Affiliated at different points in his career with the Peace & Freedom, Green, and Socialist USA political parties, Alexander unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Los Angeles in 1989, Lieutenant Governor of California in 2006, Vice President of the United States in 2008, and President of the United States in 2012. After serving in the United States Air Force Reserve and working as a grocery clerk, he relocated from his native Virginia to the west coast to attend California State University, Dominguez Hills.