Hornberger "wins" NY LP primary without a vote

Did Jacob Hornberger Rig the New York Libertarian Primary? | Libertarian Republic - David Howman:

April 1, 2020 - "At the beginning of March, controversy arose in the Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY) after it was announced that, out of the eight qualified candidates for the 2020 Libertarian presidential nomination, seven of them were being kicked off the ballot. The one candidate who remained: Jacob Hornberger.

"While all primaries in the Libertarian Party are, by rule, non-binding when it comes to selecting delegates – the presidential and vice presidential nominees are chosen individually at the national convention by the unbound delegates – the LPNY primary is unique in that the winner gets to select 27 of the state’s 48 allotted delegates to send to the national convention.

"And since the removal of seven candidates left just Hornberger on the ballot, and with no option to vote for everybody’s favorite libertarian NOTA, the New York State Board of Elections (NYS BOE) canceled the primary and declared Hornberger the winner by default.... So now Hornberger gets to choose 27 delegates to send to the national convention....

"Not surprisingly, some rumors and conspiracy theories have popped up as a result.... Jake Porter, Hornberger’s campaign manager, published a statement on his Facebook page:

'People love to start conspiracy theories. The Hornberger campaign did not file any lawsuits, challenges, or paperwork to keep any other candidate off the New York Libertarian Primary ballot. It would be a better use of time to ask the New York Board of Elections or the campaigns themselves why their filings were rejected'....

"According to the NYS BOE website, ... candidates can qualify for the ballot in one of three ways: 1) by being certified as eligible for matching funds; 2) being a nationally known and recognized candidate, as determined by the NYS BOE; or 3) collecting signatures equal to 5% of all registered Libertarians in New York. As far as I was able to discern, each candidate submitted their request for ballot access under the claim that they were a nationally known and recognized candidate. According to [Cattaraugus County LP Chair Luke] Wenke, 'Many of these candidates really aren’t "nationally known" quite frankly but the Board of Elections originally let that slide for many of these campaigns and sent them all letters saying they were accepted onto the ballot'....

"NYS BOE site’s requirements for ballot access state that 'a presidential candidate must file a complete slate of delegates with the State Board of Elections' by February 25, 2020. According to the NYS BOE’s public filing records, the only candidate who did not file on or prior to February 25 was Hornberger, whose paperwork was reported to have been filed a day late....

"Ken Armstrong ... filed an injunction that would require the NYS BOE to put his name back on the ballot.... However, ... the Albany Supreme Court ruled on March 30 that Armstrong would not be added to the ballot.... Armstrong decided not to appeal ... after the state of New York postponed all primaries until June 23 ... a month after the national convention....

"As for the rumors of the Hornberger campaign rigging the primary, there seems to be no concrete evidence to support that. When I asked Porter about it, he had this to say: 'We know of no one who attempted to get any candidate kicked off the ballot.  We didn’t ask, request, hint, or instruct anyone in any way to attempt to get any candidate removed from the ballot.  Additionally, we did not personally ask to get anyone removed from the ballot.'"

Libertarian appointed Buffalo NY city clerk

Libertarian leader supplants Democratic chief as Niagara Falls city clerk – The Buffalo News - Thomas J. Prohaska:

January 3, 2020 - "Kathleen M. Ligammari, the chairwoman of the Niagara Falls Libertarian Party Committee, took over Wednesday as city clerk. The city's new mayor, Robert M. Restaino, chose her to replace former clerk Lisa A. Vitello, the chairwoman of the city Democratic Committee....

"The Democratic committee made no endorsement before last June's mayoral primary, which Restaino won narrowly over Seth A. Piccirillo. Ligammari subsequently endorsed Restaino for the Libertarian ballot line in the general election.

"Restaino said politics had 'absolutely nothing' to do with his choice. 'I interviewed a number of candidates, and Kathy had what I thought were the best qualifications for the way in which I want the office to be addressed,' he said. 'Most of the folks who applied had at least expressed support for me in one form or another throughout the campaign.'"

Read more: https://buffalonews.com/2020/01/03/libertarian-leader-supplants-democratic-chief-as-niagara-falls-city-clerk/
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NY raises ballot access threshhold

Green Party, Libertarian Team Up To Fight New Election Rules | WCBS Newsradio 880:

December 16, 2019 - "It's not often you see leaders of the Libertarian Party and the Green Party sharing a podium, but that’s exactly what happened recently, according to WCBS 880’s Steve Burns.

"'The Libertarian Party is pleased to partner with the Green,' said Libertarian Party of New York Chairman Jim Rosenbeck.

