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Oklahoma Libertarians Still Scrambling For A Presidential Nominee

4/29/2020

Comments

 

Justin Amash Steps In the Libertarian Ring..

  Oklahoma's Libertarians have had several big successes in recent years, but many more false starts. Conservatives in the legislature restored some sanity to our ballot access laws. That allowed Libertarians a sustained presence in our political menu choices to order from... even though they've not provided us any broadly appealing candidates.
  In 2016, Republicans selected Ted Cruz, and really had some difficulty with Donald Trump as the nominee. Had the Libertarians nominated Austin Petersen or some other prolife candidate without the 'social justice warrior' rabid agenda; A significant number of Okies would have had an easy time not only voting Libertarian, but actually migrating to a libertarian platform & message. It could have put Oklahoma in play for Hillary Clinton, by creating a rift which leftists would certainly have exploited.
  Last 'go around' William Weld joined his former Republican-turned-Libertarian, Gary Johnson, on the Libertarian presidential ticket. While the two were former governors, neither were strong apologists for libertarian philosophy in govt. public policy. ​
Picture
The Oklahoma Libertarians postponed their state convention, several weeks ago. Perhaps that's a blessing, given today's news in the presidential race.

   I asked the then-chairman of the OKLP why she supported Johnson over Petersen, whom we both agreed was the better apologist of libertarian principles. She said her reason was name recognition, so the party can stay on the Oklahoma ballot after 2016.  
  I responded; "So you just got recognized as a party last month, and you're already selling out your principles?"
  "I know", she replied. "It's terrible!" It ended up being a moot issue, because the legislature reformed the ballot access laws not long after the 2016 OKLP convention. The OKLP will likely remain, as long as they can get folks to pay exorbitant filing fees to be the candidate for the party.
  Not long after Trump got elected, his championing of social conservative issues did serve to solidify his hold on the social conservative base, in Oklahoma and nationwide. Oklahoma Wesleyan University President, Dr. Everett Piper, told the Tulsa County Republican Mens Club, in March of 2017; "Regarding President Trump, let me get this out of the way.... Crow never tasted so good!"
  In late 2017 I met with Libertarian Party national leader, Larry Sharpe.  He seemed very surprised when I told him that Republicans in Oklahoma dodged a bullet when the Libertarians chose Johnson over Petersen.  I had to explain in great detail how the Oklahoma Libertarians would have captured a windfall of conservatives who were repulsed by Trump's reputation and personal behavior.  It's not that Petersen would have won Oklahoma, but It would have caused Trump to spend more resources to retain Oklahoma, and Democrats would have exploited the issue, perhaps causing Trump to only win Oklahoma by  little more than 50% of the vote. Completely the opposite of the OKLP leadership's rationale for preferring Johnson's name recognition.

  Exploiters, Suiters, & Devotees

  The Libertarian party has some strong devotees, but most Americans are more familiar with the suitors and exploiters, who make flashy campaigns to promote themselves more than the principles of the party they exploit.  That's true of other parties, as well. Look what happened to the Reform Party once Ross Perot and his supporters had to find another candidate? Donald Trump & Patrick Buchanan fought over the leftovers and the 2000 presidential race was their final event. We only talked about Buchanan in the context of how he almost cost GW Bush the Florida electors, and the presidency.
  With Gary Johnson no longer entertaining a 2020 race, William Weld was a consideration. He found his star fading fast.  
​  Then Je
  Formerly Republican, then independent, and now Libertarian Rep. Justin Amash just announced a last-minute bid for the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party (L.P.). That it took him so long rubs fellow candidate Jo Jorgensen, the L.P.'s 1996 vice presidential nominee, the wrong way. "I think it's unfortunate he didn't join the L.P. the day he renounced his Republican Party membership," she says in a phone interview tonight, "because we could have had a Libertarian in Congress, the first one ever, presenting the Libertarian message."
  Another former L.P. vice presidential candidate, former Judge James Gray (who ran with Gary Johnson on the 2012 ticket), said in a phone interview tonight that Amash had the courtesy to inform him "a week ago Saturday" in a "most cordial" call that he was planning to dip his toes in the water. "I told him we Libertarians believe in competition and I welcome you into this race."
Adam Kokesh, a "voluntaryist" candidate who wants to dissolve the federal government, was not reachable for comment as of posting time, but he did speak to the Amash question in a campaign email last May. He praised Amash, noting that the congressman "is screwed for having integrity within a party [Republicans, at that time] that amplifies lies on a daily basis" and said that "Now here's the question for us Libertarians…do we welcome Justin Amash and recruit him to seek our nomination? Without hesitation, I say, 'Hell yes!!!'"
 Mark Whitney, founder of TheLaw.net and a comedian, griped that "if this a##hole Justin Amash comes over, if he's the nominee I will not support him."
Whitney insists that the "Party of Principles should stop nominating criminals from [a] criminal organization" like the GOP who "come over last minute" to take advantage of the L.P.'s money and activists and then leave it in the lurch--"stop nominating these [former Republican] pricks!"
Vermin Supreme, a candidate trying to walk a fine line between comedic performance artist and actual politician, said; "The Amish are a very valued community in the America I love. Their commitment to community reliance and barn building is inspiring. The Amish prove that a pony based economy is possible. They live it. I would welcome any Amish person to join the ranks of the Libertarian Party."
 "In all sincerity, Justin Amash has demonstrated principle throughout his Congressional career and I admire and respect that. He would be a great asset and partner in the House to help whomever the Libertarian Party nominates for President as an advocate for the necessary changes in order to advance freedom in the United States, from exercising the sole dominion over their own body to the freedom of movement across borders for people and capital."

