The Libertarian Party of New Mexico issued a response this week to a recent letter by the Libertarian National Committee nullifying the state party’s recent Constitutional Convention, asserting itself as an independent organization outside of the influence of the national party.
The Libertarian National Committee initially sent a letter to the Libertarian Party of New Mexico this month, stating that it had met in person and passed a motion concluding that a Constitutional Convention held by the state party on July 12 was null and void. It also instead recognizes the official Constitution and Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of New Mexico as adopted on March 27, 2021.
The response comes a week after the Libertarian National Committee first issued the letter. In it, the Libertarian Party of New Mexico asserted its autonomy as an independent organization and pushed back against what it called “interference” into the state party’s internal operations.
“This notice is to inform Libertarian National Committee, Inc that the Libertarian Party of New Mexico is an independent organization and state political party operating as an entity in the State of New Mexico”, the press release read, “The Libertarian Party of New Mexico does not recognize any actions, directives, orders, commands, rulings, or any other interference with the internal operations of the Libertarian Party of New Mexico by the Libertarian National Committee or any of its affiliated committees.”
Included in the Facebook post sharing the press release, the Libertarian Party of New Mexico demanded that the LNC rescind its letter within ten days of receiving the formal response. “The autonomy of the affiliate and sub-affiliate parties shall not be abridged by the National Committee or any other committee of the Party, except as provided by these bylaws,” it stated.
The Libertarian National Committee has not publicly responded to the New Mexico state affiliate at this time. The full press release from the Libertarian Party of New Mexico can be viewed here.
This article has been updated on 8/26/2022 to include an official YouTube video response from the Libertarian Party of New Mexico.
This article has been updated to include a YouTube video response from the Libertarian Party of New Mexico.
“The Libertarian Party of New Mexico has severed all ties with the national Libertarian Party”
https://twitter.com/AndrewRCraig/status/1563041745042296833
I believe the LPNM will continue to be a major party under New Mexico election law after this election cycle. There is no Republican nominee in the State Auditor’s race so obtaining at least 5% of the vote in a statewide race seems very likely. Unfortunately, the nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor are retread Republicans that probably would score well under 60% libertarian on the Nolan chart if they even knew what that was. Oh well… as neurotics say, “this too shall pass.”
Having seen the Green Party “de-platform” a couple of state parties? Getcha popcorn!
I see there’s a bunch of mentally challenged people in the Facebook comment section that think “independent organization” means the LPNM is stating they’re disaffiliated. LPNM clearly is saying that they are a non-profit organization (registered in New Mexico as such) that is separate and distinct from the other non-profit organization that is the Libertarian National Committee. And as such, LPNM has their own separate bylaws and is not a subcommittee or beholden to the LNC. In other words, two independent organizations have formed a voluntary agreement to affiliate but one does not have direct control over the other.
At some point, someone may begin to ask if the LNC has ceased to be the legitimate national committee of the Libertarian Party.
I hope that the Libertarian Party of New Mexico runs candidates that voters will find trustworthy and inspiring.
https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Kennedy_(New_Mexico)