"Rosenbeck says the new rules set up by the Public Campaign Financing Commission are ... 'a shameless attempt to limit public debate'....

"In order to have full ballot status parties need to receive at least 50,000 votes in governor's races. The new rules raise that threshold to a 130,000 votes, or 2% of total turnout – whichever is higher. Those totals have to be attained every two years instead of every four.

"Green Party of New York Co-Chairman Peter Lavenia says they'll likely be knocked off the ballot in the next two years over the changes. 'We’re looking at this as an assault on democracy,' he said.

"The two parties are filing a joint lawsuit against the commission.

"State lawmakers could reconvene and change the rules, though that prospect is looking increasingly unlikely with a deadline at the end of this week."

Read more: https://wcbs880.radio.com/articles/news/green-party-libertarian-team-up-to-fight-new-election-rules
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Libertarian wins DA election in Broome co. NY

Board of Elections say Korchak wins race for Broome County DA after votes counted - WBNG:

November 19, 2019 - "Libertarian Michael Korchak has officially won the race for Broome County District Attorney. The Broome County Board of Elections spent Tuesday counting absentee and affidavit ballots.

"It came down to Korchak leading Republican opponent and local defense attorney, Paul Battisti, by 112 votes with 104 votes still to be counted. Democrat Debra Gelson trailed behind both of them. Cheers erupted throughout the Broome County Board of Elections Tuesday night, as supporters of Michael Korchak heard the results.

“'I feel very relieved,' said Korchak. 'It was a tough battle, but we knew it was going to be a tight race and come down to the absentees, and it came down to the final absentees actually, as well as the affidavit votes.'

"Korchak says he credits the success to his support from both the people working on his campaign and the voters. 'We really had a great team. There’s too many people to even mention, but it really was a group effort and I’m very, very happy to continue to serve Broome County as a prosecutor,' said Korchak.

"Democratic opponent, Debra Gelson, says she was happy to see Korchak win.... However, Paul Battisti [is] demanding a recount....

"Battisti beat Korchak in the Republican primary by less than 200 votes. Korchak then made a surprise return as part of the Libertarian Party for the election."

Read more: https://wbng.com/news/top-stories/2019/11/19/korchak-officially-elected-broome-county-district-attorney/
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Canandaigua GOP vice-chair joins Libertarians

Political Roundup: Is Ontario County red, blue or Libertarian gold? - News - MPNnow - Canandaigua, NY - Julie Sherwood, Canandaigua Daily Messenger:

September 26, 2019 - "Eric Cooper, vice chairman of the city of Canandaigua Republican Party, has left the GOP to join the Libertarian Party. The announcement during a press conference last Saturday drew a number of county Libertarian Party officials as well as notables Larry Sharpe, Libertarian candidate for New York governor in 2018, and Andrew Hollister, 2018 Libertarian candidate for New York lieutenant governor.

“'Anybody who has lived in New York for a number of years will tell you the pessimism that regular people feel is incredible. It shouldn’t be that way,' said Cooper from the steps of the Ontario County Courthouse. 'The Republican Party and the Democratic Party have been complicit in the deterioration of New York state for a long time. The Libertarian Party is the only one that has real choices, options, and the principle to get things done. I’m happy to change my party to the Libertarian Party. It’s exciting for me to join the people working so hard to make these changes. I think it’s inevitable that something good happens in New York state.'

"The Libertarian Party of New York gained ballot access last November when Sharpe made history by tallying 90,739 votes in his bid for governor — surpassing the 50,000-vote threshold to secure the Libertarian line on the ballot in New York for the next four years. The result: Pursuit of serious Libertarian candidates to challenge ... the two-party system, and to gain members.... Sharpe spoke at other events in upstate New York last weekend, where several candidates announced their switch to Libertarian....

“'People often ask why in the world would I still be coming to towns and villages across upstate New York when I’m no longer running for anything,' said Sharpe, a Marine Corps veteran and native of New York. 'I’m doing this because I want to change this state. This state has so much potential. Think of New York state like a business. If I’m running a business and I’m losing over 100,000 customers every single year for nine years in a row, I’m doing something wrong. There’s something wrong with how they’re running New York state. Last year, I covered every single county in New York state. I found a lot of Democrats and Republicans who believed what I was saying, but they were afraid to leave their party and join the effort. I want to be sure New Yorkers know there are other people out here who are bravely leading the way.'

"On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation making it easier to change party enrollment ahead of a primary election.... Voters now have until Feb. 14 to make changes to party enrollment and still vote in the April presidential and June congressional and state primaries."

