Libertarian Party of New York | |
---|---|
Chair | Andrew Kolstee |
Vice Chair | Duane Whitmer Rich Purtell |
Secretary | Mark Braiman |
Treasurer | Cody Anderson |
Founded | 1973 |
Headquarters | Albany, New York |
Membership (March 2021) | 20,298 [1] |
Ideology | Libertarianism ▪ Constitutional democracy ▪ Fiscal conservatism ▪ Limited government ▪ Market liberalism ▪ Non-interventionism ▪ Cultural liberalism |
National affiliation | Libertarian Party (United States) |
Colors | A dark shade of grey or blue; golden yellow |
New York State Assembly | 0 / 150 |
New York State Senate | 0 / 63 |
New York City Council | 0 / 51 |
Other elected offices | 10 (September 2020) [2] |
Website | |
lpny.org/ | |
The Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY) (also known as the Free Libertarian Party of New York), [3] is the affiliate of the Libertarian Party in the U.S. state of New York. Due to changes in New York State election law in 2020, the Libertarian Party lost its ballot status. [4] It is the recognized affiliate of the national Libertarian Party.
The Libertarian Party of New York is dedicated to the principle that free people have the right to live the way they please, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud, against other persons or their property.
The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 [5] on the libertarian principle: that people should be free to do whatever they wish, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud against others or their property. The principle does not preclude retaliatory force, as in the redress of wrongs through courts, and as in the traditional common law of self-defense. National Libertarian Party members, including the New York members, have paid $25 per year, and have as a condition of membership signified: "I certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals."
The Libertarian Party of New York was founded as an unregistered political party in 1970 by Paul and Michael Gilson who became its first people in public office the next year on election to a zoning board in Upstate New York. It helped drive the creation of a national party, and was re-organized in 1972 by a group now centered around Ed Clark, later the Libertarian Party presidential candidate. Its name was changed to the "Free Libertarian Party" when the New York Board of Elections ruled that the name Libertarian Party would confuse voters with the Liberal Party of New York. However, the Board of Elections eventually allowed the name "Libertarian Party" to be used. The Statue of Liberty is their ballot symbol, and they now appear on the ballot as the Libertarian Party.
Since 1974, the Libertarian Party of New York has had a candidate for Governor of New York on the ballot every four years except for 1986, the only party in New York State without official ballot status up to that point to do so. Several other minor parties in New York have achieved ballot status through electoral fusion, endorsing the candidate of a major party. The Libertarian Party of New York declined to achieve ballot status by this means, although Republican William Weld flirted with the LPNY gubernatorial nomination in 2006. [6]
In 2018, Larry Sharpe, the Libertarian Party nominee for governor that year, finished with over 90,000 votes, the most in the state party's history for a gubernatorial candidate. By surpassing 50,000 votes, the Libertarian Party had achieved qualified party status, and ballot access, for the first time in its history. [7] The party's membership jumped 25 percent after the qualification. [8] However, the Libertarian Party lost its ballot status line in 2020 due to a change in New York State election law that is still under litigation. [4]
After it first received write-in votes in 1972 for presidential candidate John Hospers and vice presidential candidate Tonie Nathan (The first female candidate for Vice President to receive an electoral vote), the LPNY has obtained at least 15,000 petition signatures and placed statewide candidates on the ballot in every statewide election between 1974 and 2016, except 1986. These signatures were, by law, collected in a six-week period in mid-July to August (except in 1994, see Schulz v. Williams, 44 F.3d 48 (2d Cir. 1994)).
