Chase Oliver wins Libertarian POTUS vote in Iowa

Chase Oliver Emerges as Top Choice for Libertarians in Iowa Caucuses | Independent Political Report | Jordan Willow Evans:

January 16, 2023 - "The Libertarian Party of Iowa held caucuses across the state on Monday, aligning with those also held by the other two major parties in the state.... According to state Libertarians, the only requirement to participate was to be a registered Iowa Libertarian on the day of the caucuses. The party also produced a list on their official website of Libertarian Party presidential candidates who registered with the FCC ... totaling 30 Libertarian candidates plus the option to write in those who weren’t listed. In the days leading up to the caucuses, four candidates — Mike ter Maat, Chase Oliver, Lars Mapstead, and Joshua Smith — traveled to Iowa to take part in a final presidential debate in the state to boost participation....

"[T]he Libertarian Party of Iowa has provided preliminary results in 96 out of 99 voting precincts on its official X account. According to these figures, Chase Oliver emerged as the winner of the night with 40.7% of total votes cast. Oliver was followed by Michael Rectenwald, who secured 17.44% of the vote, and Mike ter Maat with 13.95%. Former LNC Vice Chair Joshua Smith also garnered 13.95% of caucus votes. All other candidates received less than 10%.... 

"Although the caucuses were organized due to Iowa Libertarians achieving major party status in the state, it’s worth noting that the results will not have any binding impact on the upcoming 2024 Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., later this year....

"Both State Republicans and Democrats also held elections yesterday evening, though only the Republicans had results available.... Donald Trump secured a decisive victory in the Republican caucuses, surpassing his closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, by a significant margin and taking the lion’s share of delegates. Nikki Haley followed in a close third, while Vivek Ramaswamy finished fourth. Ramaswamy ... dropped out and endorsed Trump.... Meanwhile, the Iowa Democratic Party began voting on January 12 and will collect results until February 19, 2024. Democrats won’t have their final results until Super Tuesday."

Read more: https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2024/01/chase-oliver-emerges-as-top-choice-for-libertarians-in-iowa-caucuses/

Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver speaks at the Des Moines Register's Soapbox | DMRegister | August 18, 2023: 

Chase Oliver | From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

January 16, 2024 - "Chase Russell Oliver (born August 16, 1985) ... was the Libertarian Party nominee for the 2022 United States Senate election in Georgia and the 2020 Georgia's 5th congressional district special election.... Oliver was previously a Democrat and had supported Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election but later left the Democratic Party due to his own anti-war views.... Oliver joined the Libertarian Party in 2010.... 

"Oliver first ran for public office in 2020, as the Libertarian nominee for the 2020 Georgia's 5th congressional district special election to replace John Lewis.... He won 2% of the vote.... After becoming the Libertarian nominee for the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Georgia, Oliver ... received over 2% of the popular vote, possibly acting as a spoiler candidate and forcing the Georgia senate race into a run-off. In the runoff election, he declined to endorse either Warnock or Walker.... Rolling Stone called him the most influential Libertarian of the year....

"On December 2, 2022, Oliver announced his formation of an exploratory committee to inquire into a possible run for the Libertarian presidential nomination.... He formally declared his candidacy on April 4, 2023.... Oliver campaigned extensively in Iowa during the summer of 2023. The Gazette described him as a 'pro-gun, pro-police reform, pro-choice Libertarian' who is 'armed and gay'.... The Christian Science Monitor described Oliver as a potential 'opening in the middle' that may deliver a reprieve to 'voters unhappy with both major-party front-runners' looking for representation from a younger generation.... 

• Oliver self-identifies as pro-choice, although he is opposed to taxpayer funding of abortions. He believes that abortion should be legal nationwide, and he has said he would support legislation to make it so.
• Oliver supports a free market solution to climate change. He contends that if businesses are left alone, they will be incentivized to develop technologies that will eventually replace current carbon-based fuels.
• "Oliver is a strong supporter of ranked-choice voting in the United States... He has ... stated that ranked-choice voting would save millions of taxpayer dollars by allowing run-offs to be instant, while ensuring that winning candidates always get above 50% of the vote.
• During a 2022 debate with Warnock, Oliver expressed his support for gun rights, stating: 'Armed gays are harder to oppress, and they're harder to bash.'
• Oliver advocates for ending the war on drugs, and supports the legalization of marijuana.
• Oliver supports ending qualified immunity for law enforcement at the federal level.
• Oliver supports an 'Ellis Island-style immigration' system, stating: 'If you're coming here to work and be peaceful, it's not my business.'
• Oliver supports abolishing the United States Department of Education, and advocates 'for more choice in the education marketplace on a state-by-state basis'.
• Oliver supports removing regulatory barriers that prevent people and organizations from feeding people experiencing homelessness....

