Shawn O'Hara
Encyclopedia
Shawn O'Hara is a perennial candidate
for public office in Mississippi
. He was the national chairman of the Reform Party
, and a frequent candidate on their ticket. He has since become a member of the Democratic Party
.
He is probably best known for his frequently running for mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi
. He has sought the office in 2005 and 2009.
O'Hara ran as the Reform Party candidate for United States Senate
in Mississippi in 2000. He received 0.7% of the vote.
While a member of the Reform Party, O'Hara supported the candidacy of George W. Bush
. After his party nominated Ralph Nader
as presidential candidate in 2004, O'Hara said he hoped Nader could spoil the election: "I’m doing everything I can to make sure John Kerry never gets around the White House."
This sentiment, and the fact that O'Hara was a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan
's Samuel Bowers, and his statements that he had once favored the execution of abortion doctors, put O'Hara odds with other Reform Party members.
In 2003
he was the Reform Party candidate for Governor of Mississippi and received 4,070 votes for 0.46% of the vote.
In 2007 O'Hara ran as a Democrat for state treasurer and received 284,789 votes (39.47%).
O'Hara sought the Democratic Party nomination for the United States Senate
in 2008, however, he was defeated in the primary by Erik R. Fleming 65.8% - 34.2%.
The Majority in Mississippi blog predicts he will run in 2010 or 2011, saying:
"[O'Hara is a] perennial candidate will try to run for something- if not everything- in 2011. He tried qualifying for every statewide race in 2007 as a Democrat but they decided to let him be the sacrificial lamb who would face Tate Reeves...."
O'Hara ran for the seat in Mississippi's 3rd congressional district
as a Democrat.
Much to the chagrin of Reform Party members, O'Hara returned to their party in 2011. He announced he would run for governor on their ticket, and also filed to run for state treasurer as both a Democrat and a Reform Party candidate.
Perennial candidate
A perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
for public office in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. He was the national chairman of the Reform Party
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
, and a frequent candidate on their ticket. He has since become a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
He is probably best known for his frequently running for mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...
. He has sought the office in 2005 and 2009.
O'Hara ran as the Reform Party candidate for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in Mississippi in 2000. He received 0.7% of the vote.
While a member of the Reform Party, O'Hara supported the candidacy of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. After his party nominated Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
as presidential candidate in 2004, O'Hara said he hoped Nader could spoil the election: "I’m doing everything I can to make sure John Kerry never gets around the White House."
This sentiment, and the fact that O'Hara was a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
's Samuel Bowers, and his statements that he had once favored the execution of abortion doctors, put O'Hara odds with other Reform Party members.
In 2003
Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2003
The 2003 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on 4 November 2003 for the post of governor of Mississippi. The incumbent governor, Democrat Ronnie Musgrove, was defeated by Republican Haley Barbour....
he was the Reform Party candidate for Governor of Mississippi and received 4,070 votes for 0.46% of the vote.
In 2007 O'Hara ran as a Democrat for state treasurer and received 284,789 votes (39.47%).
O'Hara sought the Democratic Party nomination for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 2008, however, he was defeated in the primary by Erik R. Fleming 65.8% - 34.2%.
The Majority in Mississippi blog predicts he will run in 2010 or 2011, saying:
"[O'Hara is a] perennial candidate will try to run for something- if not everything- in 2011. He tried qualifying for every statewide race in 2007 as a Democrat but they decided to let him be the sacrificial lamb who would face Tate Reeves...."
O'Hara ran for the seat in Mississippi's 3rd congressional district
Mississippi's 3rd congressional district
Mississippi's 3rd congressional district covers central portions of state and stretches from the Louisiana border in the west to the Alabama border in the east....
as a Democrat.
Much to the chagrin of Reform Party members, O'Hara returned to their party in 2011. He announced he would run for governor on their ticket, and also filed to run for state treasurer as both a Democrat and a Reform Party candidate.