Libertarian Party of Connecticut

Last updated
Libertarian Party of Connecticut
Chairperson Steve Dincher [1]
Senate leaderNone
House leaderNone
Founded1971
Ideology Libertarianism
National affiliation Libertarian Party (United States)
Colorsa shade of Blue; Yellow 1
Connecticut Senate
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Connecticut House of Representatives
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U.S. Senate (Connecticut)
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U.S. House of Representatives (Connecticut)
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Other elected officials0 (June 2024) [2]
Website
www.lpct.org

The Libertarian Party of Connecticut is a statewide affiliate of the U.S. Libertarian Party. The Connecticut Libertarian Party has the basic aims of furthering individual freedom and opposing the initiation of force against individuals, among other things. [3] It does this by engaging in political, educational, and social activities.

Contents

The party leadership declined to endorse celebrity author Ann Coulter in a run for Congress in 2000, in a bid against Chris Shays for the 4th district. As a result, her congressional campaign did not take place. [4] [5]

Sub-affiliates

Registration and Membership

To register as a member of the Libertarian Party with the Connecticut Secretary of the State, an eligible voter must write in "Libertarian" in Box 9 of the state voter registration form. [6] As of November 5, 2018, it was the state's fourth largest party, trailing the Democratic, Republican, and Independent parties.

YearRegistered
Voters
20193116
20182,980 [7]
2017
20162,561 [8]
2015
20141,780 [9]
20131,684 [10]
20121,603 [11]
2011
20101,295 [12]
20091,278 [13]
2008987 [14]
20071,042 [15]
2006840 [16]
20051,033 [17]
2004789 [18]
2003643 [19]
2002741 [20]
2001704 [21]
2000653 [22]
1999
1998149 [23]
1997
199670 [24]
1995
1994
1993
199229 [25]

Voters may also register with the state party itself as either an associate member or a full member. [26] An associate member does not pay dues, may not be a member of the State Central Committee or the Judiciary Committee, and does not have voting privileges at party functions, such as its annual convention. A full member enjoys all membership privileges and must pay annual dues of $25. Both associate members and full members must sign the Libertarian pledge, which states "I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force to achieve political, social, or economic goals." [27]

A voter may register with the state Libertarian Party as either a full or associate member while remaining a registered member of another party with the Secretary of the State.

Elected Officials

Gordon Haave was the first Libertarian elected to public office in the state of Connecticut. He was elected in a non-partisan election as a Greenwich Representative Town Meeting member in November, 1995. [28] There have been several people who affiliate with the Libertarian Party elected to local offices on other party ballot lines. [29] Most recently, in November, 2013 Joshua Katz was elected on the Republican line to the Westbrook Planning Commission, [30] and Sean Foley was elected on the Democratic line to the Burlington Board of Finance. [31] There have also been several people affiliated with the Libertarian Party who have served in appointed office. Most recently, Robin Lasky was appointed in June 2016 to the Branford Solid Waste Management Commission, and Matthew Radant was appointed in November 2017 to the Plainfield Board of Education. [32]

2018 Candidates

The following candidates were on the ballot: [33]

US Senate: Richard Lion

US House 2: Daniel Reale

Governor: Rod Hanscomb

Lieutenant Governor: Jeffrey Thibeault

Comptroller: Paul Passarelli

Secretary of State: Heather Gwynn

Treasurer: Jesse Brohinsky

General Assembly 9: Anthony Armetta

General Assembly 65: Kent Johnson

General Assembly 83: Roger Misbach

General Assembly 91: Gary Walsh

Election results

An asterisk in the percentage column indicates a multi-winner district, rather than a single winner district.

2019

Aaron Lewis was on the ballot as a petitioning candidate, but changed his voter registration from Democrat to Libertarian shortly before the election.

