TRENTON, N.J. – Jacob Chansley, known as the “QAnon Shaman” for his role in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has filed to run for Congress in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. The district’s current representative, Debbie Lesko, announced last month that she will not seek re-election.
Chansley, an Arizona resident, gained notoriety during the Capitol riot due to his distinctive appearance. He was shirtless, painted his face, wore a furry headdress with horns, and carried a U.S. flag attached to a spear and a bullhorn. He was a prominent figure among the rioters, having entered the Capitol and used a bullhorn to encourage the crowd.
In 2021, Chansley pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of an official proceeding. A federal judge sentenced him to 41 months in prison. Prosecutors labeled him as the “public face of the Capitol riot.” During the riot, Chansley shouted obscenities in the Senate gallery, climbed the chamber’s dais, and left a threatening note.
Prosecutors highlighted Chansley’s use of social media to spread “false information and hateful rhetoric,” contributing to the Capitol attack. Chansley served approximately 27 months in prison and was then transferred to a halfway house in Phoenix.