In the gubernatorial elections, Libertarian candidates included a full slate of the possible statewide candidates: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and, when one is up for election: Senator. In the Presidential races, candidates included the full number of Electors for President and Vice President, and when one is up for election, Senator. This regular achievement of statewide ballot status by a full slate of candidates for 42 years indicates substantial support in New York State. Under the change in New York State election law, the Libertarian Party lost its status as one of the Qualified New York political parties. Nationally, the Libertarian Party has 208,456 voters registered by the respective state boards of election. [9]
The officers of the Libertarian Party of New York are elected annually. In 2018, the party become a ballot-recognized party, and a political entity was created that is recognized under election law. Therefore, the party is current going through a transition as it works to restructure. The officers of both entities are listed. [10] [11]
Position | Name |
---|---|
Chair | Andrew Kolste |
1st Vice Chair | Duane Whitmer |
2nd Vice Chair | Rich Purtell |
Secretary | Mark Braiman |
Treasurer | Cody Anderson |
At-Large | Maura Botsford Justin Carman Keith Redhead William Schmidt Karyn Thompson |
Chair | Vice Chair | Secretary | Treasurer |
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The Libertarian Party of New York contains local county affiliates, each of which is administered by its own local Libertarian Party. County officers are elected in accordance with their rules.
County | Website | Chair |
---|---|---|
Albany | Robert Porter | |
Chautauqua | Chautauqua County Libertarian Party | Andrew Martin Kolstee |
Chemung | Nick Grasso | |
Chenango | Chenango County Libertarian Party | Thomas Quiter |
Columbia | Columbia County Libertarian Party | Scott Hoskins |
Erie | Erie County Libertarian Party | Duane Whitmer |
Fulton | Brandon Lyon | |
Kings (Brooklyn) | Libertarian Party of Brooklyn | Matthew Morgan |
Madison | David Penner | |
Monroe | Monroe County Libertarian Party | Steven Becker |
Nassau | Nassau County Libertarian Party | Blay Tarnoff |
New York (Manhattan) | Manhattan Libertarian Party | Rebecca Lau |
Onondaga | Onondaga County Libertarian Party | Shawn Hannon |
Orleans | William Grimble | |
Otsego | Otsego County Libertarian Party | Tim O'Connor |
Queens | Libertarian Party of Queens | Michael Arcati |
Richmond (Staten Island) | Libertarian Party of Staten Island | Chance Haywood |
Saratoga | Rob Arrigo | |
Schoharie | Lora Newell | |
Suffolk | Suffolk County Libertarian Party | William VanHelmond |
Tioga | Theresa Gosart | |
Ulster | Ulster County Libertarian Party | John Caulfield |
Wayne | Jim Dayton | |
Westchester | Libertarian Party of Westchester | Greg Stemkowski |
The Manhattan Libertarian Party (MLP) is a chapter of the Libertarian Party of New York established in 2000.
The Manhattan LP was the host chapter of the 2012 Libertarian Party of New York convention, held January 21, 2012. The convention was attended by several candidates seeking the national Libertarian Party's presidential nomination, including former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson and New York attorney Carl E. Person.
Sam Sloan and the Manhattan madam Kristin M. Davis both sought the Libertarian Party nomination for Governor of New York State. Andrew Clunn sought to be nominated for Lieutenant Governor, Carl Person sought the nomination for Attorney General. John Clifton sought the nomination for US Senate, and Michel Faulkner sought the nomination for US Congress from the 15th Congressional District previously held by Charles Rangel.
The Libertarian Party of Queens County, formerly known as the "Queens Libertarian Party" led by Tom Stevens (politician), is the local affiliate of the LPNY for the Queens county-borough in the City of New York. The chapter was known for whipping up candidates for public office until 2010 when Blay Tarnoff hijacked the party and passed a surprise motion to decertify the chapter.
In December 2016, the LPNY State Committee voted to de-charter the chapter. Shortly thereafter, a small group of former Democrats and two former Republicans chartered the chapter under a new name. The "Libertarian Party of Queens County", or LPQC for short, was chaired by Elliot Axelman for its first 8 months. Axelman is a radio host, certified Paramedic and former Lieutenant for Whitestone Volunteer Ambulance Corps. In October 2017, Axelman resigned following a move to New Hampshire. His Vice Chair, Christopher Fuentes-Padilla, took over until November 19, 2017.