"Oliver is single and openly gay. He resides in the suburbs of Atlanta. He said he has a 'deep faith in the gospel.'"

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chase_Oliver

Iowa Libertarians earn major party status

The Libertarian Party of Iowa (LPIA) has qualified for major party status after its candidate for governor, Rick Stewart, received 2.4% of the vote in the 2022 election. 

Libertarian Party of Iowa Files for Major Party Status | River Cities' Reader - Libertarian Party of Iowa:

December 9, 2022 — LPIA [Libertarian Party of Iowa] Chair, Jules Cutler, alongside Rick Stewart, candidates, volunteers, and party leaders gathered today to file with the Secretary of State’s Office. The Libertarian Party of Iowa qualified to file for full party status after [Stewart], the party’s gubernatorial candidate, and his running mate, Marco Battaglia, received 2.4% in the November 8 General Election....

"This is the second time that the Libertarian Party will have reached 'Major Party' status in Iowa. [That was] ... obtained after Governor Gary Johnson’s 2016 Presidential campaign, but the party was unable to maintain the 2% required by a top-of-ballot candidate. 

"This is the first time a traditional 'Third Party' has surpassed the necessary threshold in a gubernatorial race. The other two times that mark had been reached were in Presidential campaigns, the aforementioned Johnson campaign for the Libertarians, and in 2000, Ralph Nader’s campaign ... for the Green Party....

"The Libertarian Party of Iowa is committed to America’s heritage of freedom: Individual liberty and personal responsibility, a free-market economy of abundance and prosperity, a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade. Find out more at lpia.org."

Read more: https://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/libertarian-party-iowa-files-major-party-status

Libertarians make ballot in Iowa

Libertarian Party Gains Ballot Access In Iowa | Libertarian Party of Iowa - Mike Conner jr:

August 28, 2020 - "YOU did it! The Libertarian Party of Iowa received confirmation from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office this morning that there were no objections to the filings submitted for Libertarian Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen. This means that Iowa will once again have a choice on the ballot this November that represents liberty, freedom, and principles!

"This was not an easy accomplishment, but we did it and it is all thanks to you! Hundreds of volunteers from across the state came out in force to promote libertarian principles and gather more than 2300 signatures from over two-thirds of Iowa’s counties. This was truly a grassroots effort unlike anything I have seen in our state.

"Thank you to the Jorgensen campaign and the national Libertarian Party for their support in our battle for ballot access. Thank you to LPIA Co-Chair Ed Wright, LPIA Treasurer Amy Wixted, and former LPIA Secretary Jules Ofenbakh for their help in reviewing and organizing the signatures and paperwork to be filed. Thank you to Bryan Jack Holder and Logan Spangler for attending and documenting the official filing of signatures with the Secretary of State.

"Most importantly, thank you to everyone who contributed to the effort, either through donating to the LPIA, gathered signatures, or even simply signed a petition to get Jo and Spike on the ballot. This would not have happened without all your support!

"Now, let’s get ready to vote for real change and real principles in Iowa this fall!"

Read more: https://lpia.org/2020/08/28/libertarian-party-gains-ballot-access-in-iowa/

Iowa registered Libertarians up 84% since 2016

February 17, 2020 - "In 2016, Libertarian Gary Johnson earned nearly 4.5 million votes nationally in the presidential election, and since then, the party whose ticket he led has seen tremendous growth in Iowa....

"Myra Matejka, co-chair of the Libertarian Party of Iowa ... said part of the party’s rise has come from people who aren’t satisfied by either of the two main parties and want to install a more hands-off government. 'There’s other ways that we can solve problems for people without necessarily getting the government involved,' Matejka said.

