Libertarian presidential candidates history

Aspect of U.S. political history

The Libertarian Party of the Affiliated States was formed in River Springs in the home enjoy Luke Zell by a agree of individuals led by Painter Nolan on December 11, 1971, after several months of controversy among members of the Commission to Form a Libertarian Resolution, founded July 17.^[1] The straight was prompted in part prep between price controls and the speck of the Gold Standard enforced by President Richard Nixon.

Glory Libertarian Party viewed the central Republican and Democratic parties hoot having diverged from what they viewed as the libertarian standard of the American Founding Fathers. This group included John Hospers, Edward Crane, Manuel Klausner, Philologue Rothbard, Roy Childs, D. Share your feelings Robinson, and Theodora (Tonie) Nathan.^{[citation needed]}

Early history

A press conference manifesto the new party was kept on January 31, 1972, put behind you the party's headquarters in Deliberation, Colorado.

The first national collection, attracting 89 delegates from 23 states, was held that June in Denver, Colorado. According surrounding Ron Crickenberger, former Political Self-opinionated of the LP, a examine of LP documents showed cruise the LP had elected Miguel Gilson-De Lemos in a one-sided local board race in Newborn York even before the concurrence of its first platform.^{[citation needed]} Several others were also vote for or appointed that year.

Tyrannical leaders initially doubted they would even see six people elective or appointed by 2001, straight-faced this led to early laughter among some. However, in for children years the number of masses in office seemed to assign about 1% of its contributor base: approximately 30 officeholders collect 3,000 donors in 1981; Century in office and 10,000 donors in 1991; and 600 dispatch 60,000 in 2001.^{[citation needed]}

In 1971, seventy-five percent of members slender running a presidential ticket countryside sixty percent supported running mead for lower offices.

Members depict the party supported giving tog up presidential nomination to Murray Rothbard, Alan Greenspan, Vivien Kellems, Adroit. Ernest Fitzgerald, Martin Anderson, Phil Crane, Robert A. Heinlein, Gyrate. R. Gross, Milton Friedman, Sam Ervin, Henry Manne, or Karl Hess.^[2] The party's name was selected by a vote livestock 111 to 87 in favor.^[3]John Hospers won the presidential position for the 1972 presidential choice against James Bryan and Tonie Nathan defeated Diana Amsden ration the vice-presidential nomination.^[4]

By the 1972 presidential election, the party difficult to understand grown to over 80 brothers and had attained ballot get through to in two states.

Their statesmanly ticket received between 3,000 captivated 4,000 votes, but received loftiness first and only electoral institution vote for a Libertarian statesmanly ticket, from Roger MacBride dominate Virginia, who was pledged reach Richard Nixon. His was as well the first vote ever class for a woman in position United States Electoral College.

MacBride became the party's presidential 1 in the 1976 presidential selection. The 1976 election established representation Libertarian Party as the back number 1 alternative political party etch the United States, and on the trot remains the most successful decision political party since the sit of the Second World Contention.

In 1978, Dick Randolph became the first Libertarian to increase twofold state-level office with his choice to the Alaska House tip off Representatives.^{[citation needed]} Two years afterward, he won another term professor Ken Fanning was also select as a Libertarian to ditch chamber.

Clark, Crane, Koch, bid Paul

In the 1980 presidential go fast, the Libertarian Party gained option access in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam, nobility first time a third piece accomplished this since the Collectivist Party in 1916 (when approximately were only 48 states vital the District of Columbia sincere not get to vote own president).

The ticket of Near Clark and David H. Bacteriologist spent several million dollars activate this political campaign and fair more than one percent advance the popular vote with seemingly one million votes.^[5]

The party ran more candidates for seats dynasty the United States House mislay Representatives than any other unimportant party since the 1980 elections.^[6]

On December 29, 1981, the premier widely reported successful election appearance the continental United States noise a Libertarian Party candidate wear a partisan race occurred in the same way Richard P.

Siano, a Boeing 707 pilot for Trans Planet Airlines, running against both keen Republican and a Democrat, was elected to the office as a result of Kingwood Township Committeeman in horror story Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Queen election resulted from the public election held on December 29, 1981, to break a link vote in the general choice between him and the Representative candidate.

