LPNH state conflict takes down LP national Chair

The unraveling of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire - New Hampshire Bulletin - Annmarie Timmins:

June 22, 2021 - "The war within the state’s Libertarian Party ... played out on Twitter, Facebook, and even on a nationally known podcast. It spurred allegations of data theft and prompted the party chair to secretly register a dueling Libertarian Party with the Secretary of State’s Office. It also led to the resignation Friday of Joe Bishop-Henchman, chair of the Libertarian National Committee. The national party’s regional representative for New Hampshire has also stepped down.... 

"The unraveling of the party is so complicated, several party members responded similarly when asked to explain it: 'How much time have you got?'.... This is an abridged version.

"The pandemic lockdowns ordered by Gov. Chris Sununu last year led a number of Republicans to file liberty-minded legislation seeking to restrain the governor’s emergency powers.... To some New Hampshire Libertarians, the state party did too little to oppose restrictions and champion that liberty-focused legislation. The lockdowns revealed a similar dispute over messaging that has been dividing Libertarians nationally for a few years, said Ben Richards, party member and state organizer of a subgroup within the party called the Mises Caucus.... 

"'The Libertarian Party, according to many people, has been very weak and tepid for many, many years,' Richards said. 'We want to bring the Ron Paul revolution ... to the party.' Richards said that kind of enthusiasm from the Mises Caucus has grown party membership in New Hampshire.... 'They barely had 100 members in the entire party at the state convention in March,' Richards said. 'We’ve brought in close to 30 in just the last few months, and it’s growing'.... Membership is now at about 160 people.

"During the state’s March convention, three members from each viewpoint were elected to the executive committee. Both sides have since accused the other of failing to work together. The committee had become so factionalized by June that Jarvis registered what she considered to be the new official Libertarian party with the state. She wrote new bylaws and membership rules [including a new membership oath - gd]

"Jarvis did not return a request for an interview. During questioning by national party leadership in mid-June, Jarvis said toxic messaging and efforts by other committee members to take complete control of the party led her to quietly register a new Libertarian Party. She said she believed she had the go-ahead from Bishop-Henchman because he had written her a letter recognizing her as the head of the official state party. She also acknowledged removing party property from its Manchester storage shed, and locking the rest of the state party’s executive committee out of its website and social media accounts.

"Nolan Pelletier, then the vice chair of the committee, ... filed a police report for the items missing from the storage shed, and Richards started an online fundraiser to pay for what they expected would be a drawn-out fight to reclaim their property and online access. Jarvis has since returned the items and access to the online accounts, Pelletier said. Richards said he has refunded the donations to the defense fund.

"What had been a state-level squabble led to national implications late last week when the national party leadership had to decide which of the two Libertarian parties to recognize as its affiliate. The vote played out over two days on a publicly available email thread that at times became petty.... The vote to 'disaffiliate' the long-standing state party did not go as Jarvis had hoped. She has not submitted a resignation letter, Pelletier said, but she had said she’d resign if she lost. 

"Pelletier is now acting [state] chair. He’s turned his attention to PorcFest and the party’s goal of registering loads of new members and thinks this flap may be a draw."

Read more: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2021/06/22/the-unraveling-of-the-libertarian-party-of-new-hampshire/ 

Libertarians on ballot in NH and Texas

It’s official: Libertarian Party candidates to be on general election ballot | WMUR 9 - John DiStaso: 

September 3, 2020 - " The Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday certified that nine Libertarian Party of New Hampshire candidates will appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 3. It was the final step in the LPNH effort that began in the spring to relax the thresholds for nomination papers needing to be collected, due to the restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, to have the candidates appear on the ballot.

"The party last week said it collected enough nomination papers in each congressional district to meet lower thresholds ordered into place by a federal judge. 'This closes this cycle’s ballot access saga,' said LPNH vice chair Richard Manzo.

"Appearing on the ballot will be candidates for president Jo Jorgensen; for U.S. Senate, Justin O’Donnell; for 1st Congressional District, Zachary Dumont; for 2nd Congressional District, Andrew Olding; for governor, Darryl W. Perry; for Hillsborough County Attorney, Nicholas Sarwark; for Hillsborough County Treasurer, Richard Manzo; for Hillsborough District 14 state representative, Robert Daniel; and for Sullivan County District 9 state representative, Tobin Menard."

Read more: https://www.wmur.com/article/this-day-in-history-sept-11-terrorist-attacks-shock-america/28990240

Texas Supreme Court rejects Republicans' attempt to remove 44 Libertarians from the November ballot | Texas Tribune - Sami Sparber:

September 5, 2020 - "The Texas Supreme Court on Saturday rejected an attempt by Republicans to kick 44 Libertarians off the ballot in the November elections. Several Republican Party candidates and organizations had sued to remove the Libertarians, arguing they did not pay filing fees — a new requirement for third parties under a law passed by the Legislature last year. But the Supreme Court dismissed the suit, finding that the Republicans missed the Aug. 21 deadline to successfully boot people from the ballot....

"Groups affiliated with both major parties have gone to court in recent weeks to remove from the ballot non-major-party candidates perceived to be a threat. In general, Libertarians are believed to peel votes away from Republicans, while the Green Party is thought to siphon votes from Democrats.