"The party held its first-ever presidential caucus last weekend, which was attended by nearly 300 participants across 23 different sites around the state, according to party officials. 'Because we know what it takes to be a major party, we’re going to try to mirror the other major parties in a similar way just so that it’s comfortable for Iowans to get into the Libertarian Party,' Matejka said.

"Libertarians claim to be the 'fastest-growing party in Iowa,' and numbers from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office back that up. According to state registration records, the number of registered Libertarians has increased at least 84% over the last four years, a much greater increase than the percentage of new Republicans (3.0%) and new Democrats (4.9%), as well as the overall growth of all active registered voters (3.6%). However, the overall number of registered Libertarians in the state right now, around 14,000, is still well behind both of those parties....

“Megan Goldberg, assistant professor of American politics at Cornell College ... said the country’s political system keeps the Democratic and Republican parties strong, especially when it comes to the Electoral College. 'Even if you had something like 10 or 15% of the popular vote, you could still end up with zero electoral votes'.... She said they might find more success running candidates with their values within one of the two main parties....

"Matejka said some Libertarians do see running as Democrats or Republicans as a more viable option to being elected, but for the party to grow, she’d rather see Libertarians run as Libertarians. 'We need all of the strong voices that we can within our own umbrella, and it’s a big umbrella. We can fit lots and lots of people under it,' Matejka said.

"The Libertarian Party of Iowa said one of its main goals right now is to regain major party status by earning at least 2% of the general election vote in a statewide election. The party did this in the 2016 presidential election but then lost major party status after the 2018 gubernatorial election. Matejka ... believes they can regain this status in this year’s presidential election."

Hornberger wins LP Iowa caucuses

Libertarian Party of Iowa Presidential Caucus Winner and Results - Libertarian Party of Iowa - Joseph Howe::

February 8, 2020 - "The Libertarian Party of Iowa is pleased to announce the results of our first ever Libertarian Presidential Preference Poll. Libertarians gathered across the state at county level caucuses and conventions to elect officers, build county committees and select delegates to the 2020 LPIA State Convention. Additionally, The LPIA conducted a Virtual Caucus, ensuring the greatest possible participation and inclusion for Libertarians across the state.

"The LPIA, in the tradition of the Iowa Caucuses, held a Presidential Straw Poll to signal registered Libertarians preference for our Presidential nomination. We are pleased to announce the winner: Future of Freedom Foundation founder Jacob Hornberger, who took a commanding 47.52% of the vote. Rounding out the top five are former Rhode Island Governor and U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee, 1996 Libertarian Vice Presidential Nominee Jo Jorgensen, Veterans Against the Iraq War founder Adam Kokesh and software engineer and entrepreneur Daniel Behrman....

"About Jacob Hornberger, from his website:... 'Jacob is founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation a non-profit educational foundation whose mission is to present the principled case for the libertarian philosophy (and which, as a non-profit foundation, does not endorse his candidacy or any other candidacy). On November 2, 2019, Jacob announced his candidacy for the 2020 Libertarian Party nomination at the South Carolina state convention.'

"Iowa state delegates will select our national delegation at the 2020 LPIA State Convention and Presidential Forum at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, on February 29th. These delegates, while not bound to these results, will give thoughtful consideration of these results. The candidates in attendance of the Presidential Forum will discuss the issues that Iowa Libertarians hold dear. Jacob Hornberger, Iowa Caucus winner, will be a participant along with nine other candidates, click for information on Forum and Convention."

Candidate - Total - Percent

Jacob Hornberger - 134 - 47.52%
Lincoln Chafee - 36 - 12.77%
Jo Jorgensen - 18 - 6.38%
Adam Kokesh - 17 - 6.03%
Daniel Behrman - 14 - 4.96%
John McAfee - 10 - 3.55%
Vermin Supreme - 9 - 3.19%
Other (Write In) - 8 - 2.84%
None of the Above - 8 - 2.84%

Read more:

https://lpia.org/2020/02/08/libertarian-party-of-iowa-presidential-caucus-winner-and-results/
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Libertarian Party organizes Iowa caucuses

Libertarian Party of Iowa to hold Caucuses in Marion and Warren Counties | KNIA KRLS Radio - Nathan Sage;

Jamuary 31, 2020 -  "In just over a week the Libertarian Party of Iowa will host caucuses in Marion and Warren counties as well as twenty other counties throughout Iowa and a virtual caucus for those in rural counties or unable to attend in-person.

