Indiana Libertarians build on 2020 breakthrough

Indiana Libertarians Working To Capitalize On Rainwater Momentum | Indiana Public Media - Mitch Legan:

January 22, 2021 - "Evan McMahon has been working toward this moment for a decade. He sits at a table in the Antelope Club in Indianapolis, donning a mask with his laptop and a stack of election data in front of him. 'This was a watershed moment for the Libertarian Party of Indiana,' he says.

"McMahon is the development director for the state's Libertarian Party. He got involved with the party back in 2010 and eventually started managing campaigns for candidates, including Rupert Boneham’s 2012 run for Indiana governor.... In 2020 he helped oversee the best statewide finish for a Libertarian in Hoosier history when Navy veteran Donald Rainwater received 11 percent of the vote in the November gubernatorial election. He came in second in 32 of the state’s 92 counties. Nationally, Rainwater’s campaign for governor was the second-best ever by a Libertarian....

"As the nation’s largest third party, Libertarians advocate for strict limitations on government power. Candidates generally poll in the low single-digits in national or statewide races. But the coronavirus pandemic provided an opportunity after many Hoosiers reacted negatively to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s emergency mandates.... Rainwater’s message of personal responsibility and individual liberties resonated in the solidly conservative state, and the party’s platform of limited government caught on with Hoosiers who thought the governor was overstepping his authority with his coronavirus emergency measures....

"That’s McMahon’s focus now – capitalizing on that groundswell of support and ensuring a vote for a Libertarian in 2020 wasn’t just an opportunity to chide the state government.

"'My first reaction was, "This is a response to the mask mandates and the closing of businesses,"' McMahon said. 'But the anger that they feel towards the establishment, who have continued to violate the things that they said they believed in, isn't going to go away just because they get the chance to appoint a new candidate in a couple years.'

"So he’s spending 14 hours a day making calls, pouring through election data and organizing party affiliates in counties that were previously lacking. And it seems to be paying off – there was so much interest in organizing that the party virtually held its first-ever 'affiliation day' back in December....

"Twenty-five of the state’s 92 counties have active Libertarian parties, and with McMahon’s work, things are trending toward affiliates in half of counties come February. In his perfect world, there will be active parties in every county by the end of the year. 'I think as long as we do that, as long as we maintain that engagement, we’ll be poised to make dramatic history in Indiana over the next four years,' McMahon said.

"That starts with the 2022 Secretary of State election. Party leadership feels a strong showing in ’22 could put Libertarians on county election boards across the state, which would go a long way in the effort to get a candidate in the legislature or a statewide office."

Read more: https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/indiana-libertarians-looking-to-capitalize-on-rainwater-momentum.php

Libertarian Burt elected to Wyoming state House

Libertarian Candidate Marshall Burt Wins Wyoming State House Race | Reason - Brian Doherty: 

November 4, 2020 - "The Libertarian Party (L.P.) had high hopes for a win in the Wyoming state House in two different races — and one of them came through. Marshall Burt has won in District 39 against Democrat Stan Blake, 1,696 to 1,420, according to Apollo Pazell, who was running the L.P.'s campaigns in the state. This is only the fifth time the L.P. has won a state legislative seat with a candidate running only under the Libertarian label. 

"In Wyoming's House District 55, Bethany Baldes, who in 2018 lost a state House race against an incumbent GOP majority leader by only 53 votes, lost to Republican Ember Oakley by only 32 votes, 2,058 to 2,026.

"In other L.P. races of note around America, Donald Rainwater, in a three-way race for governor of Indiana, has earned 13.1 percent of the vote with well over 90 percent of the results in. That is right in line with polling from last month, even though third-party results tend to fall precipitously from earlier polls when actual votes are cast. Rainwater came in ahead of Democrat Woody Myers in nearly two dozen counties around the state. Republican incumbent Eric Holcomb won reelection.

"In Arkansas, with 81 percent of the vote counted, the L.P.'s Ricky Harrington got 33.3 percent in his race to dethrone Republican Sen. Tom Cotton. (No Democrat was on the ballot.) Harrington won outright in two counties. In Pulaski County, which contains the state capitol of Little Rock, Harrington leads Cotton 59 percent to 41 percent.

"In Kentucky's Senate race, which Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won with 58 percent of the vote, Libertarian Brad Barron got 4 percent while losing Democrat Amy McGrath earned 38 percent.