Read more: https://www.mpnnow.com/news/20190926/political-roundup-is-ontario-county-red-blue-or-libertarian-gold
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Mayoral candidates in CT & NY join Libertarians

Hartford mayoral candidate Aaron Lewis changes party affiliation from Democrat to Libertarian - Hartford Courant - Rebecca Lurye:

September 18, 2019 - "Aaron Lewis, a candidate for Hartford mayor, is changing his party affiliation from Democratic to Libertarian, he announced this week. The publisher and ghostwriter said that historically, 'the Democratic Party has posed itself as the party for African Americans and minorities throughout the United States.' 'After careful consideration, I’ve concluded that is untrue and that the loyalty that people of color [have] had to the party has been counterproductive,' Lewis said Tuesday.

"Lewis is the founder and director of The Scribe’s Institute, a literacy organization, and president and CEO of The Scribe’s Ink, a ghostwriting service. He said he was primarily driven to leave the Democratic Party by the state of Hartford Public Schools, which lag far behind the state but also trail Connecticut’s other urban districts.... Democrats, in leadership in Hartford since 1971, are responsible for the city’s educational failures, Lewis said....

"Lewis was unsuccessful in gathering enough signatures to participate in the Democratic primary earlier this month.... However, Lewis did collect enough signatures to participate in the Nov. 5 general election."
Read more: https://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-pol-hartford-mayors-race-aaron-lewis-party-20190918-oh47pm6ucragvgabz4r6zkj4s4-story.html


Liuzzo Joins Libertarian Party - WFRA 107.9:

September 23, 2019 - "Jamestown City Councilman At Large and 2019 mayoral candidate Andrew Liuzzo has left the Republican Party to join the Libertarian Party. The announcement was made during a press conference Sunday morning with county Libertarian party officials present, along with an appearance by Larry Sharpe, 2018 Libertarian candidate for New York Governor....

"Liuzzo was elected to the city council during the 2017 election when he ran as a Republican candidate. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican Party’s endorsement for mayor earlier this year [but] after losing the primary he accepted the Libertarian party’s nomination to run as mayor under their party line on the ballot. This is the first year where a local election will feature the Libertarian Line on the ballot. The addition comes after Sharpe received at least 50,000 votes during his failed run for governor in 2018.....

"'I am grateful that the Libertarian Party recognized me as an individual that cares about the residents and holding our elected officials accountable,' Liuzzo added. 'Because of their support, I can now represent all parties and all people that want to work hard to restore a community that is one city.'”
Read more: https://www.wrfalp.com/liuzzo-joins-libertarian-party/

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18 Libertarians cut from ballot in Erie co. NY

Erie County Libertarians knocked off ballot after nomination certificates invalidated | WBFO - Tom Dinki::

September 19, 2019 - "Libertarians finally gained automatic ballot access in New York state last year, but you won’t see any Libertarians on the ballot for Erie County races this November. The Erie County Board of Elections invalidated the entire party line’s certificates of nomination earlier this month, saying there were deficiencies on the forms that violate state election law.

"Four of the 18 would-be Libertarian nominees challenged the Board of Elections in a validation proceeding Wednesday, but state Supreme Court Justice Frank A. Sedita III upheld the decision, saying the Board of Elections simply followed state election law.

"Erie County Libertarian Party Chairman Duane Whitmer told WBFO the deficiencies were technicalities that should have not been held against the party. He alleged Erie County Democrats and Republicans conspired to knock Libertarians off the ballot.

“'This is an example of the two parties coming together and suppressing the third parties,' he said after Wednesday’s court proceeding. 'They have the time and resources. The (elections) commissioners are paid $120,000 a year in taxpayer funds to make sure that third parties can’t compete.' Whitmer specifically accuses Erie County Democratic Elections Commissioner Jeremy Zellner, who’s faced renewed criticism in recent months for also serving as chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee....

"Erie County Republican Elections Commissioner Ralph Mohr said Libertarians met most of the requirements under state election law 6-128, which deals with new party’s certificates of nomination, but did not meet two of what he called the most important requirements: a certified copy of the party’s rules and sworn affidavits from party officials.

"Mohr previously met with Libertarian Party officials to show them what was wrong with their certificates, and even gave them a copy of a correct certificate to follow. However, he said the forms were still not valid when the party submitted them a second time. The deadline to submit validated certificates of nomination was Sept. 3....

"Many of the 18 would-be Libertarian nominees are already cross-endorsed by the Republican Party, like county executive candidate Lynne Dixon, but some ... were counting on their Libertarian nomination to get on the ballot. The Libertarian Party of New York State gained automatic ballot status after Libertarian Larry Sharpe earned more than the required 50,000 votes in last fall’s gubernatorial race."

