Ron Watkins, alleged QAnon conspiracy theory creator, announces Arizona congressional run

Watkins is aiming to take Democrat Tom O’Halleran’s seat in District 1

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Anthony Crider

Watkins has been regarded as a central figure in the spread of the QAnon conspiracy theory.

The man purportedly behind the infamous QAnon conspiracy theory is running for Congress in Arizona.

Ron Watkins, regarded in some circles as “Q” himself, confirmed Thursday he will launch a campaign to win Democratic representative Tom O’Halleran’s seat in 2023.

O’Halleran represents District 1, which geographically covers much of northeastern Arizona.

“If we don’t follow our beliefs and the founding principles of our nation, it will crumble,” Watkins said in an announcement video posted on the messaging app Telegram. “This must stop now.”

Stationed outside Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s office, Watkins also wrote “we must stay vigilant and keep up the pressure both here in Arizona and throughout the country to indict any and ALL criminals who have facilitated election fraud.”

The 2020 election was completely legitimate, and was one of the safest in United States history.

Earlier this week, Watkins dined with Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, a Republican who has secured an endorsement from former president Donald Trump. However, according to the Arizona Republic, though Watkins filed a statement of interest with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office on Wednesday, he has not filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.

“Under God’s authority, we will take back Congress, flip the Senate and fix the presidency,” Watkins said in his video Thursday.

An HBO documentary released earlier this year, “Q: Into the Storm,” suggested Watkins — who reportedly lives in Japan — is the progenitor of the QAnon conspiracy theory and is the eponymous “Q.” QAnon believers have become very visible nationally in recent years, and many of the debunked theory’s supporters were spotted at and charged following the United States Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6.

Watkins has denied having this level of involvement with QAnon.