"In Montana, L.P. gubernatorial candidate Lyman Bishop currently has around 3.5 percent with about 52 percent of the votes counted. That's more than 10,000 votes in a race where the declared winner — Republican Greg Gianforte — is presently ahead of Democrat Mike Cooney by about that many votes."

Read more: https://reason.com/2020/11/04/libertarian-candidate-marshall-burt-wins-wyoming-state-house-race/

Libertarians oppose all the mandates

Libertarians are not against people social distancing, wearing facemasks, or vaccinating their kids. They are against people trying to bully or force other people to do those things.

Jo Jorgensen: 'Requiring People To Vaccinate Their Children Is One of the Most Egregious Things That the Government Can Do' | Reason - Matt Welch: 

October 10, 2020 = "As the Libertarian Party has established itself as the most electorally successful third party in the United States, voters have grown accustomed to the group's radical messaging against taxation, prohibition and war.... Less broadly known, though on full display in a streamed interview I conducted last night with presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen, is the party's antipathy toward international institutions, pandemic restrictions, and vaccine mandates.

"Jorgensen last night volunteered the latter as an example of the type of 'personal decision' best left to individuals, rather than determined via the political process. So I asked her whether, philosophically, she considered it wise for public schools to require children be vaccinated as a condition for enrollment. 'I think it is immoral,' she responded. Then, after noting that she personally has chosen to vaccinate her family, Jorgensen contrasted vaccination policy with the types of prohibitions Libertarians have long opposed — on drugs, gambling, vaping, consensual sex transactions, and so on.

"'All of these are laws that the government is telling you what not to do,' she said. 'Vaccinations, on the other hand — we're talking about somebody forcibly putting a substance into your body. I am just shocked that that's even a question in our country that is supposed to be free. And even though I have chosen vaccinations, and I've chosen vaccinations for my children, I would never use the excuse of herd immunity to force other people to put something into their bodies that they don't want to.'

"This is not a majority opinion – 82 percent of American adults favored school-based vaccines in 2016 ... [and] the vaccine mandate issue divides libertarians, too, as illustrated by Reason's 2014 debate "Should Vaccines Be Mandatory?" [Still] the COVID-19 pandemic has not only put such once-esoteric philosophical discussions on the political front-burner; it has given what many Libertarian candidates see as their opening.

"The Libertarian gubernatorial candidate making the biggest splash in 2020 is Indiana's Donald Rainwater, who has polled between 6 percent and 24 percent in a three-way race. 'Indiana Libertarian candidate for governor targets voters upset by COVID-19 mandates,' went the headline this week in The Indianapolis Star. 'I don't think it's the government's responsibility to tell people how to take care of themselves," Rainwater told the paper. "I think this all goes back to the idea that I get to choose what I do to keep myself safe. I am against mandating vaccines, too.'

"The other Libertarian gubernatorial candidate likely to make Election Day waves — Montana's Lyman Bishop, who is polling within shouting distance of the Republican-Democratic margin — is also campaigning against pandemic mandates. 

"'I have said from the beginning, asking people to stay home is one thing. Telling people they have to stay home is something else altogether,' Bishop recently told Montana Public Radio.   'The same logic applies to any other precautionary measure. In the face of any threat, our liberties and individual rights must come first.... The pending collapse of our economy and the steady growth of tyranny and authoritarianism in our country is of the utmost importance and supersedes all other issues. If we cannot address these issues there will be nothing left for us to discuss'....

"As we approach the finish line, the radical limited-government party is reacting more and more to big-government pandemic policies. The politics of face masks, it turns out, is not a strictly bipartisan affair."

Read more: https://reason.com/2020/10/16/jo-jorgensen-requiring-people-to-vaccinate-their-children-is-one-of-the-most-egregious-things-that-the-government-can-do/

Also read: Jo Jorgensen on lockdowns

Libertarian polls at 24% in Indiana governor's race

Polling Positions – Part Two | Abdul At Large, WIBC - Abdul-Hakim:

September 12, 2020 - "In the latest Indy Politics/Change Research poll of the Governor’s race, Eric Holcomb has lost ground and the main benefactor is Libertarian Donald Rainwater.

