Birth Name: | Michael George Nelson |
Birth Place: | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Education: | University of Maryland (BA) University of Minnesota (MS) |
Party: | Democratic Republican Libertarian "Trump Republican" "Employmentwealth Party" "Work and Wealth Party" |
Michael George Goodspaceguy Nelson (born Michael George Nelson), known mononymously as Goodspaceguy, is an American perennial candidate from Washington state.[1]
Born Michael George Nelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Goodspaceguy received a B.A. from the University of Maryland and a M.S. from the University of Minnesota. He legally added "Goodspaceguy" to his name in 2006, becoming Michael George Goodspaceguy Nelson.[2] [3]
Outside of politics, Goodspaceguy describes himself as "an amateur economist and astronomer." In his 2010 campaign profile, he lists his previous occupations as "accountant, chemical plant operator, economist, [and] investor".[4]
Goodspaceguy has sought public office twenty five times,[5] including those of United States Senator and Governor of Washington. Though never endorsed by a party, he has contested elections as a Democrat, Republican, Trump Republican, Libertarian and as a candidate of the non-existent "Employmentwealth Party" (under Washington elections law, candidates can declare their preference for any party,[6] whether the party exists or not). In the 2014 race for Washington's 7th congressional district, Goodspaceguy identified himself with the "Work and Wealth Party."[7] His best electoral showing was in the 2003 race for King County Council district 8, in which he polled 16 percent of the vote against Dow Constantine.[2]
In addition to his frequent campaigns for local, state, and federal office, Goodspaceguy is a regular attendee of meetings of the Burien, Washington city council, during which he frequently participates in public comment sessions.[8] [9] Goodspaceguy ran for the Port of Seattle Commission in the August 4, 2015 primary, and preliminary results showed Goodspaceguy finishing second in a field of three candidates, with about 24,000 votes, or just over 9% of the total votes cast.[10] [11] He ultimately lost the general election to incumbent Courtney Gregoire, but garnered 48,000 votes (13% of the vote) in the process;[12] [13] Goodspaceguy was also endorsed by the 34th District Republicans prior to the general election, one of only two given by the group for the election alongside a Tim Eyman initiative.[14] Goodspaceguy ran in the 2016 gubernatorial election in Washington,[15] winning 13,191 votes in the primary but not advancing.[16] Goodspaceguy was running for King County Executive in the 2017 election,[17] and filed again in 2021 to run for the same office.[18] Goodspaceguy also ran unsuccessfully in the 2018 United States Senate election in Washington and again for King County Council in 2019.[19] His 2019 run garnered 4.52% of the vote, in comparison to the 16% he managed in his 2003 run for the same office.[20] He was a candidate for the 2020 gubernatorial election, stating his party preference as "Trump Republican",[21] winning 5,646 votes in the primary.[22] He is running in the 2024 United States Senate election as a Republican.[23]
Goodspaceguy's political positions generally revolve around his support for space exploration and space colonization.[8] Goodspaceguy also calls for population control through a birth fee. He describes himself as "pro-choice on almost everything."[24] Goodspaceguy opposes the Washington state minimum wage as it "destroys jobs".[11] [25]