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Cromwell – Board of Assessment AppealsMatthew Joseph Long729* 11.1
Hartford – MayorAaron Lewis590.6
Meriden – MayorRoger Misbach5397.4
Meriden – City Council District 1Richard Cordero14014.0
Meriden – City Council District 4Ellen Misbach451.9
Norwich – City CouncilWilliam Russell442* 1.8
Plainfield – First SelectmanDaniel Reale1134.1
Plainfield – Board of FinanceScott Charlwood843* 18.2
Plainfield – Board of EducationMatthew Radant956* 20.8
Trumbull – Councilman District 3Brandon Cousins519* 4.2

2018

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
US Senate Richard Lion8,8380.6
US House 2 Daniel Reale3,3051.1
Governor Rod Hanscomb6,0860.4
Lieutenant GovernorJeffrey Thibeault6,0860.4
ComptrollerPaul Passarelli13,1651.0
Secretary of StateHeather Gwynn10,3610.8
TreasurerJesse Brohinski15,5141.1
G.A. 9 Anthony Armetta82112.0
G.A. 65 Kent Johnson851.2
G.A. 83Roger Misbach1171.3
G.A. 91Gary Walsh6697.9

2017

The candidates for Norwich city council received a cumulative 10.2% of the vote (2,786 votes for Libertarian candidates out of a total of 27,352 votes cast for the office.)

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Darien – Representative Town Meeting Member 2Vincent Arguimbau251* 9.4
New Milford – Town CouncilMichael Sennello1,502* 3.1
Norwich – MayorWilliam (Bill) Russell3386.5
Norwich – City CouncilRichard Bright504* 1.8
Norwich – City CouncilNicholas Casiano397* 1.5
Norwich – City CouncilStacylynn Cottle462* 1.7
Norwich – City CouncilJames Fear Sr598* 2.2
Norwich – City CouncilJanice Loomis464* 1.7
Norwich – City CouncilJustin Massaro361* 1.3
Plainfield – First SelectmanDaniel Reale2117.7
Plainfield – Board of EducationMatthew Radant620* 12.7

2016

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
President Gary Johnson 48,6763.0
US Senate Richard Lion18,1901.1
US House 2 Daniel Reale4,9491.5
G.A. 9 Richard Lion1,07012.9
G.A. 35Austin Coco1951.5

2015

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Manchester – Board of DirectorsRichard Lion392* 0.9

2014

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
US House 2 Daniel Reale2,6021.1
G.A. 9 Richard Lion83014.1

2013

The candidates for Norwich city council received a cumulative 14.0 of the vote (2,868 votes for Libertarian candidates out of a total of 20,442 votes cast for the office.) [34]

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Manchester – Board of DirectorsRichard Lion465* 1.0
Norwich – MayorWilliam Russell3868.5
Norwich – City CouncilJulia Anne Gorham669* 3.3
Norwich – City CouncilAxel Rodriguez614* 3.0
Norwich – City CouncilCyndia Shook603* 3.0
Norwich – City CouncilMichael Holman537* 2.6
Norwich – City CouncilChandler Alfred Jr.445* 2.2

2012

Secretary of the State's office acknowledging 2012 incorrect vote totals CT SOTS election results and contacts.png
Secretary of the State's office acknowledging 2012 incorrect vote totals

After receiving the largest vote total in Connecticut Libertarian Party history, Paul Passarelli became the party's first US Senate candidate to retain ballot access for that office despite the towns of Middlefield and Washington failing to report any votes for his candidacy to the Secretary of the State. The town of Seymour also inadvertently failed to report any votes for both Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Gary Johnson and Independent Party candidate Rocky Anderson on its amended returns to the Secretary of the State after including the correct totals of 72 votes for Johnson and 37 votes for Anderson on its initial returns. The towns of East Windsor and Preston also inadvertently failed to report any votes for a combined 14 Working Families and Independent Party candidates. [35] [ citation needed ] The unfortunate cluster of errors was not noticed until after the Statement of Vote was officially certified and changes cannot be made to the Statement of Vote after that time.

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
President Gary Johnson 12,5800.8
US Senate Paul Passarelli25,0451.7
US House 2 Daniel Reale3,5111.2
State Senate 20Marc Guttman6651.7

2010

In 2010 John Szewczyk became the first and only Libertarian Party candidate to appear on the ballot as a cross endorsed candidate for a state or federal office. He was cross endorsed by the Republican, Independent, and Connecticut for Lieberman Parties.