"In April, Holcomb was 20 points ahead of Dr. Woody Myers, the Democrat nominee. Now that number is down to 6 points, but oddly enough, picking up the slack is Libertarian Donald Rainwater. The breakdown was 36 percent Holcomb, 30 percent Myers, 24 percent Rainwater, and 10 percent undecided.

"Rainwater looks to be the candidate of choice here among Republicans disaffected with the mask mandate and Gov. Holcomb’s leadership during the pandemic: over a third of respondents who say they’re voting for Trump say they’d vote for Don Rainwater for Governor were the election today....

"The poll of 1033 lively voters was conducted by Change Research from September 3-7.  Change Research used its Dynamic Online Sampling to achieve a sample reflective of the likely November electorate. The margin of error as traditionally calculated at the 95% confidence level is 3.1%. Post-stratification was performed on age, gender, ethnicity, education, geography, and 2016 vote."

Read more: https://www.wibc.com/blogs/abdul-at-large/polling-positions-part-two/

21 US Libertarians elected locally in 2019

Minor Parties in US Make Gains in Local Elections | Voice of America - English - Durin Hendricks:

November 12, 2019 - "While Democrats and Republicans dominate U.S. political headlines, scores of smaller parties dot America's landscape and, at times, have a major impact on national, state and local elections.

"The 2016 elections saw several third parties attract their highest-ever presidential vote totals at a time when many Americans expressed dissatisfaction with both major party candidates. The Libertarian party, which advocates for lower spending and taxes, saw the biggest leap in support as presidential nominee Gary Johnson received 4.5 million votes, nearly triple his 2012 total....

"Small parties have capitalized on disaffection with the major parties. According to a 2018 Gallup Poll, 57 percent of Americans say a third party is needed because Democrats and Republicans do a 'poor job.'

"Earlier this month, the Libertarian Party notched victories in a string of local elections, as 21 Libertarian or Libertarian-endorsed candidates were elected to school boards, city councils, and mayorships across the country....

"Tipton, Indiana, a Republican stronghold, elected a Democratic Mayor and a Libertarian Party member to the city council last week. Libertarian Nate Kring beat the Republican incumbent who had been the city’s former mayor and long serving police chief.

"Kring began to identify as a Libertarian in 2016, dissatisfied by the Republican Party's embrace of Trump. On a local level, Kring complained the Tipton Republican Party was not transparent and that Republican elected officials were not enforc[ing] the city’s codes and were raising taxes. Kring said his biggest hurdle as a candidate was convincing people that voting for ... him did not mean they were joining the Libertarian Party or that a third party vote was a wasted vote.

"As a councilman, Kring sees himself as a problem solver, promising to fairly enforce city laws, collaborate with the county government to 'share services and save money' and make the municipal government more transparent. 'The county live streams meetings, but the city doesn't,' he said.

"Indiana has elected 28 Libertarian officials to public office since 1992. The 2019 elections saw Nate Kring and four other Libertarians elected or re-elected in the state."

Read more: https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-politics/minor-parties-us-make-gains-local-elections
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Indiana Dems urge conservatives: vote Libertarian

Trump tweet about Donnelly 'trying to steal' election wrong, Indiana Democrats say -  Kaitlin Lange and Tim Evans, Indianapolis Star:

November 3, 2018 - "In a Saturday afternoon tweet, President Donald Trump accused Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., of 'trying to steal the election' by paying for Facebook ads for Libertarian candidate Lucy Brenton.... Donnelly is locked in a tight race with Republican Mike Braun, who Trump stumped for Friday at a rally in Southport....

"A spokesman for the Donnelly campaign said the ads were paid for by the Indiana Democratic Party, which earlier paid for a mailer urging fiscally conservative voters that Brenton is a better choice than Braun. He referred questions to the party.

"Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody released the following statement in response to President Trump’s tweet:

The ads highlighting how Lucy Brenton is the true conservative in the Indiana Senate race are paid for by the Indiana Democratic Party. They are perfectly legal, factual, and accurately represent Lucy Brenton's anti-tax record. These ads draw attention to Rep. Braun’s record of voting to raise taxes on Hoosiers dozens of times as a State Representative while writing legislation to give himself tax breaks.

"Original story, October  29, 2018 - The Indiana Democratic Party sent out a mailer last week telling fiscally conservative Hoosiers there is a better Senate candidate than Republican Mike Braun. But in an unconventional move, .... the mailer praised Libertarian candidate Lucy Brenton.