Read more: https://news.wbfo.org/post/erie-county-libertarians-knocked-ballot-after-nomination-certificates-invalidated
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NY Libertarian membership grows post-election

Libertarian numbers grow in New York - Capitol Confidential - David Lombardo, Albany Times-Union:

February 5, 2019 - "The ranks of the Libertarian Party in New York have immediately swelled with the party’s addition to the state’s voter registration form.

"The third party, which became a recognized party in January based on its showing in last year’s gubernatorial race, has 9,757 registered members in New York as of last week, according to data compiled by the state Board of Elections. This is nearly a 25 percent increase from 2018, based on estimates from party officials.

"Asked about the new status in November, New York Libertarian Party Chair Jim Rosenbeck said: 'It will no longer be a mystery how to register as a Libertarian'....

"A similar bump in enrollment was not seen by the Serve America Movement, a third party that qualified for the ballot with gubernatorial candidate Stephanie Miner. The party has zero registered voters in New York.

"Before the Libertarian Party became officially recognized, New Yorkers were able to write in the party on their registration form and they were classified as “other” party voters by the state, which was at 8,668 voters in November. This category had increased to 10,067 voters as of last week, with about 72 percent coming from the Women’s Equality Party and about 28 percent from the Reform Party, both of which lost their recognized status when their gubernatorial candidates got less than 50,000 votes in November.

"Nearly three quarters of the Libertarian voters are from outside of New York City."

Read more: https://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/285843/libertarian-numbers-grow-in-new-york/

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David Boaz remembers Andrea Millen Rich

RIP Andrea Rich | Cato @ Liberty - David Boaz:

August 1, 2018 - "I am saddened to report that my dear friend Andrea Millen Rich died this morning at her home in Philadelphia at the age of 79 after a 19-year battle with lung cancer....For more than 40 years Andrea was at the center of the libertarian movement, a mentor, counselor, friend, supporter, facilitator, networker, and gracious hostess....

"She was the first chair of the New York Libertarian Party in 1973-74. The vice chair was Howard S. Rich, whom she soon married. From 1974 to 1977 she was vice chair of the national Libertarian Party, and in 1980 she played a key role in developing television advertising for the campaign of Ed Clark, the Libertarian presidential nominee.

"From 1982 to 2005 she was the president of Laissez-Faire Books, which billed itself as 'the world’s largest collection of books on liberty.' It had a retail location on Mercer Street in Greenwich Village.... But in those pre-Amazon days, it was far better known for its monthly catalog that reached libertarians around the world. Through its Fox & Wilkes publishing imprint it brought many classic libertarian books back into print.....

"Andrea often negotiated with publishers to make books more affordable, and some books only found publishers because Laissez-Faire could guarantee an audience beyond the small academic market.

"Through her work with Laissez-Faire she became friendly with leading libertarian writers including Milton and Rose Friedman, Robert Nozick, Thomas Sowell, Nathaniel Branden, Thomas Szasz, Charles Murray, Richard Epstein, David Kelley, and Margit von Mises, widow of economist Ludwig von Mises.

"As president of the Center for Independent Thought [CIT], the parent organization of Laissez-Faire Books, she also launched and managed the Thomas S. Szasz Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cause of Civil Liberties and the Roy A. Childs Fund for Independent Scholars.

"CIT’s biggest project was Stossel in the Classroom, which repackaged ABC News and Fox Business videos on economics and public policy by John Stossel for classroom use. The videos have been viewed by tens of millions of high school students – according to Stossel, reaching more people than ABC News and Fox News."

Read more: https://www.cato.org/blog/rip-andrea-rich
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Sharpe achieves ballot status for NY Libertarians

Libertarian Party of New York Achieves Ballot Access - Binghamton Homepage:

November 7, 2018 - "Libertarian candidate Larry Sharpe made history today by tallying 90,739 votes in the New York State Gubernatorial election. New York is now one step closer to changing the two party partnership in Albany that enjoys the political benefits of offering favors with our tax dollars. Mr. Sharpe made inroads with disenchanted Republicans and Democrats, Independents and new voters by offering a message of hope rather than employing the fear factor tactics of the old parties.

"By surpassing the 50,000 vote threshold, the Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY) secures New York State ballot access for the next four years. Recruiting principled libertarian candidates to challenge big government incumbents in local elections begins now. We enthusiastically welcome those who defend the rights of the individual and want to challenge Albany’s use of force to achieve political and social goals to join us.