"Marion County residents are invited to attend the Libertarian Caucus and Convention at the Knoxville Public Library ... on Saturday, February 8th at 1 p.m. The Warren County Libertarian Caucus will also be held at 1 p.m. on February 8th ... in Indianola.

"Only Iowans who are listed as Libertarians on their voter registration can participate, and all are invited to participate and help build the party. Virtual caucus goers will have to register Libertarian by tomorrow [February 1) to be able to participate. Attendees at county sites will also be able to register on site if they are not present on voter rolls as a registered Libertarian.

"Mike Conner Jr. with the Marion County Libertarian Party tells KNIA/KRLS News the caucus is a great opportunity for people to learn more about the party. He says in addition to the caucus the party will be organizing the first officially recognized county party membership and vote for county officers to include Chair, co-chair, treasurer and secretary.

"A Virtual Caucus Link will be available from February 6th at 12:01 a.m. until February 8th at 5:00 p.m. for those unable to attend or residing in a county without a site."

Read more: https://www.kniakrls.com/2020/01/31/libertarian-party-of-iowa-to-hold-caucuses-in-marion-and-warren-counties/
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Iowa Libertarians to livestream presidential forum

Libertarian Party of Iowa to host presidential candidate forum - KCRG TV9:

December 27, 2019 - "In February the Libertarian Party of Iowa will host its first ever presidential candidate forum during their annual state convention ... slated for February 28th at the Grand View University Student Center in Des Moines.

"The candidate forum will include Kimberly Ruff, a political activist; Jacob Hornberger, the founder of Future of Freedom Foundation; Rep. Max Abramson for the state of New Hampshire; Daniel Behrman, a podcast host and entrepreneur; Ken Armstrong, a former NATO Base Commander; and Jo Jorgenson, [the] 1996 Libertarian Vice Presidential Nominee.

"The forum will be live-streamed by the Libertarian Party.

"The convention will also include party business, electing their 2020 State Central Committee, and keynote speakers. They include former Governor of Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee, Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn and Libertarian National Committee Representative Joshua Smith.

Read more: https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Libertarian-Party-of-Iowa-to-host-presidential-candidate-forum-566514171.html

Iowa Libertarians challenge early filing deadline

Iowa Libertarians sue for equal access to state ballot | Cedar Rapids Gazette:

August 5, 2019 — "Iowa Libertarians are challenging an Iowa law they claim puts them at a disadvantage because their candidates must file months earlier than Democrats and Republicans seeking office. The lawsuit filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Des Moines claims state law violates Libertarians’ rights of association and voting under the First Amendment, and denies them the equal protections guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.

"The lawsuit names 'Paul D. Tate' as the plaintiff, an apparent reference to Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate, the state commissioner of elections. Pate’s office had no comment regarding the suit other than to say the law change did not originate in the Secretary’s office.

"The Iowa Libertarian Party and Jake Porter of Council Bluffs, who plans to run for the U.S. Senate, also ask for an injunction barring enforcement of the law and for the state to pay their attorney fees.

"The law stems from a change the GOP-controlled Legislature made earlier this year to require candidates nominated by a non-party political organization — often referred to as an NPPO — must file with the state in mid-March of an election year while political party candidates don’t have to file until August.

"Under Iowa law, NPPOs are organizations that sponsor candidates, but their candidates did not receive at least 2 percent of the votes cast for president or governor in the previous election. Iowa Libertarians have been recognized as a political party in the past, but their current status is as an NPPO.

“'A filing deadline in mid-March imposes heavy burdens on NPPOs,' according to the lawsuit.... There is no legitimate state interest in the earlier filing deadline, Libertarians argue, or in treating NPPOs differently from political parties."

Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa-libertarian-party-lawsuit-nppo-20190805
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Iowa Libertarians lost major party status in 2018

Libertarians to refocus after losing major party status in Iowa - Barbara Rodriguez, Des Moines Register:

November 21, 2018 - "A lackluster performance in Iowa's midterms has cost Libertarians the major party status they earned for the first time after the 2016 general election.... Jake Porter, the Libertarian candidate for governor, received 1.6 percent of the vote ...  — less than the 2 percent that Iowa law requires to retain major party status....

