Every Election Should Be This Kinky

The already contentious Texas gubernatorial race just got a little more interesting. You might say it even got a little more Kinky.

Country-rock icon and satirist Richard “Kinky” Friedman has announced he will run for governor again in 2010, Politico.com reports. Friedman ran as an independent in 2006, losing to incumbent Republican Rick Perry. He did, however, have a hell of a run. Operating using the slogan “Why the hell not?”, Friedman sought win the adoration of the more than 70% of voters who didn’t show up the last time. His presence won over the youth vote and registered a ton of new voters, and although he finished fourth in the final election, he still came away with 550,000 votes (about 12%)––not bad for an independent.

Friedman said he will run as a Democrat this time around and plans to conduct most of his fundraising online. His first fundraiser will take place Sept. 12 with an appearance from country singer Willie Nelson.

We’ll be following Friedman’s campaign through Election Day 2010. After all, it’s not every day you see a true maverick in politics.