"LPNY Chairman Jim Rosenbeck said 'We view today’s results as much more than the snapshot of a single election.  Today’s outcome portends a larger political revolution in New York State. The LPNY will build on this momentum. Those who came to us for a great candidate in Larry Sharpe are encouraged to stay and work together to promote the only political ideology that consistently defends your right to pursue happiness with minimal interference from the state.'"

Read more: https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/up-to-the-minute/libertarian-party-of-new-york-achieves-ballot-access/1579495921
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Larry Sharpe excluded from NY governor debate

Larry Sharpe Excluded from NY Gubernatorial Debate · 71 Republic - Ryan Lau:

October 22, 2018 - "The New York race for governor has been a vicious battle thus far. Democrat incumbent Andrew Cuomo ... faces off against a number of opponents: Republican Marc Molinaro, Libertarian Larry Sharpe, Independent Stephanie Miner, and the Green Party’s Howie Hawkins. However, only Molinaro will get to debate live with Cuomo.

"The Monday night move comes after a number of polls showed that the third-party candidates have very low name recognition. Specifically, a whopping 84 percent of voters had not heard of Larry Sharpe. Figures were similar for Miner and Hawkins, at 77 and 86 percent, respectively. Of the voters who had heard of Sharpe, one-third of them had a positive opinion....

"Most of the polls excluded the third-party candidates entirely.... Sharpe’s performance in a Gravis Marketing poll was the highest of the three candidates: even so, he received only 13% in this poll.

"Third parties, such as the Libertarian Party, have faced exclusion from debates in the past. Most notably, the 2016 Presidential debates did not feature Gary Johnson, who then launched a major lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates.... Johnson now is running for New Mexico Senate.

"Sharpe took to Twitter Monday, condemning the media’s decision to exclude the third-party candidates. He strongly believes that with fair coverage, he could win the race.

(1) My poll numbers prove that I could easily walk away with 30% of the vote and win if my name recognition were equal to that of Cuomo. That tells you that people want change, but they are kept in the dark by the media that is paying to play with Cuomo.

"Monday night’s debate, which will be live on Tuesday night at 7 P.M. EST, is the only scheduled discourse between the two candidates before the election. Thus, Sharpe and the other third-party candidates have lost a key opportunity to increase their low name recognition."

Read more: https://71republic.com/2018/10/22/larry-sharpe-excluded-debate/
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Stossel: Larry Sharpe brings new ideas to NY (video)

Libertarian Larry Sharpe Brings New Ideas to New York - Reason.com - John Stossel & Maxim Lott:

 October 17, 2018 - "In New York, Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo wants to raise taxes. But John Stossel interviews an interesting candidate with a different plan – Libertarian Larry Sharpe. He proposes alternative ways to raise money.

"One idea is to lease naming rights on public infrastructure. 'The Triborough Bridge could be called the Staples Bridge, or the Apple Bridge,' Sharpe explains to Stossel. 'Hundreds of thousands of vehicles pass by, and see that big sign. That's valuable!'....

"Sharpe says it's necessary, 'You can shake your fist and say "this doesn't sound good" if you want to. And you're going to wind up in a place where the tax burden is insanely high.' That, he points out, would lead to more businesses and people leaving New York.

"Although Sharpe is the Libertarian candidate, he's doing well for a third-party. A recent poll has him getting 13 percent of the vote. And after survey respondents hear his campaign pitch, that number goes up to 25 percent."

Read more: https://reason.com/reasontv/2018/10/17/stossel-larry-sharpe-a-candidate-with-be
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31K sign to put Larry Sharpe on ballot in NY

Libertarian Candidate for Governor will Appear on November Ballot - WRFA 107.9:

August 22, 2018 - "Representatives from the New York State Libertarian Party handed in 31,615 petition signatures on August 21 to the New York State Board of Elections, ensuring Libertarian candidate Larry Sharpe will appear on the November 6 ballot for New York Governor.  Sharpe’s campaign said ... that by turning in more than double the signatures required to obtain ballot access, it has insulated the grassroots candidate from possible legal challenges by the two major parties.

"'Moving past this milestone allows Sharpe, the only candidate not funded by special interests or lobbyists, to focus on policy and continue his relentless trek across the state to engage voters,' the campaign said in a media release....

"Sharpe is a Bronx native, a Marine Corps veteran, an entrepreneur, and a management consultant with 15 years of experience mentoring international executives, entrepreneurs and sales people. He is also a teacher, previously serving as a guest instructor for business management and leadership at institutions such as Yale University, Columbia University, Baruch College and John Jay College.

