A Michigan furry with a history of crude comments about Charlie Kirk, Elon Musk and America itself is running for US Congress — and insists he’s being completely serious.

Samuel Smeltzer is seeking the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s 7th District in the 2026 midterms, when he hopes to challenge Republican incumbent Tom Barrett for his congressional seat in Washington.

But Smeltzer is no ordinary candidate — he is an outspoken member of the “Furry” community, and has been campaigning under the name “Elyon Badger” — complete with a cartoon badger mask to match his name.

“We need someone like Elyon who truly has the heart required to change things for the better,” Smeltzer told Pride Source in October, referring in the third person to the honey badger “mascot” he adopted as a part

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