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Secretary of the State Ken Mosher8,6310.8
Comptroller Joshua Katz10,3281.0
State Senate 20Marc Guttman6992.2
G.A. 100John Szewczyk1001.0

2008

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
US House 4 Michael Carrano2,0490.7
State Senate 20Marc Guttman7001.6

2006

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
US House 4 Philip Maymin3,0581.5
Secretary of the State Ken Mosher13,0431.3
Treasurer Steve Edelman15,3541.5
Comptroller Richard Connelly23,6882.3
G.A. 5 Richard Lion773.8
G.A. 82Arline Dunlop4927.4

2005

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Meriden – MayorArline Dunlop1,73217.3

2004

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
President Michael Badnarik 3,3670.2
US Senate Leonard Rasch9,1880.6
State Senate 24John McGowan2970.6
G.A. 5 Richard Lion952.6
G.A. 33Vincent Marotta1521.8
G.A. 78Linda Rasch3154.6
G.A. 82Arline Dunlop4566.8

2003

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Hartford – MayorRichard Lion5645.6
Meriden – MayorArline Dunlop4213.4
Windham – MayorLori Jeffers2196.1

2002

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
US House 5 Walter Gengarelly1,5030.7
Secretary of the State Darlene Nicholas13,9221.5
Treasurer Ken Mosher12,4491.3
Comptroller Leonard Rasch12,6511.4
G.A. 33Vincent Marotta1252.2
G.A. 82Arline Dunlop1582.4

2001

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Hartford – MayorRichard Lion2602.3
Meriden – MayorArline Dunlop2401.7
Windham – MayorLori Jeffers2165.8

2000

Michael Costanza's 26.1% of the vote in General Assembly District 43 set the Connecticut Libertarian Party record for the highest vote percentage for a state or federal candidate. His 40.2% of the vote in the North Stonington portion of the two town district bested both his Republican and Democratic opponents.

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
President Harry Browne 3,4840.2
US Senate Wildey Moore8,7730.7
US House 4 Daniel Gislao2,0341.0
State Senate 22Carl Vassar2620.7
State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli4601.4
State Senate 32Richard Antico2,2917.2
G.A. 11Richard Connelly891.5
G.A. 33Vincent Marotta3345.9
G.A. 39 Donald Nicholas3078.7
G.A. 43 Michael Costanza2,83226.1
G.A. 44 Sandra Cote3576.4
G.A. 46William Russell630.9
G.A. 49William Rood89615.9
G.A. 66George Eggert3793.4
G.A. 67Robert Kinney1791.9
G.A. 84Arline Dunlop911.8
G.A. 98Ned Vare4345.0
G.A. 100James Madison860.8

1999

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
Bethlehem – MayorGeorge Eggert14710.5
Meriden – MayorArline Dunlop6836.5
Oxford – MayorJohn Joy1805.9
Windham – MayorKen Mosher1695.4

1998

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
US Senate Wildey Moore5,1960.5
US House 4 Marshall Harrison1,4491.1
Governor Ned Vare5,6370.5
Lieutenant GovernorRobert Loomis5,6370.5
Attorney General Richard Pober7,5370.8
Secretary of the State Ken Mosher9,9201.1
Treasurer Louis Garofalo11,3751.3
Comptroller Steven Edelman9,2071.0
State Senate 22Carl Vassar1750.7
State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli7214.9
State Senate 32Dan Fitzgerald4321.4
G.A. 11Richard Connelly581.3
G.A. 39 Darlene Nicholas541.9
G.A. 66George Eggert70610.3

1996

OfficeCandidateTotal VotesPercentage
President Harry Browne5,7880.4
US House 4 Edward Tonkin2,8151.4
US House 5 Walter Thiessen1,3910.7
State Senate 22Carl Vassar6962.1
State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli7052.2
State Senate 32Wildey Moore7241.8
G.A. 60Richard Loomis3595.4
G.A. 66George Eggert1,33212.6

Finances

The finances of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut State Central Committee are public record. [36] Its primary expenditures involve ballot access for candidates. Its second largest expense is its annual convention. Speakers at past conventions include consumer privacy advocate Katherine Albrecht, taxpayer advocate Carla Howell, former Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Michael Badnarik, investment broker Peter Schiff, and Scott Wilson, President of the gun rights advocacy group Connecticut Citizens Defense League. Other large expenses include fundraising expenses and the purchase of literature and products for election advertising, such as yard signs, handouts, and DVDs. It does not have a regularly paid staff.