"In multiple cases citing the same lack of a filing fee paid, state and national Democrats were successful in removing some Green Party candidates. The Supreme Court suggested that at least some Libertarians may have made the same mistake, but said the GOP was too late in bringing its legal challenge forward."

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/05/Republicans-libertarians-ballot-remove/

NH Libertarian ballot access sigs certified

Libertarian Party says it has enough certified petitions for its candidates to appear on Nov. ballot | WMUR 8 - Jon DiStaso:

Aug 27, 2020 "The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire says it has cleared an important hurdle in its effort to have its candidates appear on the general election ballot Nov. 3. Wednesday was the deadline under state law for local supervisors of the checklists across the state to tell the LPNH and independent candidates if the nomination papers they submitted in early August were valid and were certified.

"LPNH vice chair and spokesperson Richard Manzo said Thursday afternoon that the various checklist supervisors certified 1,058 petitions in each congressional district. The fact that the number was the same in each congressional district was a coincidence, Manzo said. The number in each district surpasses a reduced threshold of 975 petitions in each district set by a federal judge in July. That number applies to statewide candidates for president, governor and U.S. Senate – and for U.S. House candidates in each district. The requirements for down ballot candidates are fewer.

"The judge made the ruling reducing the requirement after hearing arguments in a lawsuit filed by the LPNH against Gov. Chris Sununu asking for relaxed ballot requirements. The LPNH cited the difficulty it was having collecting, in person, the required number of nomination papers due to the 'Stay at Home' and 'Safe at Home' orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, Libertarian candidates would have been required to obtain 1,500 signed nomination papers in each of the state’s two congressional districts.... 

"The next step is for Secretary of State’s Office to verify the findings of the supervisors no later than Wednesday, Sept. 2. Manzo said party officials and candidates will deliver the certified petitions to the Secretary of State’s Office at 9 a.m. that day. Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan said his office will then do its own count of the petitions certified by the supervisors and verify that they meet the threshold....

"Manzo told WMUR in early August that the party submitted 2,400 petitions in the 1st Congressional District and 1,600 in the 2nd District.... Manzo had said the party expected a 75 percent validity rate, far higher than the 44 percent rate apparently achieved in the 1st District and the 66 percent rate achieved in the 2nd District....

"Manzo said attending the Wednesday event to deliver the nomination papers to the Secretary of State will be eight Libertarian candidates: Justin O’Donnell, U.S. Senate; Darryl W. Perry, governor; Zachary Dumont, U.S. House 1st Congressional District; Andrew J. Olding, U.S. House 2nd Congressional District; Manzo, Hillsborough County Treasurer; Nicolas Sarwark [sic], Hillsborough County Attorney; Robert Daniel, state representative in Hillsborough County District 11; and Tobin Menard, state representative for Sullivan County District 9. If the statewide threshold is met, the Libertarian president candidate, Jo Jorgensen, will also appear on the ballot."

Read more: https://www.wmur.com/article/libertarian-party-says-it-has-enough-certified-petitions-for-its-candidates-to-appear-on-nov-ballot/33826199

Federal judge lowers NH ballot access bar

Judge's Ruling Makes It Easier For Libertarians To Get On N.H. Ballot | NHPR - Josh Rogers:

July 30, 2020 - "A federal judge has lowered the threshold for Libertarian party candidates to get on the November ballot in New Hampshire. Libertarians sued the governor and secretary of state on the grounds that the ballot access requirements were too burdensome during a time of coronavirus restrictions.

"Libertarians can get on the ballot with 35 percent fewer signatures under the ruling issued by federal judge Joseph Laplante.... Libertarians had sought automatic ballot access, but this ruling increased the likelihood they can gather the needed signatures for candidate petitions by August 5.

"Under the ruling, which followed hearings last week, candidates running for president, governor, and U.S Senator will need to submit signatures of 1,950 registered voters, instead of 3,000. For candidates for Congress, the needed number of signatures will be 975 signatures, rather than 1,500. Candidates seeking seats in Concord, or for county offices will need 97 signatures, instead of 150."

Read more: https://www.nhpr.org/post/judges-ruling-makes-it-easier-libertarians-get-nh-ballot#stream/0

New Hampshire Libertarians sue for ballot access

NH Libertarians sue over ballot access rules amid pandemic | Keene Sentinel - N.H. Public Radio:

June 10, 2020 - "The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire is suing the governor and the state’s top election official for not adjusting ballot access requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Under existing election laws, Libertarian candidates running for president, governor or U.S. senator in New Hampshire need to collect signatures from 3,000 registered voters to get on the ballot for the 2020 elections. In a complaint filed in federal court Monday, the Libertarian Party argues this threshold is unreasonable, as signatures are typically collected door-to-door, and it is less safe to do that now, due to the ongoing pandemic.

"Instead, the party is asking the state to lower the signature requirement or suspend it altogether for the upcoming elections. Similar lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Libertarians in other states, including Georgia, Illinois and Pennsylvania."
Read more: https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/nh-libertarians-sue-over-ballot-access-rules-amid-pandemic/article_f441d432-e2f4-50d7-a729-ba83053656ce.html

NH Primary Source: Libertarian presidential candidate Jorgensen urges end of police ‘militarization’ | WMUR - John DiStasio:
June 4. 2020 - "Libertarian Party nominee Dr. Jo Jorgensen ... was in the state Wednesday to file her declaration of intent to appear on the New Hampshire ballot. Jorgensen turned down a telephone interview, but did answer our question on the issues of the day in writing....