"Sharpe’s platform as candidate for Governor includes making education more effective through innovation, reforming the criminal justice system to focus on rehabilitation, and building an economy that works for all of New York State."
Read more: http://www.wrfalp.com/libertarian-candidate-for-governor-will-appear-on-november-ballot/

Miner, Sharpe survive challenges to get on ballot for governor | Newsday - Michael Gormley:

September 4, 2018 - "Two candidates for governor have withstood challenges to their petitions to secure lines on the November ballot, a state record showed Tuesday.

"Stephanie Miner ... and Libertarian candidate Larry Sharpe have met the state Board of Elections review of their petitions, which had to include at least 15,000 signatures. They had faced some general objections subject to a basic review, but the deadline to file the required follow-up of specific objections was Thursday and no specific challenges were received as of Monday, according to the state Board of Elections."
Read more: https://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/independent-governor-candidates-1.20835779

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Sharpe raises $100K in run for NY governor

A New York rarity: A serious Libertarian candidate - Bill Mahoney, Politico:

"January 25m 2018 - "The $5.9 million in contributions Gov. Andrew Cuomo received in the past six months easily topped the growing field of potential challengers this year. Who came in second place?...

"By a wide margin, the declared candidate who received the second-highest contribution total was Larry Sharpe, who’s planning to run on the Libertarian line. He raised $102,596 during the filing period, most of which he said came from small donors who contributed online.

"In a state in which voters are reluctant to embrace Republicans — Democrats have won the past 19 statewide races — Sharpe plans to present himself as a potential alternative....

"'The Republican vote is a wasted vote,' he said. 'There is no way a Republican can win in this state. The advantage that I have is I’m not a Republican, I’m a Libertarian. … So when New York state looks at the Republican and says, "Not that guy," and they look at Cuomo and say, "Not that guy" — I’m their guy.'

"Sharpe, a former trucking company executive and Marine, sought the national party’s nomination to be Gary Johnson’s running mate in the 2016 national election. He came close, losing with 47 percent of the vote on the second ballot... He’s already gained Johnson’s endorsement, and partially as a result of his efforts in 2016, Sharpe has a substantial online presence. A Facebook page for his gubernatorial campaign has 41,000 followers.... Much of that following and his fundraising likely comes from Libertarians from other states. But the magnitude of it, coupled with the fact that Sharpe already has started to campaign, makes it realistic to imagine a scenario in which he crosses the magic threshold of 50,000 votes.

"When a candidate hits that number in a gubernatorial election, a little more than 1 percent of the votes cast, the party becomes official in New York. For the next four years, the party has automatic ballot access, appears on voter registration forms and has the state fund its primaries.... But outside of a 48,359-vote performance by Warren Redlich in 2010, Libertarians have never come particularly close.

"Sharpe said it was 'a joke' to talk about his chances of garnering at least 50,000 votes. 'I already have a base of [176,000] people who vote[d] for Gary Johnson and Bill Weld in 2016,' he said. 'I’ll get that easily'....

"Sharpe says he’s running not just to legitimize the party, but to win. 'Only about 4 million New Yorkers are going to vote,' he said.... 'So that means all I need is about 1.5 million and I’m governor. That’s a mountain, but that’s not impossible.'

"He says there are four areas that will determine who is ultimately elected — traditional media coverage, public speaking, social media and debates. While he’s ready to concede coverage by traditional media, he thinks he can be competitive in the other three."

Read more: https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/01/25/a-new-york-rarity-a-serious-libertarian-candidate-212763
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Sharpe to run as Libertarian for NY governor

Larry Sharpe Announces Run For NY Governorship As a Libertarian - Elias J. Atienza, The Libertarian Republic:

July 12, 2017 - "Larry Sharpe, the 2nd place runner-up 2016 vice presidential candidate, announced that he was running for Governor of New York in 2018. He did this as a ‘birthday announcement’ and confirmed he was running as a member of the Libertarian Party....

"In the live stream, he said that he wanted his campaign to be a model for future Libertarian campaigns and stressed that he was in it to win.

"'I will run as a Libertarian and Libertarian only. I will show the nation that you can win as a Libertarian, that you can run a campaign as a Libertarian, and you can be taken seriously as a Libertarian,' he said.

"Sharpe is a relative newcomer to the Libertarian Party, having risen from obscurity to almost snatching the vice presidential nominee spot from Bill Weld....

"Sharpe faces an uphill battle in a state that has elected Democrats to the governorship since 2008. However, he is helped that Cuomo approval rating has dropped recently to 46 percent according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.

"Only Cuomo and Sharpe have announced their intentions to run for governor ... as of this publication."