Primaries, Caucuses, and State Party Straw Polls

The following are primaries, caucuses, or straw polls that have been conducted by Libertarian Party affiliates, at affiliate conventions, or by state governments. (Per the LP's national bylaws, these results are not binding on the delegations of these states.)

New Hampshire

2020 Libertarian Party Presidential Primary- New Hampshire (January 11, 2020)[23]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Vermin Supreme 26 59.09%
Kim Ruff (withdrew Jan. 11) 22 50%
Jo Jorgensen 17 38.64%
None of the above (NOTA) 13 29.55%
Dan "Taxation is Theft" Behrman 13 29.55%
Jacob Hornberger (write-in) 9 20.45%
Sam Robb 8 18.18%
Arvin Vohra 6 13.64%
Mark Whitney (write-in) 6 13.64%
Ken Armstrong 5 11.36%
Lincoln Chafee (write-in) 4 9.09%
Others 11 25%

Georgia

2020 Georgia Libertarian Party Straw Poll (January 18, 2020)[24]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Adam Kokesh 48 28.7%
Jo Jorgensen 29 17.4%
Vermin Supreme 26 15.6%
Dan "Taxation is Theft" Behrman 21 12.6%
Sam Robb 20 12.0%
other 23

Note: Each member of the debate audience was given three votes to allocate among the candidates.

Iowa

2020 Libertarian Party Presidential Caucus- Iowa (February 8, 2020)[25]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 134 47.52%
Lincoln Chafee 36 12.77%
Jo Jorgensen 18 6.38%
Adam Kokesh 17 6.03%
Dan Behrman 14 4.96%
John McAfee 10 3.55%
Vermin Supreme 9 3.55%
Other (write-in) 8 2.84%
None of the Above (NOTA) 8 2.84%
Sam Robb 7 2.48%
Max Abramson 6 2.13%
Mark Whitney 4 1.42%
Arvin Vohra 3 1.06%
Ken Armstrong 2 0.71%
Souraya Faas 2 0.71%
Benjamin Leder 1 0.35%
John Monds 1 0.35%

California

Two straw polls were held at the 2020 California convention following the presidential debate. The first "informal" poll was done immediately following the debate, with anybody present allowed to vote, and using a form which listed the debate participants. The second "official" (provided for in the LPC's standing convention rules) poll was done the following day, with only state convention delegates participating.

2020 California Convention Informal Straw Poll (16 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 51 39.2%
Adam Kokesh 22 16.9%
Lincoln Chafee 19 14.6%
Jo Jorgensen 15 11.5%
Mark Whitney 13 10.0%
Vermin Supreme 8 6.2%
NOTA 2 1.5%
2020 California Convention Official Straw Poll (17 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 30 36.6%
Adam Kokesh 19 23.2%
Lincoln Chafee 10 12.2%
Jo Jorgensen 8 9.8%
Vermin Supreme 6 7.3%
Mark Whitney 3 3.7%
Sorinne Ardeleanu 2 2.4%
John Monds 2 2.4%
Arvin Vohra 2 2.4%

The California primary was held 3 March 2020 and included a presidential preference portion for each recognized party. There were 13 candidates listed on the ballots being provided to registered Libertarians. Voters not affiliated with any recognized party could also request this ballot. (Note: This election was nominally held 3 March, but voting started in some counties as early as the first week of February.)

2020 California Presidential Preference Primary (3 March 2020)
(preliminary results as of 8 April)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 5515 19.4%
Jo Jorgensen 3519 12.4%
Vermin Supreme 3458 12.2%
Ken Armstrong 3005 10.6%
Kim Ruff 2328 8.2%
Adam Kokesh 2143 7.5%
Sam Robb 1718 6.0%
Dan Behrman 1687 5.9%
Max Abramson 1600 5.6%
Souraya Faas 995 3.5%
Steven A. Richey 978 3.4%
Erik Chase Gerhardt 743 2.6%
Keenan Wallace Dunham 713 2.4%

Note: Two candidates listed on this ballot withdrew from the race before this vote was completed (Kim Ruff on 11 January and Max Abramson on 2 March), but there is no provision in California law for a candidate to be de-listed from the ballot and there was no indication on the ballot that these individuals were no longer running.