"Dr. Jorgensen: 'Governor Sununu’s refusal to work with the party places an undue risk on thousands of voters who know they deserve a real choice on their ballots in November. The state clearly agrees that collecting petitions is dangerous, as it recommends against everything involved with gathering petitions. From large gatherings, to close personal contact with strangers, signing a petition creates a risk to public safety.

"'Refusing to grant relief puts health and pursuit at odds with an open democracy. With stay-at-home orders in effect, the governor is violating the right to free speech, constitutionally-guaranteed equal rights to be elected to office, and effectively outlaws the gathering of petitions as required by law.'"

Read more: https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-primary-source-libertarian-presidential-candidate-jorgensen-urges-end-of-police-militarization/32761826

Libertarian parties ask for petitioning relief

Third parties call for ballot access relief | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Kyle Mullins:
April 7, 2020 - "Much of politics is based on personal interactions, but in the midst of a global pandemic, such interactions can be potentially deadly. The COVID-19 outbreak has left third parties in Pennsylvania out in the cold, concerned that they may not be able to get on the ballot for key races in November due to an inability to collect signatures.
"'People aren’t willing to take a pen, or a piece of paper' from a petitioner, national Libertarian Party executive director Daniel Fishman said. Additionally, Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home orders — extended to all 67 of Pennsylvania’s counties on Wednesday — have blocked petitioners from attending now-canceled public events or going door-to-door. In response, both the national Libertarian party and the Green Party of Pennsylvania have called on Mr. Wolf and the state Legislature to waive the petitioning requirements.....
"Republicans and Democrats congressional candidates must submit 1,000 signatures to run for Congress, whereas third-party candidates must submit ... from 1,800 in District 12 to 5,753 in District 3. To run for attorney general, third parties must submit 2,500 signatures, including 250 from at least five counties.... This year, the major parties’ timeline [for petitioning] fell before many of the restrictions from the COVID-19 outbreak. The timeline for the third parties did not."
Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2020/04/06/third-party-ballot-access-relief-COVID-19-election-PA-green-libertarian-parties/stories/202004060100

Libertarian Party looks for NH to waive ballot requirements due to COVID-19 | Keene Sentinel - Mia Summerson:
April 7, 2020 - "The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has asked the state to waive the required number of signatures to put its candidates on the ballot this fall, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The N.H. Libertarians have determined it would be a risk to public health if their members go out into the community to circulate petitions, the party said in a news release....
"[M]embers had been out collecting signatures since early January but have halted those efforts to protect 'voters, activists and those who will eventually handle these petitions....'
"The release says that, in the past, the party has regularly been able to secure the 3,000 signatures required for unrecognized parties to gain ballot access for gubernatorial or U.S. Senate candidates, the only statewide races that could get the party listed on the ballot....
"Since March 27, New Hampshire has been under a stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Chris Sununu. The order asks that people stay inside their residences as much as possible to help slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19."
Read more: https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/libertarian-party-looks-for-nh-to-waive-ballot-requirements-due-to-covid-19/article_bc5d75ed-88fc-51dc-8bfa-2ae11cab5b30.html

Libertarian Party of Wisconsin asks governor, legislative leaders to lift petition requirement to get on 2020 ballots | Channel3000 - Amy Reid:
April 10, 2020 - "The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin sent a letter to government leaders on Thursday asking for the petition requirement for getting on the ballot this fall to be lifted. Matthew Bughman, the chair for the state party, sent the letter to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and the state elections commission....
"Given the state’s Safer at Home Order and the current public health emergency, Bughman said it is widely believed that petition drives around the state will not be able to safely continue and asked for the petition requirement for all offices be deceased or that parties that had ballot access in 2018 be granted automatic ballot access in 2020."
Read more: https://www.channel3000.com/libertarian-party-of-wisconsin-asks-governor-legislative-leaders-to-lift-petition-requirement-to-get-on-2020-ballots/

Strange doings in New Hampshire

Political Animal readers may have seen my facebook post of last night on the January 11 Libertarian Party of New Hampshire (LPNH) Presidential Preference Primary results:

The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire recently held a "ranked choice" preference vote for 2020 presidential nominee; but the results show only that they don't know how to count a "ranked choice" ballot. "According to the party’s announcement, 44 votes were cast.... Of those, 26 voted for Vermin Supreme. The next highest was 22 voting for Kim Ruff. Jo Jorgensen got 17 votes, Dan “Taxation is Theft” Behrman got 13. Jacob Hornberger got 9, NOTA got 13 (which stands for None of the Above), Sam Robb got 8 votes, Arvin Vohra got 6, Mark Whitney got 6, Lincoln Chafee got 4, and then 16 got under 10 percent of the votes and weren’t listed." That makes 144 [should have been 140] votes, or 100 more than were cast. It looks like the scrutineers simply counted every ranking filled out for a candidate - first choice, second choice, last choice, whatever - as one vote.

I received a number of comments, including one on the LPNH facebook page explaining how the votes were counted. I did the required reading, and wrote my results up as an article.

However, I submitted the article to online magazine Nolan Chart, in the hope that it would get more exposure; and therefore I cannot print it here as well. I urge all my readers to go to the Nolan Chart site and give it a read.