The Queens Chapter is the first chapter in the history of the LPNY to elect a Chair under the age of 24. Christopher Fuentes-Padilla, the former Vice Chair, was sworn in as Chairman at age 20 on November 20, 2017.
Padilla is also the first Hispanic to hold the Office in Queens and the first Puerto Rican male to hold office in the LPNY.
The Suffolk County Libertarian Party (formerly "SCLO") is a chapter of the Libertarian Party of New York established in 1974.
Year | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Jerome Tuccille / Louis J. Sicilia | 10,503 | 0.2% |
1978 | Gary Greenberg / James Franz | 18,990 | 0.4% |
1982 | John Northrup / David Hoesly | 16,913 | 0.3% |
1990 | W. Gary Johnson / Dottie-Lou Brokaw | 24,611 | 0.6% |
1994 | Robert Schulz / Stan Dworkin | 9,506 | 0.2% |
1998 | Christopher B. Garvey / Donald Silberger | 4,722 | 0.1% |
2002 | Scott Jeffrey / Jay Greco | 5,013 | 0.1% |
2006 | John Clifton / Donald Silberger | 15,068 | 0.3% |
2010 | Warren Redlich / Alden Link | 48,386 | 1.1% |
2014 | Michael McDermott / Chris Edes | 15,209 [13] | 0.4% |
2018 | Larry Sharpe / Andrew Hollister | 95,033 | 1.6% |
2022 | Larry Sharpe / Andrew Hollister | Not on ballot | Not on ballot |
Year | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Leland W. Schubert | ||
1978 | Delores Grande | ||
1990 | Margaret M. Fries | ||
1998 | Daniel A. Conti | 19,864 | 0.5% |
2002 | 23,213 | 0.6% | |
2006 | Christopher Garvey | 29,413 | 0.7% |
2010 | Carl Person | 36,488 | 0.8% |
2014 | 23,586 | 0.6% | |
2018 | Christopher Garvey | 41,183 | 0.7% |
Year | Candidate | Votes |
---|---|---|
1974 | Robert S. Flanzer | |
1982 | William P. McMillen | |
1990 | Vicki Kirkland | |
2002 | James Eisert | 19,235 |
2006 | John J. Cain | 38,483 |
2010 | John Gaetani | 27,898 |
2014 | John Clifton | 36,583 |
2018 | Cruger Gallaudet | 32,353 |
Year | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | Richard Savadel | 21,465 | 0.4% |
1992 | Norma Segal | 108,530 | 1.7% |
1994 | 17,991 | 0.4% | |
1998 | William P. McMillen | 8,223 | 0.2% |
2000 | John Clifton | 4,734 | 0.8% |
2004 | Donald Silberger | 19,093 | 0.3% |
2006 | Jeff Russell | 15,929 | 0.5% |
2010 | Randy Credico | 25,975^^ [note 1] | 0.5% |
2010 [note 2] | John Clifton | 17,872 | 0.4% |
2012 | Chris Edes | 31,980 | 0.5% |
2016 | Alex Merced | 43,856 | 0.6% |
Year | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | John Hospers | 6 | 0.0% |
1976 | Roger MacBride | 12,197 | 0.2% |
1980 | Ed Clark | 52,648 | 0.9% |
1984 | David Bergland | 11,949 | 0.2% |
1988 | Ron Paul | 12,109 | 0.2% |
1992 | Andre Marrou | 13,451 | 0.2% |
1996 | Harry Browne | 12,220 | 0.2% |
2000 | 7,649 | 0.1% | |
2004 | Michael Badnarik | 11,607 | 0.2% |
2008 | Bob Barr | 19,513 | 0.3% |
2012 | Gary Johnson | 47,229 | 0.7% |
2016 | 161,836 | 2.3% | |
2020 | Jo Jorgensen | 60,234 | 0.7% |
As of September 19, 2020: [2]
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate. It is distinct from the process of electoral alliances in that the political parties remain separately listed on the ballot. The practice of electoral fusion in jurisdictions where it exists allows minor parties to influence election results and policy by offering to endorse or nominate a major party's candidate.