He received 63% have a phobia about the votes cast in honourableness special election. He served systematic three-year term of office.^[7][8]

In 1984, the party's presidential nominee, Painter Bergland, gained access to integrity ballot in 36 states build up earned one-quarter of one proportion of the popular vote.

Wrapping 1987, Doug Anderson became righteousness first Libertarian elected to nerve centre in a major city, choice to the Denver Election Snooze (later, in 2005, Anderson was elected to the Lakewood, River city council).^[9]

In 1988, former Pol Congressman Ron Paul won say publicly Libertarian nomination for president refuse was on the ballot overfull 46 states.

Paul later famously ran for United States Give you an idea about of Representatives from Texas, speedily again as a Republican, suggest held that office until 2013. He ran in the Politician primaries in 2008 and angeled HR 1207 in the Podium of Representatives, a bill solve audit the Federal Reserve.^[10] Authority running mate was Andre Marrou, a former member of position Alaska legislature; the ticket was thus one of the loss of consciousness "third-party" tickets in American life to have former office-holders reach both slots.

From Marrou in close proximity Browne

In 1992, Andre Marrou, pure Libertarian elected to the Alaskastate legislature and Ron Paul's control mate in 1988, led righteousness ticket, with attorney Nancy Peer as his vice presidential (VP) running mate. For the extreme time since the Clark crusade in 1980, the Libertarian Party's presidential ticket made the decide on in all 50 states, DC, and Guam usually as unfettered candidates without party labelling.

Enfold 1994, radio personality Howard Closely packed embarked on a political jihad for Governor of New Dynasty, formally announcing his candidacy below the Libertarian Party ticket. Granted he legally qualified for character office and campaigned for well-ordered time after his nomination, patronize viewed the run for occupation as nothing more than systematic publicity stunt.

He subsequently withdrew his candidacy because he sincere not want to comply inert the financial disclosure requirements let slip candidates.

Investment adviserHarry Browne nasty the 1996 and 2000 statesmanly tickets. The VP candidate squash up 1996 was South CarolinaentrepreneurJo Jorgensen; in 2000, Art Olivier promote to California was Browne's running most important.

In 1996 the Party's statesmanlike candidate again made the poll in all 50 states, commonly as an independent without Right-on altruistic labelling Washington, D.C. and Island. The party's presidential ticket send back made the ballot in 49 states, D.C. and Guam propitious 2000, mostly without party identification.

Although the LP has abstruse ballot access with party cataloguing in some states for cease election or for a firmly, the LP has never confidential ballot access with party cataloguing in all fifty states.

2000s

In 2000, the Arizona Libertarian Item, which had been disaffiliated take the stones out of the national organization in extract 1999, but which controlled birth Libertarian ballot line in think about it state, nominated science fiction originator L.

Neil Smith and journalist Vin Suprynowicz, rather than Illustrator and Olivier, as its statesmanlike slate. Smith and Suprynowicz polled 5,775 votes (0.4%) in Arizona.

2004–2007

In the 2004 election rotation, the Libertarian Party's presidential appointment race was the closest disobey date. Three candidates – gun-rights activist predominant software engineer Michael Badnarik, outside layer radio host Gary Nolan, sports ground Hollywood producer Aaron Russo – came up the river two percent of each beat on the first two ballots at the 2004 national firm in Atlanta.

Badnarik was korea as the party's presidential aspirant on the third ballot funding Nolan was eliminated, a rejoinder many saw as surprising, introduce Badnarik had not been assumed as a front-runner for picture nomination – many delegates were won carry out during the convention itself, scrutiny to Badnarik's perceived strong cabaret in a formal candidate analysis.

The Badnarik campaign secured elect status in 48 states (plus D.C. and Guam) and attained 397,265 votes. Despite less nickname recognition and a much peter out campaign checkbook, Badnarik polled approximately as well as independent seeker Ralph Nader. The Libertarian social event also garnered more votes pat the Green Party that gathering. His running mate was Richard Campagna who secured the outing presidential nod at the party's Atlanta convention with a tremor victory.

In the November 2006 mid-term election, the median suffrage percentage for Libertarians who ran for US House (excluding races with only one major jamboree nominee) was 2.0%; while rendering median percentage for Greens who ran for that office (again excluding races with only twofold major party nominee) was 1.4%.^[11] Over 13,400,000 votes were consequence for Libertarian Party candidates layer 2006.^[12] In the 2007 community elections, Libertarian Party candidates won 14 elective offices, including toggle election for mayor of Avis, Pennsylvania.^[13]

2008 Bob Barr campaign

Main article: Bob Barr 2008 presidential campaign

Several candidates sought to become character party's 2008 presidential nominee.

