Richard Mayers, a political candidate with a long history of promoting white supremacist and racist views, has filed paperwork to run for governor of Illinois.

According to reports cited in the article, Mayers requested that his name appear on the ballot as 'Richard Benedict (Sieg Heil) Mayers' and listed his political affiliation as the 'Germanic Aryan Supremacy Smokers, Gamblers' party.

His filing immediately drew opposition from both the Democratic and Republican parties in Illinois, which jointly petitioned to challenge his nomination.Mayers has repeatedly sought public office over several decades but has consistently failed to gain electoral success.Earlier in 2026, he attempted to run for a congressional seat in Indiana using the same ballot name.That candidacy was removed from the ballot after he failed to attend a hearing related to challenges against his nomination.The article also recounts several previous campaigns and political activities associated with Mayers.

In 2000, he filed referendum proposals in Cook County, Illinois, advocating measures such as banning interracial marriage, restricting abortions involving what he described as 'healthy white babies,' and deporting Black prisoners to Africa.During that period, he acknowledged that his views were controversial but argued that he could contribute positively in some areas.Over the years, Mayers has launched unsuccessful campaigns for congressional and other public offices in Illinois, Indiana, and Alaska.

The report presents his latest gubernatorial bid as part of a long pattern of failed attempts to secure elected office while promoting extremist racial ideologies.