The Peace and Freedom Party (PFP) is a left-wing political party with affiliates and former members in more than a dozen American states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana and Utah, but none now have ballot status besides California. Its first candidates appeared on the 1966 New York ballot. The Peace and Freedom Party of California was organized in early 1967, gathering over 103,000 registrants which qualified its ballot status in January 1968 under the California Secretary of State Report of Registration.
Elections in the United States refers to the rules and procedures regulating the conditions under which a candidate, political party, or ballot measure is entitled to appear on voters' ballots. As the nation's election process is decentralized by Article I, Section 4, of the United States Constitution, ballot access laws are established and enforced by the states. As a result, ballot access processes may vary from one state to another. State access requirements for candidates generally pertain to personal qualities of a candidate, such as: minimum age, residency, citizenship, and being a qualified voter. Additionally, many states require prospective candidates to collect a specified number of qualified voters' signatures on petitions of support and mandate the payment of filing fees before granting access; ballot measures are similarly regulated. Each state also regulates how political parties qualify for automatic ballot access, and how those minor parties that do not can. Fundamental to democracy, topics related to ballot access are the subject of considerable debate in the United States.
The Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of New York. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994. They lost their ballot status in 2020 under a change in the New York state election law that required at least 130,000 votes on the party line every two years. Although often associated with Ross Perot, as the party came to prominence in the wake of Perot's 1992 presidential campaign, it was created prior to Perot's run. In 2020, it affiliated with the Alliance Party, but disaffiliated in 2021. It used to have one elected member of the New York State Assembly, Fred Thiele, until Thiele switched his party affiliation to the Democratic Party in 2022.
The Oklahoma Libertarian Party is the state affiliate of the Libertarian Party in Oklahoma. It has been active in state politics since the 1970s, but due to Oklahoma's ballot access requirements the party has been an officially recognized party during only portions of the last twenty-five years. In 2016, The Oklahoma Libertarian Party regained ballot access. The state party has secured ballot access through at least 2024.
The Libertarian Party of Washington (LPWA) is the state-affiliate of the national Libertarian Party in the state of Washington, the third-largest political party in the state and country. It was founded by Georgia legend Chase Oliver. The man with two first names is most known for his whopping 2% of votes in Georgia. After this massive win, Chase Oliver has inspired many of his gamer stans to join the movement and become a Libertarian.
Elections in California are held to fill various local, state and federal seats. In California, regular elections are held every even year ; however, some seats have terms of office that are longer than two years, so not every seat is on the ballot in every election. Special elections may be held to fill vacancies at other points in time. Recall elections can also be held. Additionally, statewide initiatives, legislative referrals and referendums may be on the ballot.
Randolph A. Credico is an American perennial political candidate, comedian, radio host, and activist, and the former director of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice.
The 2010 New York gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor David Paterson, elected as lieutenant governor in 2006 as the running mate of Eliot Spitzer, chose not to run for a full term. Democratic New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo defeated Republican Carl Paladino to become the next governor of New York.
The Libertarian Party of Oregon is a political party representing the national Libertarian Party in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is organized as a minor party for state election law, and recognized by the Oregon as a statewide nominating party.
