20 Facts About James Hedges

James Arthur Hedges was an American politician who served as the tax assessor for Thompson Township, Pennsylvania and as the Prohibition Party's 2016 presidential nominee.

James Hedges was the only member of the Prohibition Party to be elected to public office in the 21st century, and the first since 1959.

James Arthur Hedges was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on May 10,1938, to Robert Hedges and Margaret Ayres.

James Hedges became interested in the Prohibition Party while in high school after reading an article in a newspaper.

James Hedges played the tuba in the United States Marine Band from 1960 to 1980.

James Hedges constructed his own house in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, and worked in the printing industry, including operating Camel Press.

From 1972 to 1983, James Hedges served as the editor of the National Speleological Society Bulletin.

James Hedges later became a reporter and environmental columnist for area weekly newspapers and was appointed Fulton County's first Recycling Coordinator.

In 1980, James Hedges retired from the military and became more active in the Prohibition Party.

In 2001, James Hedges secured the nominations of the Republican and Democratic parties through a write-in campaign; thus, he appeared as the only candidate for Tax Assessor in Thompson Township.

James Hedges became the first official elected in a partisan election from the Prohibition Party since two members of the Winona Lake, Indiana, city council were elected in 1959.

James Hedges was reelected in 2005, and served until the office was abolished by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2007.

James Hedges announced on February 18,2010, that he intended to run for the party's presidential nomination for the 2012 election.

James Hedges lost the nomination to retired engineer Jack Fellure at the national Convention in Cullman, Alabama, on June 22,2011.

James Hedges received the Prohibition presidential nomination for the 2016 election during a nominating convention held via conference call on July 31,2015.

James Hedges appeared on the ballot in Arkansas, Colorado, and Mississippi and received 5,617 votes.

James Hedges was the first Prohibitionist presidential candidate to appear on the ballot in Mississippi since 1896.

James Hedges had the best performance for a Prohibionist presidential nominee since 1988 and placed third in Arkansas County, Arkansas.

James Hedges was selected as the party's secretary following the 2016 election.

James Hedges died in Hagerstown, Maryland, on March 4,2024, at the age of 85.