"The setback comes despite a period of growth for Iowa Libertarians. They have new party registrations, more candidates on the ballot and more people voting for those candidates.

"The 2 percent threshold, required in either a governor's race or a presidential race, allowed Libertarians to participate in this year’s state primary.... Instead, heading into the 2020 presidential election, Libertarians once again will be categorized in Iowa as a non-party political organization, and candidates will need to circulate nominating petitions to qualify to appear on the ballot. Party leaders predict they'll bounce back and regain their status in two years....

"A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll in September showed 7 percent of Iowans said they supported Porter. Another Iowa Poll days before the election showed Porter's support had dropped to 2 percent.

"That's despite a surge in registered Libertarians — from about 9,000 in early 2017 to more than 13,000 as of November. Porter ultimately received 21,426 votes out of more than 1.3 million cast in the governor's race....

"There were 27 Libertarian candidates running for congressional, statewide and legislative races in Iowa this year [which] surpasses the 2016 record of 24. But some of those candidates posted little, if any, information about themselves, and some had no website or social media presence. More importantly, ... campaign filing data show the four Libertarian congressional candidates raised no money....

"Nationally, Election Day produced mixed results for the Libertarian Party. Libertarians running for governor in Oklahoma and New York cleared the voting thresholds needed to maintain ballot access. In the governor’s race in New Hampshire, the Libertarian candidate failed to secure enough votes. Libertarians in Ohio are considering legal action over any attempt by that state to take away their newly acquired party status."

Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/21/iowa-libertarians-lose-major-party-status-candidate-registration-election-jake-porter-governor-race/2053696002/

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Debate exclusion jeopardizes Iowa LP's status

Without media attention, Libertarians might lose status as official political party – The Daily Iowan:

September 25, 2018 - "As three debates between Iowa’s gubernatorial candidates fell into place this month, members of the Libertarian Party fear their candidate’s absence could derail a quest to renew their recently acquired status as an official political party in Iowa.

""The first of three gubernatorial debates will occur on Oct. 10.... Libertarian candidate Jake Porter will not be included in this debate nor in the following two.... The second debate will be broadcast ... Oct. 17, and the third debate will take place on Oct. 21....

"Porter said his biggest concern was earning enough votes in November to remain a state political party, a status that he believes could become precarious if voters are not exposed to Libertarian candidates and their platforms.

"'That is a big media opportunity to be in the debates; it gives a lot of credibility,' Porter said. 'Obviously, if we’re shut out of that, we’re probably not going to get a lot of coverage from that debate, and [we’re] not going to be able to share our views with a lot of Iowans.'

"This is the first election cycle since the Libertarian Party gained ballot-eligible status in 2016, following Gary Johnson’s presidential campaign. Iowa law states that to be considered a political party, an organization must have had a gubernatorial or presidential candidate who received at least 2 percent of votes cast in the preceding general election. The last time a third party became viable as a major party was in 2000, when Green Party candidate Ralph Nader garnered 2.2 percent of the vote....

"The first debate will be cosponsored by KCCI, a Des Moines television station, and the Des Moines Register.... Porter said he was expecting treatment of this kind from his opponents rather than members of the press....

"Joseph Howe, the state chair of the Libertarian Party of Iowa, said Porter’s absence from the debates could make the Libertarians’ position as a ballot-eligible party more precarious by limiting total audience exposure to candidates. If turnout for Porter fails to meet the required 2 percent threshold, then Libertarians will be relegated back to minor- or non-party status, as the Iowa Green Party was after a lackluster performance in 2002....

"There is a peaceful protest being organized for debate night at KCCI by Porter and others to draw attention to what they perceive to be unfair and damaging practices on the part of the sponsors. Simultaneously, a volunteer viewing list is being circulated among supporters to collect advertising data on KCCI. Libertarians are also taking to various social-media platforms to express their distaste for the exclusion."

Read more: http://dailyiowan.com/2018/09/25/libertarians-feeling-left-out-in-media-cold/#photo
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Democrat, Libertarian in 2-man race for Iowa AG

Democrat and Libertarian matchup set for November | Cedar Rapids Gazette - Adam Sullivan, At Liberty:

June 19, 2018 - "Iowa politics will see a first this November — a statewide race between a Libertarian and a Democrat. With no Republican candidate, the race for Iowa Attorney General this November will be between incumbent Democrat Tom Miller and Libertarian challenger Marco Battaglia.