YearContributions
from
Individuals
Transfers
from the
National
Committee
Transfers from
Presidential
and other
Committees
Sales of Merchandise,
Convention Tickets,
Advertising,
Bank Interest, etc.
Total ReceiptsTotal ExpensesCash Balance
at Year End
20193,985.520.000.00321.314,306.838,456.445,060.22
201821,147.0010,000.000.0034,450.0065,597.0057,021.549,209.83
20172,096.000.000.000.002,096.002,665.13634.37
20166,544.0041,057.590.0070.0047,671.5950,885.361,203.50
20152,951.620.000.000.002,951.621,529.104,417.27
2014474.000.000.004.00478.00531.122,994.75
2013455.000.000.0027.00482.00238.833,047.87
201263,283.630.0021,422.440.0084,706.0783,762.712,804.70
2011770.000.000.000.00770.003,171.312,772.13
20101,471.000.000.000.001,471.003,039.284,873.44
20094,255.000.000.000.004,255.005,249.816,441.72
20083,825.000.005,000.000.008,825.0010,060.057,436.53
20071,870.000.000.0078.001,948.00927.408,671.58
20061,490.001,985.330.001,195.004,670.333,364.407,650.98
2005305.004,433.000.00289.645,027.64822.006,345.05
20047,675.513,782.0013,590.000.0025,047.5125,212.612,139.41
20031,795.003,706.500.000.525,502.024,154.723,124.51
20024,533.004,555.500.00682.199,770.6915,466.161,777.21
20014,121.376,672.000.00206.2110,999.585,906.987,472.68
20008,171.007,703.0025.0058.1215,957.1216,356.432,380.08
19993,932.006,258.00131.99563.1910,885.189,309.542,694.39
199811,512.006,602.89308.270.0018,423.1620,050.851,118.75

Walter Gengarelly Jr. Award

The Connecticut Libertarian Party State Central Committee issues the Walter Gengarelly Jr. Award at its annual convention to a person who has exhibited a "sustained and selfless effort to support the cause of liberty" at "extreme sacrifice to him or herself." [37] Walter Gengarelly spent nearly three decades in service to the Connecticut Libertarian Party. In 1982 he was the party's first Gubernatorial candidate and he died in 2010 in the midst of a campaign for the 5th Congressional District. [38]

YearAward Recipient
2013Jonathan Johnson
2013 Bradley (Chelsea) Manning
2010Michael Badnarik

See also

References

  1. Zdon, Amy (25 April 2022). "State Central Committee Meeting Minutes – 25th April 2022" (PDF). Libertarian Party of Connecticut. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  2. "Elected Officials" . Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  3. "By Laws of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  4. "Uclick, web content, Syndication Content -- Entertaining Comics, Games and Columns". Archived from the original on 2006-05-08. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  5. "We're More Ambitious than Republicans Are". Archived from the original on 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  6. "State of Connecticut - Mail-in voter registration" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  7. "Important Election Day Information 2018". Archived from the original on November 7, 2018.
  8. "New record for number of people registered to vote in Connecticut!" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  9. "Merrill: more than 90,000 new voters register in Connecticut prior to 2014 general election" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
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  12. "Bysiewicz says: state, voters ready for election day" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  13. "Bysiewicz : more than 2,000,000 Connecticut residents registered to vote for municipal elections next Tuesday" (PDF). www.sots.ct.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  14. "Bysiewicz: more than 134,000 Connecticut residents registered to vote in October" (PDF). www.sots.ct.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  15. "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 30, 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  16. "Statewide Voter Registration By Party" (PDF). www.sots.ct.gov. 2006-11-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  17. "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
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  24. "Ballot Access News – December 12, 1996".
  25. "Voter registration bill passes house" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  26. "Membership".
  27. "Libertarian Party of Connecticut Membership" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
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  29. "Elected Officials". Archived from the original on 2014-11-23. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
  30. "Head Moderator's Return - Candidates on Ballot - Westbrook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  31. "Prescribed form for return of votes cast at a municipal election" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  32. "Elected Officials | Libertarian Party". www.lp.org. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  33. ct.gov [ bare URL PDF ]
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