Cacareco the Rhinoceros (São Paulo, 1959)
In 1959, voters in São Paulo, Brazil staged a protest vote by writing in 'Cacareco' — a five-year-old female rhinoceros from the São Paulo Zoo — for a city council seat. Cacareco received approximately 100,000 votes, more than any other candidate. She finished well ahead of all human candidates. The election board disqualified her vote count, but the protest message was received clearly. Cacareco inspired similar animal protest candidacies across Brazil for decades afterward.
Pigasus the Pig (USA, 1968)
The Youth International Party — the Yippies — formally nominated a pig named Pigasus for President of the United States in 1968. Yippie leaders including Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman held a press conference at the Chicago Civic Center to announce the candidacy. Chicago police arrested both the pig and several Yippies for the stunt. Pigasus was taken into custody. His political career ended at the city pound.
Bossy Gillies the Horse (Sunol, California, 1986)
Sunol, California held an election for honorary mayor in 1986. A mule named Bossy Gillies won after receiving the most write-in votes. Bossy served until 1992, making her one of the longest-serving animal politicians in American history. She was replaced by another animal, maintaining Sunol's tradition of animal mayors.
Dusty Johnson the Dog (Rabbit Hash, Kentucky)
The town of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky has a long tradition of electing dogs as honorary mayor. Multiple dogs have held the position since 1998. The election fundraiser typically raises thousands of dollars for local historical preservation. The office is largely ceremonial — dogs are unable to sign ordinances — but Rabbit Hash's mayoral dogs have become significant local celebrities and tourist attractions.
Hank the Cat (Virginia US Senate, 2012)
In 2012, a cat named Hank ran for US Senate in Virginia as an independent candidate. Hank received approximately 6,000 write-in votes — more than some third-party human candidates. His campaign platform focused on economic stability, pet welfare, and looking thoughtfully out windows. He was not seated in the Senate.
Why Do People Vote for Animals?
Animal candidacies serve multiple political purposes. They function as protest votes — registering dissatisfaction with all available human candidates. They raise money for charitable causes. They generate media coverage for small towns and political movements. And they remind the electorate, at moments of particular disillusionment, that the system operates at human consent — and that human consent can be expressed in unexpected ways.