248:
1219:
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1176:Brooks, James (April 8, 2022).
1169:
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1120:
1087:
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1043:
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960:
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488:Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
1447:American democratic socialists
1427:People from North Pole, Alaska
1392:. Associated Press. 2021-11-30
713:
688:
664:
580:"Alaska Division of Elections"
572:
548:
1:
506:
275:, and as vice president of a
1233:. 2022-05-10. Archived from
286:Fairbanks North Star Borough
269:United States Virgin Islands
7:
1437:Alaska city council members
1360:Wilson, Reid (2022-04-22).
471:, including the funding of
344:. He received 625 votes in
102:1947 (age 76–77)
10:
1488:
1457:New York University alumni
477:accessibility of abortions
404:for the general election.
319:non-profit organizations.
162:.santaclausnorthpolealaska
239:
232:that would grant him his
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63:
54:
50:
38:
21:
584:www.elections.alaska.gov
492:broadband infrastructure
467:. Moreover, he supports
427:Claus is a proponent of
254:McSorley’s Old Ale House
216:Early life and education
200:, including support for
560:www.northpolealaska.com
352:North Pole City Council
299:, and has worked as an
181:Thomas Patrick O'Connor
99:Thomas Patrick O'Connor
1442:Child welfare activism
362:marijuana dispensaries
244:During his studies at
441:fiscally conservative
1182:Anchorage Daily News
896:Anchorage Daily News
725:Anchorage Daily News
534:Anchorage Daily News
475:, and improving the
397:ranked-choice voting
316:democratic socialist
248:, Claus worked as a
198:democratic socialism
1462:Alaska Independents
1390:Alaska Public Media
863:FOX TV Digital Team
469:reproductive rights
433:corporate donations
408:Political positions
273:Telluride, Colorado
226:New York University
193:legendary character
140:New York University
1472:American Anglicans
1032:. Associated Press
780:. 24 December 2015
473:Planned Parenthood
328:North Pole, Alaska
301:emergency response
220:Claus was born in
185:North Pole, Alaska
24:The Right Reverend
1283:. July 31, 2022.
429:medical marijuana
376:Claus ran in the
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1151:Durkee, Alison.
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649:. Archived from
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449:child tax credit
445:socially liberal
412:Claus supported
222:Washington, D.C.
202:Medicare for All
166:
163:
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105:Washington, D.C.
90:Personal details
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43:
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1317:. April 1, 2022
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1260:Washington Post
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1207:FiveThirtyEight
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1100:Current Affairs
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1074:Fox TV Stations
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112:Political party
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948:tahoetopia.com
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511:
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484:climate change
422:Bernie Sanders
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310:Early advocacy
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55:Member of the
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1422:Living people
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1257:
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1237:on 2022-05-10
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672:"Santa Claus"
667:
653:on 2022-04-22
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498:Personal life
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45:Claus in 2024
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33:
25:
20:
1394:. Retrieved
1389:
1380:
1369:. Retrieved
1365:
1355:
1344:. Retrieved
1342:. 2022-04-27
1340:the Guardian
1339:
1330:
1319:. Retrieved
1314:
1305:
1296:
1289:. Retrieved
1275:
1264:. Retrieved
1262:. 2022-06-09
1259:
1250:
1239:. Retrieved
1235:the original
1230:
1221:
1210:. Retrieved
1206:
1196:
1185:. Retrieved
1181:
1171:
1160:. Retrieved
1156:
1146:
1135:. Retrieved
1131:
1122:
1111:. Retrieved
1099:
1089:
1078:. Retrieved
1076:. 2019-10-04
1073:
1064:
1055:
1045:
1034:. Retrieved
1029:
1020:
1009:. Retrieved
1007:. 2015-10-15
1005:the Guardian
1004:
975:. Retrieved
971:
962:
951:. Retrieved
947:
938:
927:. Retrieved
925:. 2022-06-05
922:
899:. Retrieved
895:
867:. Retrieved
865:. 2022-04-25
862:
839:. Retrieved
827:
806:
782:. Retrieved
778:www.vice.com
777:
754:. Retrieved
752:. 2022-06-02
728:. Retrieved
724:
715:
704:. Retrieved
702:. 2015-10-23
700:Mental Floss
699:
690:
679:. Retrieved
675:
666:
655:. Retrieved
651:the original
646:
621:. Retrieved
619:. 2022-04-22
616:
587:. Retrieved
583:
574:
563:. Retrieved
559:
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538:. Retrieved
532:
501:
481:
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411:
402:Mary Peltola
389:June primary
386:non-partisan
375:
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230:dissertation
219:
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122:Residence(s)
76:
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59:City Council
1432:Santa Claus
1417:1947 births
1056:Valley News
676:Ballotpedia
393:Sarah Palin
382:Don Young's
324:Santa Claus
206:coronavirus
177:Santa Claus
116:Independent
28:Santa Claus
1411:Categories
1396:2022-04-29
1371:2022-04-29
1346:2022-04-29
1321:2022-04-29
1266:2022-06-12
1241:2022-05-18
1231:archive.ph
1212:2022-06-12
1187:2022-04-29
1162:2022-04-29
1137:2022-04-29
1113:2022-04-29
1080:2022-04-29
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