Strange Doings in New Hampshire
https://www.nolanchart.com/strange-doings-in-new-hampshire

Here is a look at Vermin Supreme, the primary winner:

Darryl Perry declares for NH governor

Keene Libertarian announces run for governor - Jake Lahut, Keene Sentinel:

December 5, 2019 - "Darryl W. Perry, a Keene resident and former chairman of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire, announced his plans to run for governor Wednesday.

"Perry, who was a Libertarian presidential candidate in 2016, said in a news release that he plans to run on a platform of lower taxes, voting rights and reforming ballot access and the criminal justice system. He also announced that he has signed the 'Taxpayer Pledge' in opposition to implementing any kind of sales or income tax in the Granite State.

"In a statement, Perry said he wants to pursue fundamental changes to the state’s criminal justice system. 'I’m not simply going to talk about reforming sentencing guidelines; I want to end drug prohibition in New Hampshire,' Perry said. 'That’s going to include not just retail cannabis sales, but Portugal-style depenalization of all other substances for personal use; working with the Executive Council to pardon all nonviolent drug offenders; and working with the Legislature to allow those with previous drug convictions to work in the retail cannabis industry, something no other state with recreational cannabis allows'....

"Because the Libertarian candidate won less than 4 percent of the vote in the 2018 governor’s race, the party’s 2020 nominee doesn’t automatically get a spot on the ballot. But the party can get on the ballot by gathering the signatures of 3,000 registered voters."

Read more; https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/keene-libertarian-announces-run-for-governor/article_0805e276-9ca1-5dd2-9ed8-58aba538917b.html

Libertarian state reps defeated in NH, Nebraska

Libertarian State Sen. Laura Ebke of Nebraska Loses Re-Election Bid - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Brian Doherty:

November 7, 2018 - "Nebraska state Sen. Laura Ebke won office in 2014 as a Republican, but switched parties to Libertarian in 2016 because of her dislike for lockstep discipline in a party that she didn't think hewed to consistent small government principles. After coming in second in a three-way nonpartisan primary in May, with 33 percent for Ebke and 44 for Republican Tom Brandt, she lost to him tonight, 57-43.

Ebke was extraordinarily well-funded for a state legislative race in Nebraska. Due largely to big-money contributions from out-of-state libertarians, she raised nearly a quarter million, huge by Nebraska standards and more than twice Brandt's take....

"The Libertarian Party didn't put a lot of effort or time into Ebke's race, which seems fine with her. She wasn't stressing the party connection much in her campaigning or messaging; unless a voter directly asked her, she wasn't apt to bring it up.... Her campaign manager, Asa Bryant, agreed in an interview last month that trying to sell a voter on the entire L.P. package was less useful to them in a local campaign than just trying to sell the candidate. So he advised Ebke not to stress the party label and not to use the term libertarian in her promotional material."
Read more: https://reason.com/blog/2018/11/07/libertarian-state-sen-laura-ebke-of-nebr

Party-Switching N.H. State Rep. Brandon Phinney Gets Slaughtered as a Libertarian - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Matt Welch

November 6, 2018 - "Brandon Phinney was a model for one genre of elected Libertarian: The party-switcher. The New Hampshire state representative, elected to the 400-member body in 2016 as a Republican, switched to Libertarian in June 2017 after watching the machinery of allegedly small-government Republicanism up close.... He targeted archaic laws to be stricken from the books, helped effectively legalize visiting bands drinking beer on stage, and prepped for his first election wearing the 'L' right there on his sweater....

"He got trounced.... 'After two years of voting to protect personal freedom, control spending, provide transparency and after two years of proposing legislation to do the same (with two bills as a prime sponsor signed into law),' Phinney wrote on his Facebook page, 'my district rewarded me with 377 votes.... The Democratic candidate, who barely campaigned, received 1,548 votes. The Republican, who did NOTHING but put out yard signs, received 1,720 votes'....

"In another post, Phinney complained that 'voters care more about party than literally anything else and that's the biggest problem in this country.'" "
Read more: https://reason.com/blog/2018/11/06/party-switching-nh-state-rep-brandon-phi

'via Blog this'

U.S. third parties marginalized in midterms

How Third Parties Are Getting Screwed This Election Season - Reason.com Matt Walsh & Alexis Garcia:

October 26, 2018 - "The 2018 midterms have been chock full of two-party shenanigans, all too often aided and abetted by journalists, pollsters, and the voters themselves.

"It all starts with ballot access. If a state government considers you a 'major party,' getting on the ballot is a snap. Worst-case scenario, you need to collect signatures from a tiny fraction of your own registered voter base. Best case, you just show up.

"Third-party and independent candidates, on the other hand, have to collect tens of thousands of signatures in some states – 15,000 to run for governor in New York, for example, including at least 100 in each congressional district. Arizona Republicans ... changed the law to say that Libertarians need to collect signatures not just from their own members but from registered independents as well. And by the way, the Green Party is subject to a less stringent set of rules.... Some states push their filing deadlines all the way back to a year before the election....

"New Hampshire this year herded all third parties under the same ballot line, confusingly titled 'Libertarians and Other Candidates.' New Mexico tried — and thankfully failed — to institute a 'straight party' ballot, meaning voters in this 3:2 Democratic state could automatically vote for all the candidates in one party by checking off just one box....