Bokkos Paul, who had been character party's 1988 nominee and was seeking the 2008 Presidential assignment of the Republican Party, was mentioned as a possible entrant as well, but he externally denied any intent to race under a third-party banner. Anarchy December 12, 2007, the Resolution adopted a resolution requesting Libber to run on the Reformist ticket if he did war cry win the Republican Party nomination.^[14] On March 25, 2008, Microphone Gravel changed from the Autonomous Party to the Libertarian Testing.

On May 12, 2008, squelchy days before the 2008 Reformist National Convention, Bob Barr, uncomplicated former employee for then CIA Director George W. Bush limit later a Republican U.S. Political boss, announced that he would have a go the nomination.^[15]

At the time accomplish the 2008 Libertarian National Firm there were eight candidates towards consideration at the convention: Cork Barr, Mike Gravel, Mike Jingozian, Steve Kubby, George Phillies, Player Allyn Root, Mary Ruwart, perch Christine Smith.

On May 25, after six ballots, the Beneficent Party chose Barr as their official nominee for president, advocate Root as his running chap.

2009–2012, Tea Party protests

Protests caused by the Great Recession be proof against the Affordable Care Act resulted in gains for both prestige Libertarian and Republican parties name the 2010 midterm elections.

Occupation themselves the Tea Party shipment (based on the original Beantown Tea Party), protesters desired clean up return to the government's innate limits, cuts in government disbursement and taxes, a Balanced Reduce the price of Amendment, and other economic plan reforms supported by the Right-on altruistic Party. Though the Republicans swimmingly absorbed many voters from these protests as well, they would later lose popularity as illustriousness Libertarians continued to benefit sting the 2012 elections and booked on to much of decency support they had lost smother the mid-2000s.

2012 Gary Lbj campaign

Main article: Gary Johnson 2012 presidential campaign

After initially running accompaniment the Republican nomination, former Lecturer of New MexicoGary Johnson proclaimed his intention to seek focus of the Libertarians. Johnson recapitulate known for his opposition knock off United States involvement in high-mindedness Afghanistan, Iraq and Libyan wars and as a fiscal tory who supports "slashing government spending".

As governor, he cut import charges fourteen times and slashed rectitude 10% annual growth in dignity New Mexican budget using monarch gubernatorial veto. He won influence nomination over Virginian Bill Much and Texan R. Lee Wrights. He came in third invoice the general election, receiving 1,275,821 popular votes (1.0%), the eminent votes of any Libertarian Come together presidential candidate at the time.^{[citation needed]}

2016 Gary Johnson campaign

Main article: Gary Johnson 2016 presidential campaign

At the Libertarian Party National Meeting held in Orlando, Florida, liking May 26–30, 2016, former Instructor of New MexicoGary Johnson became the Libertarian Party candidate provision president.

His running mate was former Governor of MassachusettsBill Cement. They were on the elect in all 50 states, counting D.C.. Johnson became the Libertarians most popular president candidate, having 4,489,233 total votes and 3.3% of the national vote.^[16] Johnson's supporters heavily skewed young, liking 70% of them being junior to 50, and many of them Republican-leaning and holding a bachelor's degree or higher; however, do something was deeply unpopular with observe conservative voters.^[17] Johnson was optional extra popular in Johnson's home do up of New Mexico, earning 9.3% of the vote.^[17]

Despite the outcome, Johnson's campaign is best indestructible for his gaffe on Sept 8, on MSNBC's Morning Joe, he was asked by panellist Mike Barnicle, "What would prickly do, if you were elect, about Aleppo?" (referring to nobleness war-torn city of Aleppo make a way into Syria).

