A New Jersey gym owner who became famous during the pandemic for defying Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) lockdown orders and later offered free membership to anyone who refuse to get vaccinated, plans to run for Congress.
Atilis Gym owner Ian Smith, will officially announce this week that he plans to challenge two-term Democratic Rep. Andy Kim for his seat in Congress representing New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district.
“I am truly excited to have the possibility to serve the people of NJ with a platform focused on liberty, small government, and America First policies,” Smith wrote in a tweet.
Smith became popular throughout the pandemic for opposing Gov. Murphy’s efforts to control the spread of the virus in New Jersey, including mandates to close fitness centers forcing the state Department of Health to shut down his gym.
Last year, Smith’s gym offered free membership to people who refused to get vaccinated.
Smith along with the co-owner of his gym Frank Trumbetti were arrested for defying the state’s lockdown orders in July 2020. Both men were charged with one count of fourth-degree contempt, as well as one count of obstruction and one count of violation of a disaster control act.
That was not Smith’s first run-in with the law. In 2007 he was sentenced to more than five years in prison for vehicular homicide after he was driving drunk and killed a 19-year-old, according to the New Jersey Globe.
To help with his campaign for Congress, Smith hired Republican political consultant Steve Kush, who reportedly helped truck driver Edward R. Durr scored an upset win over New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney last fall.
However, they face a much tougher task in their effort to unseat Kim. The incumbent congressman benefited from redistricting. His district is now plus five Democratic, it was previously a plus five Republican district, according to FiveThirtyEight.
