Staten Island Comedian Throws Clown Hat In Ring For Grimm’s Congressional Seat

Rachel Silberstein -
Courtesy of James Murray campaign.

It seems the 11th district election circus has finally started – and it has nothing to do with congressional debate scheduled to take place tonight in Bay Ridge.

James Murray – a member of the Impractical Jokers, a TruTV reality show centered around four Staten Island comics – has announced himself as a write-in candidate in the special election which has been called for May 5, reports the Staten Island Advance.

Murray’s campaign video, which seems earnest enough, calls on his “fellow Staten Islanders” to vote for him. In the professional-looking ad, Murray tells voters that “for the first time in a long time, I’m serious.” The comedian known for practical jokes promises to ferret out wasteful spending, and to do whatever voters tell him to.

But take his words with a grain of salt. An attack ad skewering the congressional “hopeful” has also emerged, sponsored by the clearly fictional Staten Island Decency Fund and made with the obvious cooperation of the young comic:

While Murray, who is something of a Staten Island celebrity, missed the deadline to run on the ballot in the special election earlier this month, he can still run as a write-in candidate. Murray competes for the congressional seat against Republican Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan, Democratic Councilman Vincent Gentile, and a Brooklyn-based Green Party candidate James Lane.

But things are looking up for the comedian turned politician. Fans/voters are declaring their unwavering support for the Murray on Twitter via his hashtag #Murr4Cogress. Murray posters were also spotted plastered in various parts of Staten Island, and one guy was seen handing them out at the Staten Island Ferry.

Who knows? Maybe he’ll sneak a few votes away from the other Staten Island candidate on the ballot. According to a (very) non-scientific poll on the Advance’s website, over 77 percent of polled readers said they would vote for Murray, 13 percent said no, and 9 percent said maybe. Not bad for a write-in candidate.