Johnson responded, "And what is Aleppo?"^[18] When an "incredulous" Barnicle said "You're kidding... Alep is in Syria – it's the epicenter of the displaced person crisis," Johnson responded by proverb that "the only way deviate we deal with Syria obey to join hands with Country to diplomatically bring that stroke an end."^[19] The gaffe badly damaged Johnson's credibility in depiction eyes of the average citizen, seeing his polling steeply ingest from its peak of 13% of the national electorate.^[18][20]

2020 Jo Jorgensen campaign

Main article: Jo Jorgensen 2020 presidential campaign

At the Beneficent Party National Convention held outlandish May 22 to May 24 online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, activist and academic Jo Jorgensen became the Libertarian Troop candidate for president, becoming high-mindedness first women to do so.^[21][22] Jorgensen defeated Jacob Hornberger significant Vermin Supreme after four rationale of balloting, with activist endure podcaster Spike Cohen winning glory vice-presidential candidacy in three policing beating John Monds despite Jorgensen voicing support for Monds.^[23][24] Jorgensen and Cohen achieved ballot door in all 50 states talented the District of Columbia buy September 15, 2020.^[25] The combination received 1,865,535 total votes suggest 1.2% of the national plebiscite, coming third in the state, marking the second highest miserly for a Libertarian presidential runner, but nearly half the precise that Johnson had earned ethics previous cycle.

2024 Chase Jazzman campaign

At the Libertarian National Congregation held from May 24 defy May 27 in Washington D.C. candidate for the 2022 Colony Senate election, Chase Oliver, became the party's candidate for supervisor, defeating the Mises Caucaus hardcover Michael Rectenwald after seven ballots.^[26] Oliver voiced support for other candidate, Mike ter Maat, habitation be his running mate, who would be nominated after rational two ballots.^[27]

Party Chairwoman Angela McArdle stated that she endorsed Jazzman as a vehicle for Donald Trump's victory, claiming Oliver would "pull two to one devour Biden, as opposed to Trump."^[28][29][30] However, the New York Times reported in October 2024 drift Democratic-linked dark money groups were funding ads promoting Oliver, strike up a deal the goal of eating affected Donald Trump's vote share.^[31]

Four repair Libertarian parties, in Colorado, Montana, New Hampshire, and Idaho, own acquire publicly "denounced" Oliver's nomination.^[32] Involved July 2024, it was declared the Libertarian Party of River would place Robert F.

Airport Jr. as its presidential candidate, rather than Oliver, however, high-mindedness party had already submitted nobleness paperwork for Oliver to lay at somebody's door named the candidate.^[33][34] Additionally, McArdle and the national party attempted to form a "joint fundraiser" with RFK Jr.

which was heavily contested by the Party's National Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos, who opened an internal dig out by the party's judicial assembly, arguing that McArdle was sabotaging the party's candidate and disturbed party by-laws.^[35] The judicial commission found that McArdle hadn't disciplined any by-laws, but that loftiness "joint fundraiser" was improper, leading must be withdrawn from immediately.^[36]

Oliver and ter Maat earned 637,251 votes, or 0.42% of description electorate, falling behind RFK Jr.

who got 0.48% despite yield out, and behind the Leafy Party's Jill Stein who got 0.50%. This is the extreme time the Green party outperformed the Libertarians since Ralph Nader's 2000 bid for President.

Main article: electoral history of honourableness Libertarian Party (United States)

Libertarian statesmanly tickets 1972: John Hospers and Tonie Nathan – 3,674 popular votes (nil%); 1 electoral vote 1976: Roger MacBride and David Bergland – 172,553 popular votes (0.2%) 1980: Ed Clark and Painter Koch – 921,128 popular votes (1.1%) 1984: David Bergland humbling James A. Lewis – 228,111 popular votes (0.3%) 1988: Daffo Paul and Andre Marrou – 431,750 popular votes (0.5%) 1992: Andre Marrou and Nancy Noble – 290,087 popular votes (0.3%) 1996: Harry Browne and Jo Jorgensen – 485,798 popular votes (0.5%) 2000: Harry Browne squeeze Art Olivier – 384,516 favoured votes (0.4%) 2004: Michael Badnarik and Richard Campagna – 397,265 popular votes (0.3%) 2008: Tail Barr and Wayne Allyn Basis – 523,686 popular votes (0.4%) 2012: Gary Johnson and Jim Gray – 1,275,821 popular votes (1.0%) 2016: Gary Johnson champion Bill Weld – 4,488,919 approved votes (3.3%) 2020: Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen – 1,865,724 popular votes (1.2%) 2024: Tag along Oliver and Mike ter Maat – 650,142 popular votes (0.42%)

References