"Getting your name on the ballot doesn't mean it will be included in the polls. The Nevada race for U.S. Senate is universally rated a tossup, and yet the first three independent polls released this October failed to include Libertarian Tim Hagan...

"How about debates? Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dale Kerns was assured of a spot on stage, then uninvited. Texas gubernatorial candidate Mark Tippets was told he didn't have enough qualifying press, in part because his coverage in the Spanish-language media didn't count.... Iowa governor candidate Jake Porter, who's polling higher than any other L.P. statehouse contender, says his debate invitations were rescinded, in part because he refused to buy commercials.

"'The freer and more general the competition,' Adam Smith wrote in 1776, the more 'advantageous' it will be to the public. Competitors, he warned, will 'always' try 'to widen the market and to narrow the competition.' For too long we have allowed our system of government, that other glorious achievement from 1776, to be controlled by the market-rigging forces Smith warned us about. It's about time to make American politics competitive again."

Read more: https://reason.com/reasontv/2018/10/26/how-third-parties-being-screwed-this-ele
'via Blog this'

Debate exclusion hits NH Libertarians too

NH Libertarian Party Candidates Excluded from WMUR’s Debates via Insurmountable Rules? | Free Keene - Ian Freeman [NH Senate district 10 Libertarian candidate]:

October 7, 2018 "Despite attaining major party ballot access in New Hampshire for the first time in twenty years, the Libertarian Party of NH has been unfairly excluded from the biggest debates – those hosted by WMUR-TV. How? According to the rules the ABC affiliate announced last month, in order to be invited to their debates, the candidate must be polling at over 12%.... There have been no polls that have included the libertarian candidates.... Oh yeah, and they want the candidate to have $25,000 in the bank....

"Thankfully, many of NH’s local media like newspapers and radio have been fair to the libertarian candidates, like the Keene Sentinel, whose editorial board recently interviewed [Libertarian candidate for governor] Jilletta Jarvis.

"According to Jarvis, if she’s invited to a debate, the other candidates will protest. She told me that North Country Community Radio recently invited all three gubernatorial candidates to debate. Incumbent republican Chris Sununu responded and declined the station’s invitation and democrat Molly Kelly ignored their invite entirely. Instead of the planned debate, the station gave a two hour interview to Jarvis and reminded their audience of the major candidates’ conspicuous absence.

"Though Jarvis was told personally by WMUR’s Political Director Adam Sexton that the Libertarian candidate for governor WOULD be invited to debate, News Director Alisha McDevitt later told Jarvis that Sexton was not authorized to make that promise on behalf of WMUR. Sexton by the way, HAS been fair to the Libertarians in his various coverage – kudos to him for that.

"If you’re upset by these blatantly biased rules, please reach out to the debate organizers at WMUR and the Union Leader and let them know how you feel.... Jarvis ... has set up a page from which you can send an email to ... Alisha McDevitt.....

"Jarvis’ campaign has raised more than any other LP candidate for governor since 1994, but she’s still $16,000 short of WMUR’s $25,000 campaign finance goal. [Americans] can donate to her campaign here."

Read more: https://freekeene.com/2018/10/07/nh-libertarian-party-candidates-excluded-from-wmurs-debates-via-insurmountable-rules/
'via Blog this'

NH Libertarian primary results still in question

Libertarian gubernatorial primary still up in the air; candidates allege voter suppression | Local News | sentinelsource.com - Sierra Hubbard, Keene Sentinel:

Sept. 13, 2018 - "More than 24 hours after the polls closed in New Hampshire’s primary election Tuesday, Libertarian voters still didn’t know who their nominee for governor is.

"While vote totals posted on the N.H. Secretary of State’s website this morning show Jilletta Jarvis of Sandown as the victor with 574 votes to Bedford resident Aaron Day’s 486, both candidates are alleging Libertarians were disenfranchised at multiple polling places in the state....

"The tallying of Libertarian votes for the governor’s race continued throughout the day Wednesday, with no winner declared, though Jarvis began inching ahead as more precincts reported. Around 4:30 p.m., Jarvis posted on her professional Facebook page that she’d spoken with Day and they planned to wait for an official call from the state....

"'We both received multiple reports of people being denied a Libertarian Ballot, of people having to argue for their right to vote libertarian, or poll workers questioning if they really wanted to vote libertarian,' Jarvis wrote.... Jarvis told The Sentinel this morning that she received 16 reports of difficulties obtaining Libertarian ballots, including one in Keene and another in Winchester....

"Jim Tetreault, Winchester’s town clerk, said he did not receive any reports of difficulties regarding Libertarian ballots.... But he also noted that the town’s understanding, heading into Tuesday’s primary election, was that voters who were declared as Republican or Democrat could only take the ballot for their party.

"Under an exemption in state law, registered Republicans and Democrats were allowed to take a Libertarian ballot in this election.... Tetreault said the town didn’t know that....

"Jarvis said she’s requested from the Secretary of State’s office all of the write-in votes for governor on Republican and Democratic ballots. Voters told her that, because they couldn’t obtain a Libertarian ballot, they wrote in their candidates on other party ballots.

"When asked Wednesday evening for comment on the primary, Day wrote in a Facebook message that 'the race is still being contested due to massive voter suppression across the state.' Echoing Jarvis’ Facebook post, Day wrote that people were denied Libertarian ballots in towns across New Hampshire.... 'There are a number of people who settled for pulling a Republican ballot and then writing me in,' he wrote. He added he’s consulting legal counsel and plans to 'evaluate our options' on how to proceed."