"The words 'Looking for a candidate who will really lower your taxes?' appear on the front of the flier. On the back, the mailer says that Brenton 'is an anti-tax conservative' while Braun 'raised Indiana taxes 159 times.' Donnelly isn't mentioned....

"Brenton said she was shocked that the Democrats used this tactic, but called the mailer 'accurate.' 'I am grateful for the free publicity highlighting my tax stance, but think it will backfire,' Brenton said. 'Many Democrats are Constitution loving, fiscally conservative voters and my message resonates with them, too. Ultimately, how well they targeted the addresses will determine which voters learn that they have a choice in this race that demands all of their freedoms, all of the time.'

"The Indiana Republican Party said the mailer was a 'desperate, late-game campaign tactic'."

Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/10/29/indiana-senate-race-democrats-mail-flyer-praising-lucy-brenton/1805722002/
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Indiana Libertarians organizing at county level

Libertarian Party Of Indiana Expands Leadership To Several More Counties - WBIW.com:

August 11, 2017 - "The Libertarian Party of Indiana [LPIN] announces the installment of new leaders in several counties across the state. This continues the pattern of growth for the LPIN, even in an off-cycle year for elections.

"LPIN State Chair Tim Maguire stated that the Party has installed new County Chairs in Jackson, Knox and Hendricks counties. Those roles have been filled by Erin Meadors, Micah Haynes and Eric Knipe respectively.

"'We're continuing to experience a surge in activity all around the state,' said Maguire. 'After the 2016 election, we never saw new interest in the Libertarian Party dwindle. Through that desire for liberty from our citizens, we have been able to identify the excitement found in these new leaders. They are just a small portion of the former Republicans and Democrats that have realized that the old parties don't represent us anymore'....

"The first half of 2017 saw the expansion of Libertarian leadership in Carroll, Morgan, Montgomery and Jasper Counties.

 "Maguire went on to say that, 'the Libertarian Party of Indiana is always looking for people interested in helping spread liberty by taking leadership roles in their community. I encourage anyone looking for a way to participate to reach out to me. We are excited about the possibility of working together with you.'"

Read more: http://www.wbiw.com/local/archive/2017/08/libertarian-party-of-indiana-expands-leadership-to-several-more-counties.php

Libertarian Rex Bell runs for Indiana governor

Libertarians choose Rex Bell to run for Indiana governor - Pam Tharp, Indianapolis Star:

April 25, 2016 - "A Wayne County man will be on Indiana’s gubernatorial ballot this fall.

"Rex Bell of Hagerstown was chosen as the Libertarian Party candidate for the office of governor over the weekend at the party's convention in Indianapolis.

"Bell said he won by a margin of about 2-1, defeating candidate Jim Wallace of Fishers.

"Karl Tagenhorst of Valparaiso is the party’s candidate for lieutenant governor.

"Bell credited his win to his lengthy experience as both a Libertarian and a candidate for office. Bell, the chairman of the Wayne County Libertarian Party, joined the party in 2000 and is making his eighth run for office. In the past, he has run unsuccessfully for county, state and federal offices.

"Bell's best showing was in 2010, when he received 21 percent of the vote in a three-way race for District 54 state representative.

"'That puts us 13 percent away from winning a three-way race, and we are seeing a lot more dissatisfaction with the incumbent governor than we did with the incumbent representative in 2010,' Bell said. 'People are upset with government overreach, and the Libertarian Party offers them a chance to vote for less government and more freedom'....

"Indiana has one of the largest and most active Libertarian organizations in the nation, LPIN Chairman Joe Hauptman said. The party’s slogan is 'Minimal Government, Maximum Freedom,' and its goal this year in Indiana is to have 120 candidates on ballots throughout the state this fall, Hauptman said in a statement."

Read more: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2016/04/25/libertarians-choose-bell-run-governor/83493746/
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Libertarians removed from city ballot in Indiana

Libertarian candidates removed from ballot - Herald Bulletin: Local News - Ken de la Bastide:

August 8, 2015 - "The five Libertarian Party candidates running for office in the city of Anderson have been removed from the November ballot for a violation of state law.

"The Election Board voted unanimously Friday to remove the candidates because their declarations of candidacy were not certified by the state party chairman.

"A complaint with the Election Board was filed by Russ Willis, chairman of the Madison County Republican Party, alleging state election laws were violated by the Libertarian Party.

