Hutchinson News: Kansas libertarians hopeful for 2018

From the Hutchinson News:

TOPEKA –Buoyed by a likable presidential candidate, Kansas libertarians are confident they can swell their ranks this year in pursuit of an improved party status in 2018.

“It’s going to be a dynamite year for us, and that is mainly because of the Gary Johnson situation,” said Rob Hodgkinson, chair of the Kansas Libertarian Party, referring to the former New Mexico governor and libertarian presidential candidate.

Johnson’s popularity has soared in recent months as dispirited voters seek alternatives to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, both of whom have high disapproval ratings. Johnson, on average, is polling at about 9 percent nationally.

“I think Gary Johnson, here in Kansas, can get in the teens,” Hodgkinson said.

The Kansas Libertarian Party has two other numbers in mind: five and 2018. If a Libertarian candidate can garner 5 percent of votes in the 2018 gubernatorial race – 1 percent more than libertarian candidate Keen Umbehr did in 2014 – the party will earn “major party” status. With that comes fewer restrictions on ballot access and the ability to take part in August primaries.

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Caryn Ann Harlos

Caryn Ann Harlos is a paralegal residing in Castle Rock, Colorado and presently serving as the Region 1 Representative on the Libertarian National Committee and is a candidate for LNC Secretary at the 2018 Libertarian Party Convention. Articles posted should NOT be considered the opinions of the LNC nor always those of Caryn Ann Harlos personally. Caryn Ann's goal is to provide information on items of interest and (sometimes) controversy about the Libertarian Party and minor parties in general not to necessarily endorse the contents.