LP.org blog:
Last night the Libertarian Party achieved a number of critically-important ballot access victories, making the LP a recognized party in 39 states, the highest ever after an election in the party’s history.
- The Texas LP retained ballot access with Railroad Commission candidate Mark Miller receiving over 5 percent. The party would have had to collect over 80,000 signatures to get back on the ballot if no statewide candidate received 5 percent. This will save the party approximately $220,000 in petitioning cost.
- The LP retained ballot access in North Carolina for four years with Gary Johnson and the gubernatorial candidate, Lon Cecil, each getting over 2 percent. The party would have had to collect over 100,000 signatures to get back on the ballot if neither the presidential nor gubernatorial candidate got 2 percent, saving the party approximately $250,000 in petitioning cost.
- Iowa and Kentucky are recognized parties for the first time, with Gary Johnson getting over 2 percent in both states.
- New Hampshire is a recognized party for the first time in two decades due to governor candidate Max Abramson getting over 4 percent.
- The DC party is recognized for the second time ever, with candidate for Delegate to the US House of Representatives Martin Moulton getting over 17,000 votes.
- The LP retained ballot access in North Dakota, with Gary Johnson getting over 6 percent.
- In Connecticut, Libertarian Dan Reale for US House in the second congressional district, Richard Lion for US Senate, and Gary Johnson for President all received over one percent of the vote. As a result, the party will not have to petition in these races in the next election.
- Massachusetts is a recognized party again, with Gary Johnson getting over 3 percent.
- West Virginia retained ballot access for four years due to David Moran receiving over 2 percent in his race for governor.
“Matt Cholko
November 10, 2016 at 22:59
Did we not meet the threshold for retention in OK?”
Ballot access was retained in Oklahoma for the first time in the party’s history. The retention is only until 2018 though, so retaining ballot access for 2020 will rely on the 2018 Governor’s race.
Did we not meet the threshold for retention in OK?
It is always pleasing to see more ballot access, not matter which party gains it.
The Texas LP needs to lobby the legislature for a better ballot access law for retention. The fact that the Greens are off might help. The Republican majority in the legislature might be amenable to an easier vote test given their potential desire to have the Greens back on.
The fact that the Texas LP’s star candidate this year only got 5.2%, even though he had the biggest newspapers in the state backing him, shows how tough it is to get that showing in Texas. That was the first and only time the LP ever got 5% in Texas in a statewide race with both a Dem and a Rep. The LP survived 2004 through 2014 because Democrats left some slots open.