"Battaglia ran in the Libertarian gubernatorial primary this month, falling short with 38 percent in the party’s first official statewide primary since earning major party status in 2016. He was nominated by delegates at the Libertarian Party state convention two weeks ago, after fellow party activists urged him to run.

"'I’ve had problems with Tom Miller going back to when I was a young Democrat and it made me concerned when it didn’t appear anyone would challenge him. I thought we could bring the positivity and momentum we had in the governor race and offer some much needed perspective,' Battaglia told me.

"Miller was first elected as attorney general in 1978. Robert Ray was governor and Jimmy Carter was president. Last month, Miller reported more than $200,000 cash on hand.

"Miller won more than 55 percent of the votes in each of the last two cycles, and he was unopposed in 2006. Edward Noyes ran as a Libertarian for the office in 2002, winning 1.7 percent of the vote in a three-way race, and Natural Law Party candidate Nancy Watkins won 2.2 percent in 1998....

"In a statewide race with only two candidates, Battaglia is almost certain to become the Libertarian Party’s biggest vote-getter in Iowa history this November.

"Battaglia said he sees ample opportunity to raise important issues, and he hopes to have televised debates and widespread media coverage. He said the Iowans he met during his gubernatorial campaign this year are hungry for reforms Miller isn’t offering.

"'On civil and criminal justice reform, I think we have tripartisan agreement from the grassroots level, but we have an attorney general who has been problematic in dealing with rolling out medical cannabis, or on how we’re going to charge people if they break certain laws,' Battaglia said.

Libertarians, Republicans and even some Democrats have been frustrated at the extent to which Miller involves his office in national legal battles. 'There is a considerable number of attorneys around the state who don’t necessarily agree with Miller’s interpretations. Anything you could regulate, he’s put out an opinion on it. He gets involved in a lot more federal issues than most attorneys general around the country,' Battaglia said.

Read more: http://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/staff-columnist/democrat-and-libertarian-matchup-set-for-november-20180619
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Porter wins Iowa Libertarian primary for governor

Jake Porter wins Libertarian Iowa governor primary:

June 5, 2018 - "Jake Porter won the Libertarian nomination for governor Tuesday, defeating opponent Marco Battaglia.

"According to the Secretary of State's unofficial election results, Porter earned about 54 percent of the vote over Battaglia's 38 percent. About 7 percent of Libertarian primary voters opted for a write-in candidate....

"Porter is a business consultant from Council Bluffs and a former retail manager. He has associate's and bachelor's degrees in business from AIB College of Business. He said he’s been a member of the Libertarian Party since he was 16 years old and helped establish the party in Iowa"

Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/06/libertarians-iowa-governor-tuesday-gary-johnson/656231002/
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Des Moines paper endorses in Libertarian primary

The Register endorses Jake Porter in Libertarian primary for governor - Des Moine Register, editorial:

May 23, 2018 = "The Libertarian Party of Iowa gained major-party status under Iowa law two years ago by winning more than 2 percent of the vote in the 2016 presidential race. Being a major party ... means Iowa voters, when they vote early or head to the polls on June 5, can choose to vote in the Libertarian Party primary.

"There are also significant disadvantages, especially a struggle for exposure. That’s one reason why the Des Moines Register editorial board decided to make an endorsement in the Libertarian primary race.

"We conducted a joint interview with the two candidates:

• Marco Battaglia is a Des Moines native who studied communications at the University of Northern Iowa. He’s a musician who has worked as a journalist as well as in insurance, banking and home mortgage businesses.
• Jake Porter is a business consultant from Council Bluffs and a former retail manager. He has an associate degree and bachelor's degree in business from AIB College of Business.  He said he’s been a member of the Libertarian Party since he was 16 years old and helped establish the party in Iowa.

"We were pleased to hear the two candidates adopt many priorities that we support.... However, both candidates also take positions that we consider untenable. Battaglia says he wants to phase out the income tax.... Porter ... says he eventually would like to see the state sales tax phased out.... We can’t envision endorsing any candidate in the general election who wants to severely narrow the options for funding priorities like schools and health care.

"But we do think one of these candidates is a better spokesman for the Libertarian Party of Iowa and stands a better chance of helping maintain major-party status than the other. For that reason, the Register endorses Jake Porter....

