Maple Grove voters might be in for a surprise this election season: one of the candidates on the ballot is a self-proclaimed “furry” who goes by the name “METRO Mutt.”
Clarke Macbeth, the city council candidate, identifies as a furry, according to his social media accounts.
A “furry” is an individual who attempts to take on an animal-like persona for themselves. So-called “furries” will create an identity, often in the image of a dog or cat, and wear elaborate, exaggerated costumes in the likeness of those animals. Some have raised eyebrows at the subculture’s darker corners, which includes sex parties and animated animal-themed pornography.
In the Maple Grove City Council election, the top two finishers will win seats on the council. With eight candidates in the race, two of them will secure spots on the council next year.
Macbeth, 31, does not have a campaign website and appears to be running his campaign primarily through a YouTube channel and an account on the left-leaning social media platform BlueSky. His candidacy was first reported by Minnesota political commentator Jeff Kolb.
Having declared himself the “most qualified candidate for Maple Grove City Council,” Macbeth wrote in one BlueSky post, “The Minneapolis suburb that is Maple Grove could have a furry on its city council because our local politics have done too little for too long, just like Maple Grove Transit.”
In a separate post from mid-July, Macbeth commented on the subculture, stating, “See, the great thing about furry porn is that it is both furry and porn.”
Among his priorities, Macbeth wants to protect abortion rights. According to his WikiFur page, “Clarke Macbeth is an American politician, activist, and furry who resides in Maple Grove, Minnesota.”
The page also notes that “By late 2017, Clarke debuted his original character, METRO Mutt, investing in custom fursuits crafted by professional artists.”
Macbeth “formally declared allegiance to the furry community” when he was 16 years old, following his discovery of the subculture on the internet, according to WikiFur. Since moving to Minnesota, Macbeth has been a “regular presence at regional gatherings hosted by MNFurs and annual pilgrimages to Furry Migration.”
Macbeth also seemed to make light of the 2020 riots in a Minnesota-focused Reddit thread. The handle “anthroguy101” responded to a discussion about burning down cities by saying, “Minnesota only got more freedom by doing that.” That account appears to be associated with Macbeth.
In a YouTube video titled “Rise of the Furries,” Macbeth suggested that fighting a cyber battle against furries is “like racing for NASCAR on foot.” He added, while maniacally laughing, “Beware our power.” The video directed viewers to Macbeth’s campaign BlueSky account.
Politically, Macbeth “wholeheartedly backs” the Minnesota DFL and Gov. Tim Walz, and he “celebrates Minnesota’s advancements in LGBTQ+ rights, cultural diversity, and spiritual freedoms,” according to his WikiFur page.
“Congratulations Governor Walz! You earned it! Proud of you ‘daddy!'” Macbeth wrote in a post after Walz was selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
In another recent post, he wrote: “Everyone who is not a Republican deserves to be very happy for the rest of their lives.”
Macbeth says he will be participating in a candidate debate on Oct. 8 hosted by north metro news agency CCX Media.
Alpha News reached out to Macbeth for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
