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This month has marked the addition of three candidates to the long list presidential hopefuls.

Rick Santorum confirmed political whispers last Wednesday (May 27), when he officially announced his candidacy for the 2016 election. In an interview with ABC News’ Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos, the 57-year-old says he’s ready for the second go-around after losing the GOP nomination to Gov. Mitt Romney in 2012.

Santorum, who is known for his strong Christian conservative views, made the announcement near his home in Cabot, Pennsylvania.

“It’s an exciting opportunity,” he told Stephanopoulos. “To come back home, to be at a manufacturing facility, to really reconnect to what I grew up with and understood to be an America that worked, that worked for middle-income families, that created stable neighborhoods and strong families — when you see all these reports coming out, one after another, from the far left and the far right talking about how the middle of America is hollowing out and the jobs just aren’t there for the 74 percent of Americans who don’t have a college degree, families are breaking down.”

In addition to former New York Governor George Pataki’s announcement on Thursday, Martin O’Malley followed suit on Saturday near his home in Baltimore. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham made his own announcement Monday morning, reminding many of his harsh views on foreign policy.

A senate official since 2002, Graham isn’t one to hold back when it comes to terrorism and international affairs. While speaking at the Lincoln Day dinner in April, Graham sprinkled his views of ISIS in with some humor on how he would handle Americans trying to join the Islamic State.

“If I’m president of the United States and you’re thinking about joining Al Qaeda or ISIL, I’m not going to call a judge,” he said. “I’m going to call a drone, and we will kill you.”

Since January, eight politicians have announced their intentions to snag a seat in the White House, with many more dropping hints every few days.

Will all the cooks in the kitchen vying for a chance to become president, take a look at the contenders and some fun facts about them below.

Democratic Candidates 

Hillary Clinton  (D-NY)

Hillary Clinton

Status: Running

Fun Fact: Hillary Clinton started selling promo tees that are a mockery of her infamous pantsuits.

Martin O’Malley (D-MD) 

Martin O'Malley

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Running

Fun Fact: David Simon, creator of The Wire, says the character Tommy Carcetti was loosely based on Malley’s likeness. 

Bernie Sanders (D-VT)

Bernie Sanders

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Running

Fun Fact: Sanders is behind an incredibly high ninety percent tax rate for the American people. 

GOP Candidates

Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Marco Rubio

Status: Running

Fun Fact: During a high school talent show, Rubio played a Chippendale and released his inner Magic Mike.

Rand Paul (R-KY)

Rand Paul

Source: Scott Olson / Getty

Status: Running

Fun Fact: Not a clear expert on ISIS, the 52-year-old is certain that American politicians he’s worked with created the Islamic State.

George Pataki (R-NY)

Dallas Cowboys v New York Jets

Source: Jeff Zelevansky / Getty

Status: Running

Fun Fact: The former NY governor is a big Letterman fan.

Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

Mike Huckabee

Source: Getty Images / Getty

Status: Running

Fun Fact: After Huckabee supported the release of convicted rapist Wayne DuMond, the inmate raped and killed Carol Sue Shields. Her mother still blames Huckabee for her daughter’s death.

Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 

Lindsey Graham

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Running  

Fun Fact: Due to his time working in a bar, Graham said he learned that Iranians were liars by their smell.

Carly Fiorina (R-TX)

Carly Fiorina

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Running

Fun Fact: After bashing the former first lady, Fiorina said she’s certain Hillary Clinton is following her on her campaign tour.

Mark Everson (R-NY)

Mark Everson

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Running

Fun Fact: Everson was asked by the Red Cross to resign from his presidential duties after he impregnated a subordinate employee.

Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Ted Cruz

Source: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images / Getty

Status: Running

Fun Fact: After purposely blocking Hurricane Sandy relief for thousands of people, he’s now asked for tons of money help cover the Texan floods this year.

Dr. Ben Carson 

Ben Carson

Source: (Photo by Richard Ellis/Getty Images) / Getty

Status: Running

 Fun Fact: The bold Carson had no problem critiquing President Obama to his face after he was invited to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2013.

RUMORED TO BE RUNNING 

Jeb Bush (R-FL) 

Jeb Bush

Source: (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Status: Plans to make announcement in the “near future.”

 Fun Fact: Jeb is more than certain ISIS didn’t exist when his brother George W. Bush was in office, but reports have determined the Islamic State was established in 2004. 

Scott Walker (R-WI)

Scott Walker

Source: Getty Images / Getty

Status: Walker says his announcement is “a ways off.”

Fun Fact: Walker has pledged to sign a “No Excuses” Abortion Bill that includes no exemption for rape or incest.

Donald Trump

'Men In Black 3' New York Premiere - Inside Arrivals

Status: Rumored

Fun Fact: Trump has a way to defeat ISIS, but isn’t telling you about it just yet. 

Jim Gilmore (R-VA)

Jim Gilmore

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Considering running. 

Fun Fact: Gilmore is no relation to John Gilmore, the crafty Western culture artist of the same name.

Rick Perry (R-TX)

US-POLITICS-IMMIGRATION-OBAMA

Source: JEWEL SAMAD / Getty

Status: Will announce his presidential plans June 4 in Texas.

Fun Fact: While his big “oops” moment still haunts him, the politician is looking forward to putting his past fumbles behind him.

Pete King (R-NY)

Pete King

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Unknown

Fun Fact: The Republican isn’t a fan of terrorists, but has been known for his affiliation to the Irish Republican Army, who is reportedly involved in bombings and shootings in England and Northern Ireland.

John Kasich (R-OH)

John Kasich

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Plans to announce bid after June 30th.

Fun Fact: Kasich really cannot decide if he’s with Obamacare or not.

 Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

Bobby Jindal

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Plans to announce bid after state legislative session ends on June 11.

Fun Fact: Jindal was one of the politicians supportive of the Louisiana Science Education Act, which allows science teachers to teach creationism in public schools.

Chris Christie (R-NJ)

Chris Christie Sworn In For Second Term As Governor Of New Jersey

Source: Jeff Zelevansky / Getty

Status: Rumored

Fun Fact: Christie is one of the few politicians who have slow jammed the news with Jimmy Fallon.

Lincoln Chafee (D-RI)

Lincoln Chafee

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Will reportedly announce presidential run June 3.

Fun Fact: Chafee says he plans to slam Clinton for her decision to support what he called the biggest mistake in American history: the war in Iraq. 

Jim Webb (D-VA)

Jim Webb

Source: Getty / Getty

Status: Announced an exploratory bid for President in November 2014.

Fun Fact: Known as an outsider in the political clique, critics have called him a big contender against Hillary Clinton.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty | VIDEO CREDIT: NDN

SEE ALSO:

Hillary Clinton Just Did This To Win Black Voters

Rand Paul Blasts Bill Clinton For Locking Up A “Generation Of Black Men”

Ted Cruz Says Obama Has “Inflamed Racial Tensions,” But Can’t Come Up With One Example

The Never-Ending List Of 2016 Presidential Candidates  was originally published on newsone.com