Bob Ely
Robert Moulton Ely | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, investment banker, political candidate |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | 2012, 2020, and 2024 U.S. presidential campaigns |
Robert Moulton Ely (born 1958) is an American businessman and former investment banker. He entered the political arena by challenging President Barack Obama in multiple 2012 Democratic primaries, contested Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in 2020, and ran against Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic primaries.
Early life
Born in Connecticut in 1958, Ely is the son of Harriet and John Ingraham Ely. His mother, whose father was newspaper proprietor John Day Jackson, also had ownership in newspapers. His father practiced law as a partner at Wiggin & Dana.
Ely began his higher education studying engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but later transferred to Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1980. He has reflected on his time at Yale as one characterized by moderate academic performance.
Career
Following graduation from Yale, Ely relocated to Chicago, Illinois, starting his career at Nuveen Investments. During an 18-year tenure in investment banking, he held positions at firms including Merrill Lynch and served as managing director at Dillon, Read & Co., which was eventually acquired by UBS.
In 2000, Ely transitioned from banking to entrepreneurship and investment. He took on consulting roles and acted as president of SeafoodAlliance, LLC before co-founding M&M Investors with Michael C. Morton. Additionally, he served as interim CEO for PayDQ Services. In 2010, Ely partnered with Phil Calian to purchase The Canton Press-News Journal, a weekly community newspaper in Canton, Missouri, motivated by a conviction in the viability of local newspapers that connect with their communities through pertinent news coverage.
2012 presidential campaign
Motivated by concerns over the national debt and economic issues, Ely launched a Democratic presidential bid in 2011. He developed the website "workmorekeepless.com," advocating for spending reductions, increased taxation, and a "jobs bank" program designed to assist businesses in hiring workers by providing government-funded minimum wage salaries instead of unemployment payments. Ely described himself as a self-proclaimed "jerk," driven by dissatisfaction with political leadership and aiming to present a campaign that combined humor with earnest protest.
Ely entered the January 2012 New Hampshire Democratic primary, contributing $200,000 of personal funds toward advertising and distributing 145,000 mailers. He placed seventh with 287 votes (0.47%). His results improved in later contests: fifth place in Oklahoma with 5,318 votes (4.72%) after paying a $2,500 filing fee; and third place in Louisiana with 9,897 votes (6.57%) following a $1,125 fee. Notably, without engaging in advertising or active campaigning in Louisiana, Ely carried 120 precincts and outperformed President Obama in 457 precincts—a success he attributed to voters seeking an unfamiliar alternative.
After inmate Keith Judd's unexpected achievement of 41% against Obama in West Virginia, Politico referred to Ely as "an aspiring Keith Judd." Ely paid $2,500 to secure a spot on the May 29 Texas primary ballot alongside Obama and other candidates. He received approximately 2.4% of the vote statewide and won pluralities in King and Loving counties. Some observers speculated that local Democrats might have supported him due to name recognition linked to musician Joe Ely.
2020 presidential campaign
In November 2019, Ely secured a place on the ballot as a Republican contender in multiple states for the 2020 presidential primary. During the 2020 New Hampshire Republican primary, he obtained a total of 65 votes.
2024 presidential campaign
Ely was listed on the ballot in Louisiana as a participant in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries. He achieved 2,652 votes, accounting for 1.6% of the overall vote count.
Personal life
In 1983, Ely wed freelance illustrator Alice Fairchild Moulton, after which both adopted the combined surname Moulton-Ely.