"State law requires that local candidates be nominated at a convention and that ballot vacancies have to be certified by the chairman of the state party.

"The applications to be included on the ballot for elected positions filed with the Madison County Clerk’s office indicate that there was no local party convention, and the vacancies were certified by Greg Noland, chairman of the Madison County Libertarian Party.

"Election Board attorney Jeff Graham said the Election Board was in a difficult position.... Graham said when the complaint was filed he wanted to determine how the candidates could remain on the ballot.

"'The board is constrained by state statute,' he said. 'It’s tough to get around.'"

Read more: http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/libertarian-candidates-removed-from-ballot/article_d05cc1f2-3d36-11e5-b3ef-8bcb17974ed2.html
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Indiana county GOP wants Libertarians off ballot

GOP challenges Libertarian Party candidates - Herald Bulletin: Local News - Ken de la Bastide:

August 3, 2015 - "The Madison County Election Board is being asked to remove the five Libertarian Party candidates from the November ballot.

"A complaint was filed with the election board by Russ Willis, chairman of the Madison County Republican Party, alleging state election laws have been violated by the Libertarian Party.

"State law requires that local candidates be nominated at a convention and that ballot vacancies have to be certified by the chairman of the state party.

"The applications for a candidate to be included on the ballot, which were [filed] with the Madison County Clerk's office, indicate there was no local party convention and the vacancies were certified by Greg Noland, chairman of the Madison County Libertarian Party.

"The candidacies being challenged include those of Rob Jozwiak for Anderson mayor; Tracy Walser for Anderson city clerk; Chris Nealis, city council District 5; Robert Walser, city council, District 6; and Brad Kirby, city council at-large."

Read more: http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/gop-challenges-libertarian-party-candidates/article_db978ab0-397c-11e5-b3e6-ab09fbb1c544.html
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3 Libertarians running for Clarksville, IN, council

3 Libertarian candidates plan to run in Clarksville council race - News and Tribune: News:

July 21, 2015 - "Clark County’s Libertarian party has three candidates running for Clarksville Town Council this election cycle — the most that Party Chairman Kelley Curran can remember since becoming involved with the Libertarian Party around 2000.

"Russell Brooksbank, who also is the vice chairman for the Clark County Libertarian Party, is running for office himself as a District 2 candidate for Clarksville Town Council. Greg Hertzch is running for District 1 and Thomas Keister recently joined the race as a District 3 candidate....

"Brooksbank attributed the large number of Libertarian candidates this cycle to a new strategy from the party that focuses on local politics.

"'I think in order for people to trust us with the big things, they have to learn to trust us with the little things,' he said.

"The Libertarian Party believes that the government’s only role is to help defend individuals, and that each person has a right to control their own 'body, action, speech and property'.... This philosophy extends from national to local politics.

"'I think a Libertarian candidate brings smaller government to the town council,' said Brooksbank. 'I think just about everything that [the Clarksville Town Council is] doing is all about growing government and growing government’s interaction in our lives, and a Libertarian candidate will reduce that.'"

Read more: http://www.newsandtribune.com/news/libertarian-candidates-plan-to-run-in-clarksville-council-race/article_2cad401c-2f3b-11e5-bf44-0f13ec157101.html
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Libertarian could spell trouble for Mourdock | The Journal Gazette

Libertarian could spell trouble for Mourdock | The Journal Gazette - Brian Francisco:

November 3, 2012 - "Libertarian Andrew Horning channeled John Lennon at an Oct. 23 debate among candidates for a U.S. Senate seat from Indiana. 'People say I’m a dreamer. You know, I’m not the only one,' Horning said....

"Horning is dreaming if he thinks he has a chance to win election Tuesday.... Horning’s election history shows he is good for 2 percent to 4 percent of the vote.... If the race between Donnelly and Mourdock is as close as some polls and many pundits have suggested, the ultraconservative Horning could be the spoiler.

"'I think he could take quite a few votes from Mourdock,' said Ray Scheele, a political scientist at Ball State University.

Scheele called Horning 'a pretty good landing spot' for die-hard supporters of six-term Sen. Richard Lugar who are still bitter over Lugar’s loss to Mourdock in the Republican primary election but who can’t bring themselves to vote for a Democrat."

Read more: http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20121103/LOCAL08/311039978
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