Read more: http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/larry-sharpe-announces-run-for-ny-governorship-as-a-libertarian/
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Libertarian author Jerome Tuccille dead at 79

Jerome Tuccille, Libertarian Author and Trump Biographer, Dies at 79 - The New York Times - William Grimes:

February 24, 2017 - "Jerome Tuccille, who wrote one of the first manifestoes of the American libertarian movement and the first biography of Donald J. Trump, died on Feb. 16 at his home in Severna Park, Md. He was 79.

"As Mr. Tuccille (pronounced too-CHILLY) told the tale in It Usually Begins With Ayn Rand: A Libertarian Odyssey (1971), he was a disaffected Roman Catholic looking for a new faith when he discovered the writings of Ayn Rand and her radically individualist philosophy, which she called objectivism....

"In Radical Libertarianism: A Right Wing Alternative (1970), he laid out a political program that envisioned an end to conscription, taxes and government control over education, health services, transportation and other areas. It also called for the legalization of drugs, prostitution and pornography.

"In an Op-Ed for The New York Times in 1971, Mr. Tuccille called on conservatives 'who still care about such things as peace and justice and racial harmony' to vote for candidates 'who really mean peace when they say peace; who understand and intend to promote the politics of decentralization, of pollution control, of economic and judicial reform, and so on all the way down the line'....

In 1974, two years after the founding of the Free Libertarian Party, Mr. Tuccille ran for governor of New York.... Three years later, in an article for the conservative magazine National Review, he wrote the epitaph for libertarianism as a political movement. Although still committed to its ideals, he called it 'hopelessly utopian' and 'an intellectual exercise, not a serious political alternative'....

"Tuccille wrote how-to books on investing and a series of biographies, beginning in 1985 with Trump: The Saga of America’s Most Powerful Real Estate Baron.... After his Trump biography, he wrote Rupert Murdoch (1989), Barry Diller: The Life and Times of a Media Mogul (1998) and Alan Shrugged: Alan Greenspan, the World’s Most Powerful Banker (2002)....

"Tuccille remained what his son called 'a borderline anarchist. In The Gospel According to Ayn Rand (2007), ...  Tuccille wrote: 'The battle to sustain the Bill of Rights is more challenging now than ever, the fight for freedom is far from over. In many ways things have gotten worse over the decades. Government is grotesquely big, taxes are too high, civil liberties are getting crimped a bit tighter every day.'”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/24/books/jerome-tuccille-dead.html
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NY Libertarians challenge state's Sullivan Law

Libertarians challenge New York’s pistol permit law - City & Region - Buffalo News - Phil Fairbanks:

August 17, 2015 - "When Edward Garrett moved here from South Dakota, he went about getting a pistol permit.

"Three years later, he’s suing New York State in Buffalo federal court....

"Garrett, a Town of Evans resident and the new chairman of the Erie County Libertarian Party ... is one of eight plaintiffs in a new civil suit challenging the constitutionality of New York’s pistol permit law, a gun control law dating to 1911 and the Tammany Hall days of New York City.

"The suit, filed on behalf of the local Libertarian Party, points to the time and cost involved in applying for a permit – they claim it can take up to a year – to suggest that the law is overly burdensome and therefore a violation of the Second Amendment.

"The plaintiffs also take issue with the various local governments charged with issuing permits and claim the decision-making on who gets them and who doesn’t can vary greatly from county to county.

"'The law is arbitrary in both its scope and authority,' said Richard Cooper, a Nassau County businessman and a former state chairman of the Libertarian Party. 'That’s inherently unfair'....

"The law, known to some as the Sullivan Act, named after the Tammany Hall politician who sponsored it, requires licenses for state residents who possess firearms small enough to be concealed.....

"The suit makes several references to government tyranny and the potential for what happened in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and Pol Pot’s Cambodia to happen here. It also suggests that individuals have a right to self-defense and the defense of their families and that gun ownership is a fundamental part of that right.

"'Governments do abuse power,' said James Ostrowski, the Buffalo lawyer representing the plaintiffs. 'We’re not going to let the government deny us the right to bear arms.'

"Unlike previous legal challenges, Ostrowski thinks this lawsuit can be successful. He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court, in recent years, has struck down gun bans and recognized an individual’s right to bear arms in two landmark cases, District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago."

Read more: http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/federal-court/libertarians-challenge-new-yorks-pistol-permit-law-20150817
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New York LP adopts ambitious growth program

Audacious goals drive Glogowski’s New York Libertarian Party - The Daily News Online - Jim Krencik:

"Building a political party out of a '43-year social club' is a challenge that Mark Glogowski has embraced since his election as state Libertarian Party chairman in April.