"Battaglia should be commended for his interest in public service and the civility he’s shown on the campaign trail. But his rambling speaking style and occasional inability to articulate details of his priority proposals would put him at a severe disadvantage compared with major-party candidates.

"Porter’s experience and clearer articulation of his positions make him better able to make a case for his party in the fall. He is the better choice for Iowa Libertarians who hope to maintain their major-party status."

Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/05/23/register-endorses-jake-porter-libertarian-primary-iowa-governor/629840002/
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Libertarian Jake Porter running for Iowa governor

Libertarian Iowa gubernatorial candidate calls for 'real changes' | Cedar Rapids Gazette - James Q. Lynch:

July 19, 2017 - "The politics-as-usual approach to state government by Republicans and Democrats is unsustainable and hurting vulnerable Iowans, according to Jake Porter, a Libertarian who is joining the race for governor.

"'We’re having this huge budget crisis, and I don’t see other candidates proposing real changes,' Porter said Tuesday.

"Instead, Statehouse lawmakers and the governor are using the budget as a weapon, according to Porter, who will formally announce his candidacy on 'The Simon Conway Show' on WHO Radio between 4 and 7 p.m. Thursday.

“They’ve decided we’re having a budget crisis, so we’re going to cut the services people use most, whether it’s mental health services, sexual abuse hotlines, domestic abuse shelters (or) hearing aids for kids,” Porter said. 'They’re not actually going after any of the waste that could easily be cut. They’re going after the things that are going to hurt the most people, probably as an excuse to raise the sales tax next year.'

"Porter, 29, a Council Bluffs business consultant long active in the Libertarian Party, previously ran for secretary of state. He thinks his views and priorities are more closely aligned with voters than either the Democratic or Republican platform.

"He wants to make medical cannabis available, restore voting rights for felons who have served their time, end corporate welfare, return Medicaid to its pre-privatization status and phase out the state sales tax.

"He opposes corporate welfare on libertarian principles. It’s wrong, Porter said, to ask Iowans to pay millions of dollars to financially sound corporations. He singled out the Research Activities Credit that refunds tax money to corporations even if they have no tax liability.

"'They’ve put the tax bill on the smallest Iowans and smallest companies,' he said. 'I don’t think the state should favor one business over another....

"'I’ve watched the budget grow from $6.2 billion from the end of the Culver administration to $7.3 billion' under Gov. Terry Branstad, he said. 'So they can’t claim they’ve actually cut any government. They’ve grown it while giving large tax breaks to big financially sound corporations.'"

Read more: http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/libertarian-iowa-gubernatorial-candidate-calls-for-real-changes-20170718
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Libertarians officially gain party status in Iowa

Libertarian Party obtains official political party status in Iowa | Local News | dailyiowegian.com:

"March 5, 2017 -  "Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announces the Libertarian Party of Iowa has obtained official political party status in Iowa, effective March 1.

"The Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee, Gary Johnson, received 59,186 votes, which was 3.8 percent of the vote in the November 2016 general election, surpassing the two percent threshold required by Iowa Code to obtain official political party status....

"Political party status gives the Libertarian Party the ability to participate in primary elections in 2018. The Libertarian Party will be included as an option for Iowans on voter registration forms as well.

"The party's candidates for president and governor must keep receiving at least two percent of the total votes cast in each general election to remain an officially recognized political party. If a party's nominee does not receive two percent of the total votes cast, the party's status is cancelled.

"The last instance when a non-party political organization was successful at gaining political party status in Iowa was in the year 2000. Iowa Green Party nominee Ralph Nader received 29,374 votes, or 2.2 percent of the total votes cast for president."

Read more: http://www.dailyiowegian.com/news/local_news/libertarian-party-obtains-official-political-party-status-in-iowa/article_1ccb8162-01f9-11e7-b705-7fddb62cf2ee.html

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Libertarians won 'major party' status in Iowa

State Board certifies Iowa election results | Muscatine | muscatinejournal.com - Rod Boshart:

December 5, 2016 - "It’s official. Republican Donald Trump outpolled Democrat Hillary Clinton by 147,314 votes in Iowa’s general-election balloting to claim the state’s six presidential electoral votes.