The Libertarian Party of Texas is the state affiliate of the Libertarian Party in Texas, US. In 1971, Texas was one of the 13 original founding state parties at the first LP convention in Denver, Colorado. Over the next five years, county affiliate parties were founded in Travis, Harris, Dallas, and Bexar counties. In February 1980, Charles Fuller of Houston becomes the first Texas libertarian to appear on the ballot as a Libertarian Party candidate. Fuller ran in a Special Election for State Representative District 80. The party first qualified for statewide ballot access in 1980, and then again on September 1, 1982 with 41,000 petition signatures. The party ran 122 candidates that November. Legal issues making signature collection more difficult prevented the party from achieving ballot access in 1984, but it was able to collect the required 32,000 signatures in 1986 to once again make it on the ballot. Three statewide candidates achieved at least 5% of the vote that November, automatically granting the party ballot access for 1988. In the 1990 statewide elections, gubernatorial candidate Jeff Daiell achieved 3.3% of the vote (129,128) and Comptroller candidate Gill Grisham received 5.8%, guaranteeing ballot access through 1994. Mr. Daiell's showing is still the LP of Texas record in a gubernatorial race in terms of per centage; in 2018 Mark Tippetts broke the record for most votes. On March 9, 1998, U.S. District Judge James Nowlin stopped the State of Texas from requiring voter registration numbers alongside ballot access petition signatures in Pilcher v. Rains, brought by the Libertarian Party of Texas. In every election since except that of 2002, at least one of the party's candidates achieved 5% of the vote, guaranteeing ballot access. In May 2004 the party easily met the state's signature requirement. In the November 2006 elections, the party ran 168 candidates, and easily secured ballot access for 2008 in two-way races for state judicial positions, with the highest vote total going to Jerry Adkins for Supreme Court Place 4: 830,331 votes, or 24.5%. In the May 2019 local Texas elections, Tony Valdivia achieved 29.5% in the race for the San Antonio District 8 council seat. This result marked the first time that a Libertarian Party member exceeded 10% in a major Texas city council election. Unlike Republicans and Democrats, the Libertarian Party of Texas holds county, district, and state conventions to nominate their candidates for public office. The party also accepts no tax dollars for their conventions.
The Libertarian Association of Massachusetts (LAMA) is a libertarian political party in Massachusetts. It was affiliated with the national Libertarian Party until June 2022.
In New York State, to qualify for automatic ballot access, a party must have qualify every two years by receiving the greater 130,000 votes or 2% of the vote in the previous gubernatorial election or presidential election. In years with a gubernatorial election or presidential election a party must run a gubernatorial candidate or a presidential candidate to be eligible for automatic ballot access; if 130,000 voters vote for that candidate on their party line, they have qualified the party for the next two years until the following presidential or gubernatorial general election whichever one comes first. A party that is not qualified may run candidates by completing a petition process. Parties are also allowed to cross-endorse candidates, whose votes are accumulated under electoral fusion, but any parties must cross-endorse both the governor and lieutenant governor candidates for fusion to apply. Parties that are already qualified must issue a Wilson Pakula authorization if they cross-endorse someone not enrolled in that party; there are no restrictions on who can be nominated on a non-qualified ballot line, as these lines are determined by filing petitions.
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The Libertarian Party of Alabama (LPA) is the Alabama affiliate of the national Libertarian Party (LP). It is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. Due to the high signature requirement to get onto the ballot and the requirement that a party run a statewide candidate that receives at least 20% in order to maintain ballot access the Libertarian Party of Alabama has rarely fielded candidates.
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The Libertarian Party of North Carolina (LPNC) is the North Carolina affiliate of the Libertarian Party.
John Monds is an American politician and activist. He was the Libertarian nominee for Governor of Georgia in 2010. He was the first African American to appear on the general election ballot for Governor of Georgia.
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Larry David Sharpe is an American business consultant, entrepreneur, political activist, and podcaster. He was a candidate for the Libertarian Party nomination for vice-president of the United States in 2016, losing to former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld. Sharpe was the Libertarian nominee for Governor of New York in the 2018 gubernatorial election. He again received that party's gubernatorial nomination for the 2022 New York gubernatorial election, but did not meet the qualifications to be listed on the general election ballot. Consequently, he is seeking the office as a write-in candidate.
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