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/

Midterm results disappointing for Libertarians

The Libertarian Party Future, Perennially Out of Reach - Reason.com - Matt Welch:

January 2019: ""He's going to finish certainly no worse than second, and maybe first,' Libertarian Party (L.P.) 2016 vice presidential nominee Bill Weld enthused about Massachusetts state auditor candidate Dan Fishman in mid-October.... It looked like Weld might be onto something two weeks later when The Boston Globe took the highly unusual step of endorsing the L.P. candidate....

"Massachusetts voters declined the advice. When the smoke cleared on November 6, the would-be Libertarian auditor for the government of Taxachusetts finished not first, not second, but a distant third place, with a desultory 4.2 percent of the vote. The effort was enough to give the party automatic statewide ballot access for 2020 ... but not enough to stave off the national wave of nausea that afflicted many libertarians on election day.....

"About the only federal candidate prioritizing the budget calamity was Gary Johnson.... Running in the state he governed twice, and where he earned 9.3 percent of the presidential vote in 2016, ... Johnson was able to participate in debates and generate extensive media coverage. The first independent three-way poll in late August hinted at a shockingly competitive race: 39 percent for Heinrich, 21 percent for Johnson, and just 11 percent for Rich. And yet Election Day 2018 brought another Libertarian bummer:... Rich doubled up on Johnson, 31 percent to 15 percent....

"Political fear and loathing, it turns out, is no friend to independent and third-party candidates.... As we learned in 2016, when voters feel revulsion toward a candidate or party, they are likely to go for the alternative with the best chance to defeat the bad guy. In a high-turnout midterm like 2018, minor parties undershoot their polling projections by massive amounts.

"The most anticipated of the 22 Libertarian races for governor, for example, was rising party star Larry Sharpe in New York. An energetic, fast-talking campaigner with a preternatural talent for fundraising, Sharpe brought in an impressive $450,000.... He pulled just 1.6 percent, behind even Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins' 1.7. Yes, the L.P.  achieved state ballot access for the first time in history, but that low showing came as a demoralizing shock.

"'WTF is going on?' Wisconsin Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Phil Anderson messaged me on election night..... Anderson's pre-election polling average of 4.2 percent had collapsed to a barely visible 0.8 percent. Eight Libertarian candidates for governor were polling higher than the Democratic-Republican point spread on election eve; zero repeated the trick once the votes were counted....

"The three state legislators who had previously switched from Republican to Libertarian once in office — Nebraska state Sen. Laura Ebke and New Hampshire state Reps. Brandon Phinney and Caleb Dyer — all faced their first election wearing the L, and all lost badly.... Insurgent Wyoming state House candidate Bethany Baldes came so close to unseating incumbent Republican Majority Leader David Miller that she was erroneously reported as winner on election night, only to eventually lose by 53 votes....

"Libertarians are accustomed to being outnumbered and excel at playing long-game strategies, often far outside the cyclical sugar highs of electoral politics.... As disappointing as November 2018 felt for the L.P., the party did emerge in a stronger position for 2020, when it will be the only minor party with a spot on all 50 state ballots. American politics moves fast, so the next two years may yet feature more political libertarianism than we can currently fathom. As hard as that may be to believe after Election Day."

Read more: https://reason.com/archives/2018/12/08/the-libertarian-party-future-p

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Also read: Libertarians see progress in midterm elections

WI Libertarian told not to accept Bitcoin donations

Libertarian candidate accepts Bitcoin donations that could be illegal - Max Bayer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

July 23, 2018 - "The Libertarian candidate for governor says he will accept campaign donations in Bitcoin, despite a state Ethics Commission finding that such donations appear to be illegal.

 "'We will not allow the lack of appropriate interpretation of the current statute (to) affect the First Amendment rights of those who want to show support and contribute,' said a statement from Phil Anderson, who is running for governor and is the chairman of the state Libertarian Party. 'I have no faith in the Assembly to handle this fairly nor expeditiously.'

"Anderson asked the Ethics Commission to allow candidates to accept Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency. In May, the commission referred the matter to the Legislature because it found a contribution in cryptocurrency 'does not appear to fit' the acceptable categories spelled out in statutes ... [and] suggested the Legislature address two facets of cryptocurrency: its constantly changing value and the anonymity of donations....

"Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Etherium, are internet-based currencies that can be used to buy goods or services. They were founded on the principle that currencies should be decentralized.

"Anderson emphasized that he believes he and his party are complying with the law.... If a complaint is filed against him and the Ethics Commission intervenes, Anderson said he and the party are 'going to push back all the way'....

"Anderson said there shouldn't be any concern regarding donations to his campaign. His portal uses Bitpay and requests donors' names, addresses and phone numbers."

Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/23/libertarian-candidate-accept-bitcoin-donations-despite-warning-ethics-commission/807234002/
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8 Libertarians qualify for ballot in Wisconsin

Libertarian Party of Wisconsin announces ballot access for candi - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports - Jule Carpenter Lotz, WKOW:

June 4, 2016 - "Several Libertarian Party candidates will appear on Wisconsin ballots for upcoming elections.

"Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Chairman Joseph Kexel says Phillip Anderson, the party's candidate for United States Senate, and four others who are running for seats in the House of Representatives have gained access to be listed.

"Kexel says the four candidates for the House include Jason Lebeck in the 1st District, Andy Craig in the 4th District, John Arndt in the 5th District and Robert Burke in the 7th.

"The party also has two candidates running for state assembly seats; Jordan Hansen for District 54 near Oshkosh and George Meyers, for District 66 near Racine.

"In a news release, Kexel says the Libertarian candidates support individual freedom and offer voters "a great opportunity to elect libertarians to all levels of government."

"The party's national candidates are Gary Johnson for president and Bill Weld for vice-president."

[In a comment, Kexel also mentions Matthew Bughman, running for state assembly in District 7.]

http://www.wkow.com/story/32145166/2016/06/04/libertarian-party-of-wisconsin-announces-ballot-access-for-candidates
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Libertarian highlights from the 2014 midterms

Libertarian Election Results 2014 - J. Wilson, A Libertarian Future:

November 5, 2014 - "Libertarian candidates may not have won very many elections this year, but we’ve had some high percentage victories. In some states, that means we’ll get the ballot access we deserve for the next election. Guaranteed ballot access is important because it’s time and money that we won’t have to waste next time. Libertarians will be able to spend more time and money campaigning, and less time getting arbitrary signature counts.

"These high percentage Libertarian election results also send a clear message to both of the two parties. Voting Libertarian tells them they won’t receive our consent, and will have to work harder if they ever want our votes. If they don’t, we’re more than happy to keep voting Libertarian.

"These Libertarian election results show just how many Americans are fed up with the two party system and want a third major party.

• Top Voter Percentage: Randall Lord from Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District with 26.56% (55,224 votes) 
• Runner Up: Lucas Overby from Florida’s 13th Congressional District with 24.75% (55,273 votes) 
• Top Vote Total: Adrian Wyllie for Governor of Florida with 222,565 votes (3.75% of the vote) 
• Runner Up: Bill Wohlsifer for Attorney General of Florida with 168,946 votes (2.9% of the vote) 

"Ballot Access: Hawaii, for winning more than 4% of the vote in all State Senate races. Maryland, for winning more than 1% in the Governor’s Race. Mississippi, for winning more than 2% of the vote in House elections. North Dakota, for winning more than 5% of the vote in a Statewide Race. Utah, for winning more than 2% in a Statewide office. Wisconsin, for receiving more than 1% of the vote in a Statewide Race. Wyoming, for winning more than 2% of the vote in the House election....

"More to come!"

Read more: http://alibertarianfuture.com/2014-election/libertarian-election-results-2014/#sthash.ToC0ljkF.dpbs
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Wisconsin LP files complaint over debate exclusion

Let us in! Wisconsin libertarians file complaint to get in debates « Watchdog.org - Ryan Eykvall, Wisconsin Reporter:

July 10, 2014 - "The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin says the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association provides illegal in-kind campaign contributions to candidates who qualify for its television debates.

"The association bars candidates from participating in the televised debates unless they have 10 percent voter support in polls and raise $250,000 in campaign contributions. This, the party says in its complaint to the Government Accountability Board, essentially amounts to free advertising for Republicans and Democrats.

"The Libertarian Party wants its candidate for governor, Robert Burke, to be allowed to take part in all televised debates.

