WASHINGTON – If it feels like there are more people running for president than ever before, it's because there are.
There are 442 people who have filed to run for president in 2016 through the Federal Election Commission as of Sunday.
That number is growing steadily and has already surpassed the 419 people who filed in 2012, according to the FEC.
Among the contenders are five from Minnesota, including Peter Breyfogle, a retired computer specialist from Shoreview. His platform, viewable on Facebook, consists of replacing the House of Representatives with a House of Citizens, which would include most U.S. citizens 25 years of age and over. To approve a bill, at least half those eligible would have to vote through an authenticated network.
Breyfogle says he's no expert, but follows politics with a sense of "disgust and disenchantment," and is convinced that direct voting would be best.
Ole Savior is a familiar name to those who follow Minnesota politics. This will be Savior's fourth run at the nation's highest office, having failed to go the distance in 2004, 2008 and 2012 (he's also run for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and governor). On the political website Project Vote Smart, Savior lists his reason for running: "Save the world from chemical and nuclear weapons (WMDs) of mass destruction. … Ban land mines worldwide."
Savior, who could not be reached for comment, has the distinction of being the only one of the five Minnesota presidential candidates to have donated funds to federal political campaigns in the past, according to the FEC database.
His last donation was for $320, to an Independence Party Senate candidate in 2000.