AP Photo McAfee announces White House run as part of 'Cyber Party'

The field of presidential hopefuls grew this week, as software cybersecurity magnate John McAfee said that he would run for the White House next year and do so with his own political party, called the Cyber Party.

"I have a huge underground following on the web," he told CNNMoney on Tuesday. "I promise you I will win because I have the votes."


McAfee officially filed with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday, writing in the document that, "I am founding a new party yet to be announced."

He also said that he is running because governments around the world are "out of touch" with privacy concerns from average citizens.

"We've given up so much for the illusion of security and our government is simply dysfunctional," he said, according to the report. Remarking upon his fellow contenders in the race, McAfee said of Donald Trump: "If I didn't enter, he would've won."

McAfee, who fled Belize for the United States in 2014 after authorities tried to question him in the death of his neighbor, told CNN that he would talk about his "checkered background" and would win voters over with his personality. He was also arrested last month in Tennessee for driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while driving under the influence, telling CNN that the case was still pending and that he would be back in court in November and that it was Xanax, not alcohol that affected his driving.

McAfee's campaign website features a large photo of the tech founder along with a quote from George Washington and links about how to get involved and donate to his campaign. The site also features links to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, but it does not yet have any policy positions.



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