"'(WBA is) saying certain candidates are electable and certain candidates aren’t,' said Andrew Craig, who filed the complaint. Craig is a Libertarian running for secretary of state. 'They’re advocating for the election of Republican and Democrat candidates and the defeat of their opponents.'

"GAB spokesman Reid Magney confirmed the agency received Craig’s complaint, but said he couldn’t say anything more about it.

"According to state law, the agency will review the complaint to decide whether there’s reasonable suspicion of a violation. If the GAB finds the complaint is frivolous, the agency can charge Craig up to $500 or for the expenses of investigating the complaint."

Read more: http://watchdog.org/158877/libertarian-debate-complaint/
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Wisconsin LP aims for a candidate in every District in 2014

Libertarian Party Launches Outreach For Candidates | WXPR - Ken Krall:

February 17, 2014 - "Paul Ehlers ran in 2012 for the state 12 District Senate seat. In the role as state Libertarian Party chair he says they're reaching out to many groups who have felt ... what he describes ... as the heavy hand of government ... called the 'Liberty Coalition'...

"'what we're trying to do is find people whose pursuit of happiness is being regulated, prohibited or restricted and get them to realize we have one thing in common'

"He mentions groups such as the raw milk producers, people active in the organization NORML, gun owners, people interested in renewable energy....

Ehlers says students are heavily in debt due to government changes in education financing ... 'students that maybe have massive student debt that are in default. They are not part of the problem. They are victims of the problem....'

"He says the Liberty Coalition goal is to have candidates in every major race in Wisconsin this year. "

Read more: http://wxpr.org/post/libertarian-party-launches-outreach-candidates
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Wisconsin Libertarians endorse Clean Energy Choice Initiative

Wisconsin Libertarian Party surprises observers with endorsement of solar proposal: pv-magazine - Ian Clover:

September 9, 2013 - "'Most of us don't trust the environmental movement because they've cried wolf forever and ever,' Wisconsin Libertarian Party chair Paul Ehlers told a surprised local media over the weekend. 'There are all kinds of philosophical disagreements, but at the end of the day this was pretty much a no-brainer.'

"Ehlers was discussing his party's endorsement of a proposal by local clean energy group RENEW to enable the state’s electricity customers to lease solar panels and other domestic-size renewable energy generators.... RENEW Wisconsin spearhead The Clean Energy Choice Initiative, which argues that most energy customers in the state cannot afford to install solar panels, and is calling for third-parties to pay for their installations and sell the energy produced to the customer.

"In a state where the government is Republican-controlled, the backing of the Libertarians could help such a green proposal gain traction. 'What we’re proposing doesn’t involve a new mandate or an extension of existing mandates,' said RENEW Wisconsin’s program and policy director, Michael Vickerman. 'It’s not in any way related to existing or future subsidies. It’s not an intrusion in the marketplace. It’s actually a liberation of the marketplace. So we felt this issue should fit in their wheelhouse.'"

Read more: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/wisconsin-libertarian-party-surprises-observers-with-endorsement-of-solar-proposal_100012664/#ixzz2eWqCK6yU
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Wisconsin Libertarian Party defends effort to legalize raw milk

Wisconsin Ag Connection - State's Libertarian Party Defends Effort to Legalize Raw Milk:

March 20, 2013 - "Leaders of the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin say the state government should have no right to stop people from selling or drinking raw milk. In a statement from the political group's chairman on Tuesday, Terry Gray claimed the current state law that prevents consumers from purchasing what he calls 'real' or unpasteurized milk demonstrates 'the power of the corporate dairy control over the legislature of America's Dairyland.'

"'Government health officials claim that all uncooked animal products are inherently dangerous, even if our forefathers seem to have thrived on raw milk up until the 1950s,' Gray said in his memo. 'Fresh dairy proponents insist that unpasteurized milk is tastier, healthier, and easier to digest. Ultimately, shouldn't informed consumers be the ones to decide whether to purchase this natural product -- or not?'

"State Senator Glenn Grothman of West Bend has said he plans to introduce a new bill this spring that would legalize the sales of unpasteurized milk under certain conditions. A similar bill was drafted last year, but failed to be brought up for a floor vote."

Read moe: http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=330&yr=2013
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