"Four members of the Iowa Executive Council – acting as the state’s Board of Canvass – unanimously certified the Nov. 8 election results on Monday closing the books on a near-record turnout year that drew 1,581,371 absentee and Election-day participants.

"'Iowans take elections seriously,” said Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a council member who also serves as the state’s election commissioner. 'They turned out, they voted and we had a good clean, open and honest election and we saw some real participation.'

"Iowa’s official election outcome saw Trump put Iowa in the Republican column by polling 800,983 votes to Clinton’s 653,669 votes – with 934,219 ballots cast on Election Day and 647,152 absentee, which was down a couple percentage points from absentee votes cast in 2012, Pate said. Overall, more than 72 percent of eligible Iowans cast ballots – a level about 9,000 higher than four years ago but not higher than the 2008 record turnout, he added....

"Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson finished third behind Trump and Clinton in Iowa’s presidential balloting with 59,186 votes, while Evan McMullin drew 12,366 by petition, Green Party candidate Jill Stein garnered 11,479 and 17,746 votes went to write-in candidates.

"Johnson’s total was significant because the 3.8 percent support surpassed the 2 percent threshold needed to qualify the Libertarian Party to be granted the same major-party status as the Republican and Democratic parties – meaning future Libertarian candidates automatically will be on Iowa’s primary-election ballot and have access to checkoff money as one of the eligible parties listed on the state income tax return, Pate said."

Read more: http://muscatinejournal.com/news/local/muscatine/state-board-certifies-iowa-election-results/article_670a5da2-e47e-5200-b49f-244bc8408e77.html

Iowa LP Senate candidate killed in plane crash

Libertarian Senate candidate in Iowa dies in plane crash - The Washington Post - Sean Sullivan, Post Politics:

October 14, 2014 - "Doug Butzier, the Libertarian Party nominee for U.S. Senate in Iowa, was killed in a plane crash, authorities said Tuesday. He was 59.

"Key West Fire Chief Brian Arnold confirmed the crash and Butzier's death in a brief interview. He said Butzier was piloting an airplane late Monday night when it crashed roughly a mile from the Dubuque airport, which Butzier was approaching. No one else was in the plane.

"The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating a crash in the Dubuque area that caused no ground injuries.

"'The flight originated from Ankeny Regional Airport, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said.

"A single-engine Piper PA-46 crashed at about 11 p.m. Central Time on Monday while on approach to Dubuque Regional Airport in Dubuque, Iowa," said FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford in a statement. "The aircraft went down about a mile north of the runway."

"Butzier, an emergency room doctor, was a long-shot against state Sen. Joni Ernst (R) and Rep. Bruce Braley (D)."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/10/14/libertarian-senate-candidate-in-iowa-dies-in-plane-crash/
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Iowa Libertarian running in 8th election

Libertarian to again challenge Wessel-Kroeschell | Ames Tribune - Gavin Aronsen:

August 14, 2014 - "For the eighth consecutive time since 2000, Ames resident Eric Cooper is running for state office as a member of the Libertarian Party.

"An Iowa State University associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, Cooper qualified this week for ballot access to run against state Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, in State Representative District 45. The news prompted Iowa City blogger John Deeth, in a post titled “Persistence Breeds Failure,” to declare him the losingest candidate who will appear on Iowa ballots in November....

"But for Cooper, winning has never been the goal. The closest he came was in 2008, when he received 21 percent of the vote in a two-way race against state Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, before the state was redistricted after the 2010 Census.

"'If the Libertarians could get 10 percent (of the vote) on a regular basis, that essentially forces the two major parties to start trying to adopt some of our issues to try to poach our voters, because 10 percent is enough to decide almost every election between a Republican and a Democrat,' Cooper said....

"Cooper sees his role more as to set an example to encourage other Libertarians to run for office.

"'It’s hard to get people to run, so I want to be an example and show them, look, it’s not that hard,' he said. 'The requirements in Iowa are actually quite low to get on the ballot. We’re quite lucky for that'....

"Libertarian Party candidates in Iowa have qualified for ballot access in eleven state and national races, including Wessel-Kroeschell’s District 45, according to a candidate listing released Friday evening by the Iowa Secretary of State’s office shortly after the filing deadline.

Read more: http://amestrib.com/news/libertarian-again-challenge-wessel-kroeschell
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