Arkansas

2020 Arkansas Convention Straw Poll (22 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 21 67.7%
John Monds 2 6.5%
Lincoln Chafee 2 6.5%
Sam Robb 2 6.5%
Dan Behrman 1 3.2%
Keenan Dunham 1 3.2%
Mark Whitney 1 3.2%
NOTA 1 3.2%

Florida

2020 Florida Convention Straw Poll (22 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 29 26.4%
John Monds 22 20.0%
Vermin Supreme 21 19.1%
Adam Kokesh 10 9.1%
Dan Behrman 9 8.2%
NOTA 6 5.5%
Jo Jorgensen 5 4.5%
Mark Whitney 3 2.7%
Arvin Vohra 3 2.7%
Lincoln Chafee 2 1.8%

Montana

2020 Montana Convention Straw Poll (23 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 8 29.6%
Lincoln Chafee 8 29.6%
John Monds 5 18.5%
Ken Armstrong 3 11.1%
Daniel Behrman 2 7.4%
Steve Richey 1 3.7%

Nevada

2020 Nevada Convention Straw Poll (29 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
John Monds 6 46.2%
NOTA 5 38.4%
Jo Jorgensen 2 15.4%

North Carolina

2020 North Carolina Presidential Preference Primary (3 March 2020)
(preliminary results as of 4 March)
Candidate Votes Percentage
No Preference 2060 29.8%
Jacob Hornberger 604 8.7%
John McAfee 570 8.2%
Kim Ruff 545 7.9%
Vermin Supreme 410 5.9%
Ken Armstrong 366 5.3%
Jo Jorgensen 316 4.6%
Steve Richey 278 4.0%
Adam Kokesh 240 3.5%
Max Abramson 236 3.4%
James Orlando Ogle 232 3.4%
Kenneth Blevins 199 2.9%
Dan Behrman 194 2.8%
Jedidiah Hill 194 2.8%
Souraya Faas 193 2.8%
Erik Gerhardt 150 2.2%

Massachusetts

2020 Massachusetts Presidential Preference Primary (3 March 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
No Preference 804 21.0%
Vermin Supreme 399 10.4%%
Jacob Hornberger 369 9.6%
Dan Behrman 294 7.7%
Kim Ruff 224 5.8%
Arvin Vohra 151 3.9%
Ken Armstrong 145 3.8%
Jo Jorgensen 141 3.7%
Sam Robb 127 3.3%
Adam Kokesh 125 3.3%
Max Abramson 98 2.6%
all others 958 25.0%

Alaska

2020 Alaska Convention Straw Poll (7 March 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 9 56.3%
Jo Jorgensen 5 31.3%
Adam Kokesh 1 6.3%
Mark Whitney 1 6.3%

Indiana

2020 Indiana Convention Straw Poll (7 March 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 19 24.7%
Jo Jorgensen 16 20.8%
John Monds 12 15.6%
Lincoln Chafee 9 11.7%
Adam Kokesh 7 9.1%
Vermin Supreme 7 9.1%
Ken Armstrong 3 3.9%
Max Abramson 1 1.3%
NOTA 3 3.9%

Kentucky

2020 Kentucky Convention Straw Poll (8 March 2020) (initial round)
Candidate Votes Percentage
John Monds 13 40.6%
Mark Whitney 6 18.8%
Adam Kokesh 4 12.5%
Jacob Hornberger 3 9.4%
Jo Jorgensen 3 9.4%
Ken Armstrong 1 3.1%
Vermin Supreme 1 3.1%
Justin Amash (w.i.) 1 3.1%

Virginia

2020 Virginia Convention Straw Poll (14 March 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 25 44.6%
Ken Armstrong 8 14.3%
Jo Jorgensen 8 14.3%
Dan Behrman 3 5.4%
John Monds 3 5.4%
NOTA 3 5.4%
Lincoln Chafee 2 3.6%
Vermin Supreme 2 3.6%
Arvin Vohra 2 3.6%

Wyoming

2020 Wyoming (virtual) Convention Straw Poll (4 April 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Lincoln Chafee 14 87.5%
Jacob Hornberger 1 6.25%
NOTA 1 6.25%

Michigan

2020 Michigan Convention Straw Poll (4 April 2020)
(instant runoff)
Candidate 1st Round
Votes
1st Round
Percentage
2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Final
Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 22 29.3% 24 24 26 26 28 33 58.9%
Justin Amash (w.i.) 21 28.0% 21 21 21 21 21 23 41.1%
Vermin Supreme 10 13.3% 10 12 12 12 16
Adam Kokesh 5 6.7% 6 7 7 9
Lincoln Chafee 4 5.3% 4 5 5
Nicholas Sarwark (w.i.) 4 5.3% 4 4
Brian Ellison 3 4.0% 3
Ken Armstrong 3 4.0% 3
Arvin Vohra 1 1.3%
Jo Jorgensen 1 1.3%
Donald Trump (w.i.) 1 1.3%

 
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