While the 2020 US election odds have long been a two-horse race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the Presidential Election betting world was thrown a curveball when Kanye West announced on Twitter that he intends to run in this upcoming election as well.
What are Kanye West's odds to become President?
Kanye's Fourth of July announcement created an immediate ripple in UK-based sportsbooks offering US election betting, as Kanye West 2020 Presidential election odds were quickly added to the board, with some books installing him as low as +5,000.
That the hip-hop icon - and controversial pop-culture figure - posted his tweet on July 4 is certainly no coincidence, as West has always had a flair for the dramatic:
We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States ????????! #2020VISION
— ye (@kanyewest) July 5, 2020
Also of note is the celebrity Twitter endorsements immediately received by Kanye, coming from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, which is interesting as Musk had previously shown support for Democratic candidate Andrew Yang (and West is a member of the GOP), as well as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
And before you dismiss Kanye's run as impossible, remember that Ladbrokes originally posted Donald Trump at +150/1 to win in June 2015, following his announcement that he would run in the 2016 U.S. Election, leading to one of the biggest political betting coups of all time.
Can Kanye West still run for President in 2020?
This is a little bit of a Late Registration for Yeezy, especially considering he does not appear to have his name registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for this November's election. To participate in this year's election he would have to run as an independent, and while the deadline to file has already passed in Indiana, Maine, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina and Texas, he could still be a write-in candidate anywhere.
Why is Kanye West running for President in 2020?
There are two early theories taking hold as to why Kanye would announce his intentions to run for President, one is to help himself, the other to help his 'friend.'
Publicity
Kanye West has a new album, "God's Country," which is set to be released later this year and the first single from the album was released on June 30. Kanye also agreed to a 10-year deal with the Gap two weeks ago to create a line of Yeezy apparel, which sent his shares up by 42%. Plus, Kanye has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, or any attempt to grab attention.
Politics
West is a public supporter of current POTUS Donald Trump, even wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat at the Oval Office in 2018. While it might seem on the surface as a weird move to run against his fellow Republican ally, from a political standpoint it could be very beneficial to Trump, as West should likely take votes away from the African-American and youth populations, which are major weaknesses for Trump, and could be bad for the Democratic party.
He's said this before
Let's not also forget that West had alluded in the past that he would run for President in 2020: during his MTV VMA Vanguard Award Speech in 2015 and in the lyrics of his song "Facts" (released on 2016s The Life of Pablo) where he says 'On the field I'm over-reckless, on my Odell Beckham — 2020 I'mma run the whole election.'
Latest US Election Betting Odds
While Joe Biden and Donald Trump are still the US Presidential Election favorites, Kanye West has immediately become tied for third on the odds board with 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and current Vice President Mike Pence.
| Candidate | Odds to win 2020 US Election |
|---|---|
| Joe Biden | -138 |
| Donald Trump | +130 |
| Kanye West | +5,000 |
| Hillary Clinton | +5,000 |
| Mike Pence | +5,000 |
| Nikki Haley | +6,600 |
| Michelle Obama | +10,000 |
| Andrew Cuomo | +15,000 |
| Bernie Sanders | +15,000 |
| Elizabeth Warren | +15,000 |
Odds courtesy of William Hill
Where Can I Bet On Odds US Presidential Election Odds?
Not all books are allowed to offer wagering on U.S. politics. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what special and political betting options they have available.