Read more: https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/libertarian-gubernatorial-primary-still-up-in-the-air-candidates-allege/article_dc03a3fd-b742-5e85-8cd4-f697ce475cf4.html
'via Blog this'

NH Libertarian state rep. resigns from legislature

Keene's lone Libertarian representative resigns from Legislature | Local News | sentinelsource.com - William Holt, Keene Sentinel:

August 15, 2018 - "State Rep. Joseph P. Stallcop, L-Keene, submitted his letter of resignation to the N.H. House Clerk’s Office Aug. 6, according to House Communications Director James E. Rivers.

"Stallcop, 22, represented Cheshire District 4, which covers Keene’s Ward 1.

"The Libertarian was elected to the House in 2016 as a Democrat during his junior year at Keene State College. He ran unopposed.

"In an interview Tuesday, Stallcop said he’d intended to stay for just one term, noting that those two years coincided with the remainder of his time at Keene State. After graduating in May, Stallcop said he moved to Dover because of better job opportunities in the Seacoast region.... He said he hadn’t been aware he needed to submit a letter of resignation until recently, believing that his term had come to a close with the end of the normal legislative session on May 23....

"In May 2017, Stallcop announced on the steps of the Statehouse in Concord that he had changed his political affiliation, saying he no longer felt welcome in the Democratic Party. The change did not affect his ability to serve out his term, which was set to end later this year.

"Stallcop did not file for re-election in June. Democrat David Morrill and Libertarian David Crawford are both running for the seat."

Read more: http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/keene-s-lone-libertarian-representative-resigns-from-legislature/article_a2b2dfce-69fd-5bf7-b3c7-91da107b1d9e.html 

'via Blog this'

Elected Libertarians making a difference

How Elected Libertarians Are Making the World More Free - Reason.com - Matt Welch:

July 14, 2018 - "What exactly do Libertarians do? Wait — don't answer that. As someone who edited a small-l libertarian magazine for eight years, I know all your jokes.... But at least 169 of these exotic creatures also hold elected office across the [U.S.].... And what these critics of government power are doing once they acquire it may provide a flicker of whimsical hope in these dark and fractious times.

"Brandon Phinney, a 30-year-old Army vet who found libertarianism through Ron Paul, was elected to the 400-member New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2016 as a Republican. He then switched parties after discovering to his horror that elected GOP officials did not mean what they said about cutting the state budget.... Phinney ... pores through the ever-expanding state code, looking for laws that are anachronistic, impossible to enforce, and/or just plain wrong. [Then] he tries to remove them.

"For instance, the Live Free or Die State had on its books for more than a century a prohibition against reusing glass milk-delivery bottles for any other substance besides milk.... New Hampshire is one of the few states in the union where performers are barred from drinking alcohol on stage. Or I should say were, until Phinney tackled the problem....

"Phinney faces his first reelection with an "L" next to his name this November, which will be an important early indication of whether the L.P. is able to protect, and thus lure more of, its recent converts from the two older parties.

"Another key party switcher facing electoral challenge this year is Nebraska state Sen. Laura Ebke. Ebke, who transferred from the GOP to the L.P. two years ago over issues of civil liberties, achieved something this spring that libertarians have been talking about forever: occupational licensing reform. Like Phinney's bills, Ebke's passed with overwhelming bipartisan — nay, tripartisan — support....

"Having Libertarians play the honest, respected brokers between Dems and Repubs may seem far-fetched... But that's just what Mayor Jeff Hewitt has done in Calimesa [California].

"The swing vote on a split city council, Hewitt, a garrulous former swimming pool digger, convinced his small town to tackle one of California's biggest problems: The unsustainability of public sector pensions. Instead of contracting fire services from unwieldy Riverside County, with its top-down engine-staffing rules and defined-benefit pensions, Calimesa under Hewitt's tutelage opted out and created its own tiny fire department, saving taxpayers a bundle. Now Hewitt is running for a spot on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors....

"The Libertarian Party needs, and is finally getting, some demonstration projects about how to govern better. Getting more Jeff Hewitts in more important positions could transform the little party that couldn't into not just the country's leading third party (which it is already), but also a bloc that can at long last change the behavior of the top two."

Read more: https://reason.com/archives/2018/07/14/how-elected-libertarians-are-making-the
'via Blog this'

NH Libertarians get 1st primary in 20 years

Aaron Day files for governor, setting up Libertarian Party primary with Jilletta Jarvis - John DiStaso, WMUR:

June 15, 2018 - "The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has a gubernatorial primary campaign. And party officials are pleased because, they say, it will raise the profile of the low-tax, small government-minded party in the Granite State.

"Aaron Day of Bedford, former chair of the Free State Project and the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, filed his candidacy for governor Friday, setting up a primary with Sandown businesswoman Jilletta Jarvis, who filed last week. The winner of the Sept. 11 primary will be on the Nov. 6 general election ballot....

"The Libertarian Party this year has major party status and will have a spot on the ballot for the first time since 1996, said Secretary of State William Gardner.... Gardner said the Libertarian Party had primaries for governor in three elections in the 1990s....