"Glogowski, twice a candidate for the Assembly seat covering Orleans and Genesee counties, spoke with attendees at both counties’ fairs this year about their own political philosophies and encouraged them to be more involved....

"He’s tasked himself with doubling the 11 county-level parties and dramatically increasing the 6,000 registered Libertarians there were at the beginning of the year.

"Both pushes will give New York more clout in the party’s 2016 presidential nominating convention and help with getting candidates [on] the ballot, but Glogowski is setting his sights even higher.

"'We’re easily going (to double) our number of chapters, and if we can get to 50,000 registered members, I think by 2019 we can be the second-largest party in the state, without taking from the Democrats or Republicans,' Glogowski said.

"After joining the party as a disaffected Republican in 2009, Glogowski has risen quickly to the Libertarian’s top post. The most recent leap came at the 2015 state convention. The party’s chairman was stepping down after five years, and he was among those to enter the ring for the post.... 'An increasing number of people jumped onto my bandwagon, and the next thing I know I’m the chairman,' Glogowski said.

"Since then, Erie and Niagara Libertarians have formed county-level parties, with Wyoming, Chautauqua and Orleans set to be formalized by the end of the year, with Tioga and Chenango to follow.

"Having more organizations with stronger control at the local level has already borne fruit, Glogowski said. Genesee County split off from the regional Greater Rochester party in 2013, and he sees them as the role model for the new or coming parties in Erie, Niagara, Wyoming and Orleans.

"'They very quickly focused on the aspect that as a social club, (members of other parties) could join, and as a consequence, Democrats and Republicans and Greens were all trying to impose views on how the government should run. The Genesee County party is for the purpose of promoting the libertarian worldview.

"'They limited officerships to registered Libertarians and endorsements to Libertarians. It’s a huge step forward ... we have a very clear description of what we stand for.'"

Read more: http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_c34d0906-3c03-11e5-ab4d-b7c718d654fd.html
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NY LP state senate candidate cut from ballot

Gia Arnold loses minor party line in senate race - Niagara Gazette: Local News:

September 27, 2014 - "Gia Arnold is officially off of the ballot for the 62nd District state senate race, the New York State Board of Elections confirmed Friday.

"Arnold, 24, who gained headlines after announcing an extramarital affair in August, announced she was off of the ballot on Wednesday. It wasn’t official until Friday said Thomas Connolly, deputy director of public information for the state board of elections, when signatures on her petition to be on the Libertarian line in the election were invalidated by elections board officials.

"'She is off the ballot as a result of staff findings after evaluation of specific objections,' he said, in an email to Greater Niagara Newspapers Friday afternoon.

"Arnold lost the Republican primary handedly to North Tonawanda Mayor Rob Ortt. Ortt is running against Democrat Johnny Destino for the seat being vacated by 19-year incumbent George Maziarz....

"Arnold, who did not return phone calls, emails or text messages seeking comment, endorsed Destino in the race on her Facebook page Friday.... In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Arnold referred to Ortt’s supporters as “fools” for supporting what she called the 'elite establishment'."

Read more: http://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/article_ac3e05f3-3107-5656-af3e-d5eeb96b3d43.html
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NY LP submits 35,000 signatures for ballot access

35,000 New Yorkers Support Libertarians on the Ballot | Virtual-Strategy Magazine:

September 23, 2014 - "The Libertarian Party of New York submitted over 35,000 signatures last month to afford New Yorkers an alternative to the failed policies of the two major parties....

"New York’s Libertarian ticket will be headed by Long Island Real Estate Broker Michael McDermott for Governor. Michael is joined by fellow Libertarian candidates Chis Edes for Lt. Governor, U.S. Navy veteran John Clifton for Comptroller, Manhattan defense lawyer Carl Person for Attorney General, Grant Lally for Congressional District 3 (Long Island), Gigi Bowman for Senate District 5 (Long Island) and Mark Glogowski, Assembly District 139 (western New York). In all, twelve Libertarians filed for public office in New York State.

"Speaking for the 42 year-old Libertarian Party of New York, which defends constitutionally limited government, individual freedom, and an end to all prohibition, Gubernatorial candidate Michael McDermott stated, 'Now 12 million New Yorkers will not be limited to choosing only between the two major parties. Instead, New Yorkers can cast their votes for a balanced budget, real growth in private sector jobs, an end to the welfare state, and an end to needless suffering caused by drug prohibition.'"

Read more: http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2014/09/23/35000-new-yorkers-support-libertarians-ballot
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