"The LPNH is back on the ballot in 2018 because in 2016, its candidate for governor, Max Abramson, received 31,243 votes, which was 4.3 percent of the general election vote, more than the 4 percent required threshold....

"In the primary, undeclared voters are free to take a ballot of the party of their choosing and then may, if they wish, change their registrations back to undeclared....

"Day, a longtime conservative activist in the state, ran as an independent for the U.S. Senate in 2016 and, many believe, spoiled Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s bid for re-election by receiving 17,742 votes.... But that was then. 'This time it’s completely different,' Day said Friday ... 'I’m actually running this time,' he said, adding, 'I no longer believe in the Republican Party'....

"Jarvis, who also is running a serious campaign complete with a website and a media staffer, welcomed the notion of having a primary competitor. 'I actually think it’s a good thing to have a primary because more people will take notice,” she said....

"As of Thursday evening, Libertarian candidates had also filed in both of the state’s congressional districts, three of the five Executive Council districts and two state Senate districts. Also filing were 13 Libertarian candidates for the New Hampshire House."

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/article/aaron-day-files-for-governor-setting-up-libertarian-party-primary-with-jilletta-jarvis/21566076
'via Blog this'

Libertarian campaigns to watch in 2018

Here Are Four Major Electoral Opportunities for the Libertarian Party in 2018 - Andy Craig, The Jack News:

January 1, 2018 - "The most common criticism of the Libertarian Party is that it can’t win.... It’s not always the case that Libertarians can’t win, though.... In no particular order and with the New Year upon us,  here are [some] key opportunities for Libertarians in 2018:

1. "Nebraska state senator Laura Ebke ... switched her registration to the Libertarian Party in 2016.... Since then, Ebke ... secured the passage of a bill to ensure Libertarian ballot access in Nebraska, assembled a bipartisan coalition for occupational licensing reform, and was elected by her colleagues to serve as the Chair of the important Judiciary Committee....

"But Ebke still needs help from Libertarians nationwide, particularly in fundraising to match the spending-spree that [the GOP] is likely to go on.... Ebke’s re-election ... could set off a domino effect of other liberty-minded state legislators ditching the GOP....

 2. "Libertarian Party ... chair ... Nicholas Sarwark is making his first bid for elected office in a special election for Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona. A unique combination of circumstances and local notability give Sarwark some recognition. In a race that includes two Democratic members of the City Council, but no Republican, it is possible that Sarwark could make it into the top-two run-off....

"So far his campaign website shows that he has raised over $27,000 in online donations since announcing his campaign.... That’s not yet enough, but it’s a good start....

3. "In a belt of states across the Mountain West, and ... Upper Midwest, popular alignment with libertarianism runs higher than in most of the country.... As we get into the Spring of 2018, it will be worth keeping an eye on states like Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. If viable non-incumbent Libertarian candidates for state legislatures arise anywhere, it will probably be in this part of the country. Elections that ... go uncontested by one of the two major parties can be particularly ripe for Libertarians to target....

4. "In New Hampshire, the party already has three incumbent party-switchers ... – Caleb Dyer, Brandon Phinney, and Joseph Stallcop – [who] face very local elections, with low margins for victory under New Hampshire’s multi-member-district system..... The incumbent advantage is real, but voting trends for the NH legislature also tend to be sharply partisan, a real obstacle for even a Libertarian incumbent who doesn’t secure the endorsement of either local Republicans or Democrats....

"Next-door Maine also offers potential, thanks to having become the first state to adopt instant run-off voting, also known as ranked choice.... It’s not yet known whether IROV will actually be used during the 2018 elections, but if it is, it will provide a chance for Libertarians to test the theory that they could prevail if not hindered by the perception of 'wasted votes' and perpetual spoiler status."

Read more: https://www.thejacknews.com/politics/elections/four-electoral-opportunities-for-libertarian-party-2018/
'via Blog this'

3rd NH legislator switches to Libertarian Party

Rochester Rep switches to Libertarian Party - fosters.com:

June 27, 2017 - "Rep. Brandon Phinney (Strafford 24-Rochester), formerly a member of the Republican Party, announced Tuesday on the State House steps he is changing his party affiliation to Libertarian.

"For the third time this year, a sitting state legislator has left his party and joined the LP. Rep. Caleb Q. Dyer (Hillsborough 37) switched to Libertarian from Republican in February, and Rep. Joseph Stallcop (Cheshire 4) left the Democratic Party in May.

"Darryl W. Perry, chair of the New Hampshire Libertarian Party, welcomes any others, unhappy with their party leadership, to join the LP.

“'When the Libertarian Party had ballot access in the 1990's, the Libertarian House Caucus had four members,' Perry said. 'It is my hope and desire that the civil libertarians, classical liberals, and philosophical libertarians in the New Hampshire General Court will show the same courage shown by Reps. Dyer, Stallcop, and, now, Rep. Brandon Phinney, and abandon the two-party system that has for so long burdened us with taxation, regulation, and legislation that has trampled our freedoms.'

"Phinney will work with Dyer and Stallcop in the N.H. House Libertarian Caucus to minimize state government, lower taxes, and eliminate barriers to conducting business, and will work hard to increase individual freedom and personal liberty while protecting the rights of individuals and businesses within New Hampshire....

“'We were elected to the people’s house to serve their will, their interests, and limit government interference in their lives,' Phinney said of his differences with the GOP. 'I was not elected to do the bidding of a political party at the expense of my principles. Establishment partisan politics do nothing to protect the rights of people, but instead only serve to prop up and expand government with arcane plans to irresponsibly spend our money and enact burdensome regulations on businesses, small and large alike. The Libertarian Party platform gives us, as legislators, the best possible framework to expand social freedoms, support a free-market economy, and ensure the checks and balances on government power are enforced.'"

Read more: http://www.fosters.com/news/20170627/rochester-rep-switches-to-libertarian-party
'via Blog this'

Another NH legislator joins Libertarian Party

Keene Democrat State Rep. Joseph Stallcop Flips to Libertarian, Making History! | Free Keene - Ian Freeman:

May 11, 2017 - "In February of this year, Republican state representative from Pelham, Caleb Dyer became the only sitting state rep in the United States to join the Libertarian Party.* Now, just three months later, New Hampshire is making libertarian political history again as Keene Democrat representing Ward One, Joseph Stallcop, today announced at a press conference at Concord’s state house, that he is also flipping to Libertarian!...

"Not only does New Hampshire now have more sitting state reps than the other 49 states combined, but Dyer and Stallcop, both 21 years old, are forming what is likely the youngest political caucus in the history of the United States....

"Former state reps Eric Eastman and Joe Lachance also recently revealed they have flipped from Republican to join the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire....

"At this morning’s press conference, Stallcop gave an excellent speech that revealed the command-and-control structure in the NH Democratic party, which echoed Dyer’s experience in the Republican party. Thinking for one’s self when in the major parties is apparently discouraged and voting his conscience resulted in his Democratic colleagues lying to and looking down on him....

"He called out the democrats’ hypocrisy, saying, 'they claim to be against casinos for fear of addiction, yet ignore the lottery’s grasp on the poor. They claim to be for criminal justice, though many turned away from a bill that would close the asset forfeiture loophole. They claim to be for the protection of transgender rights, yet didn’t even mark that bill as a caucus priority'....

"Stallcop recently surprised many by attending the 420 rally at the state house, not only toking up with the crowd of civil disobedients, but also giving a great speech. Rumors began flying that he was considering joining the libertarians, a particularly exciting prospect as it flies in the face of the common misconception that libertarians come from the right, politically....

"New Hampshire has proven how unique it is. There are 101 reasons why thousands liberty-loving activists have been moving here, and that list just keeps getting longer and more attractive as we continue to have success after success."

Read more: http://freekeene.com/2017/05/11/keene-democrat-state-rep-joseph-stallcop-flips-to-libertarian-making-history/
'via Blog this'

*This claim is in error. Nebraska state senator Laura Ebke has been sitting in the legislature as a Libertarian since June, 2016. - GD

NH state legislator joins Libertarian Party (video)

NH State Representative Joins Libertarian Party – Press Conference Video | Free Keene: - Ian Bernard:

February 9, 2017 - "It’s a big day for libertarian history in New Hampshire and nationwide. For the first time in two decades, the Libertarian Party of NH (LPNH) has a sitting state representative in the legislature who is just beginning his first term in office. Caleb Dyer, state representative for Hudson and Pelham, announced today at a press conference in Concord’s Legislative Office Building that he has switched his voter registration from republican to libertarian and has also joined the state party as a dues-paying member. Dyer is a New Hampshire native who knocked on 2,000 doors in his district, Hillsborough 37, to win his election in November of 2016. Here’s the press conference video from this morning:"

Read more: http://freekeene.com/2017/02/09/breaking-nh-state-representative-joins-libertarian-party-full-press-conference-video/
'via Blog this'

NH Libertarian Executive votes for secession

LPNH EC adopts resolution in support of peaceful secession | Free Keene:

November 20, 2016 - "With a vote of 4 in favor and 1 abstention, the LPNH Executive Committee on November 20, adopted a resolution in support of self-determination.

"LPNH Vice Chair Rodger Paxton, who is the Rochester Regional Captain for the Foundation for NH Independence, says, “Recognizing that libertarianism is defined as self-ownership, and recognizing that both our federal and state founding documents make it clear that we have the right of peaceful secession. I’m pleased that the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has resolved its support.'

"The resolution was drafted after a vote by the EC was passed 3 to 1 with 1 abstention, requesting the Chair, Darryl W. Perry, draft a resolution in support for the NH Secession Movement."

http://freekeene.com/2016/11/20/lpnh-ec-adopts-resolution-in-support-of-peaceful-secession/
'via Blog this'

Whereas the National Libertarian Party platform states, “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.”; AND
Whereas the federal government became destructive of individual liberty many years ago; AND
Whereas recent polls indicate nearly 1 in 5 Americans support secession; AND
Whereas there is a growing secessionist movement in New Hampshire; AND
Whereas Part 1 Article 10 of the NH Constitution states, “whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government.”; AND
Whereas Part 1 Article 10 of the NH Constitution also states, “The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.
"Be it therefore resolved, the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire supports all peaceful efforts to alter or abolish any government that is destructive of individual liberty; AND
Be it therefore resolved, the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire supports all peaceful efforts to alter or abolish any government that endangers public liberty; AND
Be it therefore resolved, the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire specifically supports peaceful activities of the NH Secession movement.

https://www.lpnh.org/lpnh-ec-adopts-resolution-in-support-of-peaceful-secession/