The Classical Liberal Caucus of the Libertarian Party has issued a report on the state of the Libertarian Party in 2023. The report, released on May 26, considers income, membership, and Presidential candidate ballot access by comparison with previous periods.
The report is not positive in its observations. Income is down very considerably. Looking at May-to-April fundraising years, 2022-2023 was the second-worst fundraising total in 30 years, second only to 2006. Monthly income per member is at an all-time low. Membership has recently fallen markedly. Ballot access is challenging. The number of new life members has fallen to zero.
The report then gives recommendations. In particular, the LNC should listen to members, solve staff turnover, revitalize major donor relationships, refocus messaging (“Messaging has fallen into an echochamber, and isn’t representative of most members”), restore candidate training programs, stop suing other Libertarians, and have fewer secret meetings. Finally, the LNC should get back to doing politics.
As a conclusion, the report urges libertarians to continue to give to the LNC, especially the ballot access fund, to stay active in the Party, and to join the Classical Libertarian Caucus.
You can read the full report here as a PDF file.
Publication of the Facebook has led to controversy there. LNC Treasurer Todd Hagopian objected to the use of inflation-adjusted dollars to compare party income in different years. He maintained that the correct comparison was with simple dollar numbers not adjusted for inflation. In considering inflation, readers should consider that a dollar in 2000 would be worth about 57 cents now, and inflation in the pay rate demanded by petitioners has been considerably more dramatic.
Thank you for catching the error, which has now been corrected.
I suspect ‘net new life memberships’ is correct, since the claim is based on the reported total number, assuming the periods under discussion are the same. When did you become a life member?
I have heard many false claims of bylaws violations, mostly against people I only distantly know. The Massachusetts group followed carefully its bylaws, a statement of which I am confident since I wrote them.
Travis speaking truth! The New LNC is better than ever. They do need to work on the news page, just like all other LNCs of years past. This is one area that has always been poorly updated.
Is the Classical Libertarian Caucus different than the Classical Liberal Caucus? I was under the assumption, based on every piece of their information, the CLC was the Classical Liberal Caucus. I wasn’t aware of the name change.
“No new life memberships” is verifiably false, as I myself am one of them. Mr. Phillies’ friends have actively defrauded multiple state affiliates by ignoring bylaws, failing to turn over assets and leadership after legitimate elections and/or Judicial Committee decisions, and abusing party assets to deceive members. Lawsuits and risk to ballot access are a direct result of these actions as well as actions by duopoly controlled legislatures, and are not a reflection on the current LNC.
Laying aside whether the current LNC is doing a good job, there are pro- and anti- articles of all kinds depending on what is submitted. The reports of LNC meetings are factual and usually in real time and often reflect pro-Angela sentiments expressed at LNC meetings..
Some organizations put out press releases in favor of or opposed to particular policies or stances, and those get covered here when people notice them and write about them. The LP doesn’t do much in the way of press releases any more, having made an intentional choice to rely on Twitter and other social media. A look at the LP home page shows no link to any kind of press page, and the “news” section of the home page doesn’t show much activity in terms of updates, releases, etc.
Parties and politicians have to make their own news. The LP has decided to move towards podcasting, Twitter, etc. which isn’t generally going to attract much attention aside from those of us who spend too much time online, like me.
I do not recall any formal or informal statements put out by the LP during the terms of Chair for Nicholas Sarwark, Joe Bishop-Henchman, or Whitney Bilyeu which called for active participation in a non-defensive war, world government, mask mandates, or vaccine mandates. I would like Mr Jones to provide sources so that I can evaluate them and perhaps come to the same conclusion that he has.
I’ve actually increased donations since Angela became chair. Why are there no pro Angela articles on this page?
The Sarwark faction advocated for people who support war, world government, plus mask and jab mandates. None of that is libertarian. McArdle is bringing back libertarianism to the party.
Based off of basic metrics used in business, the LP isn’t doing good. Falling revenue, dwindling consumer base, high employee turnover, and disconnected corporate narrative are signs of Failing leadership. If McArdle were the CEO of a company, she would have lost her job by now at minimum.
Disagree with Jeff. Angela is doing a great job and she is a pure libertarian. I don’t want Bill Weld and actual communists running for chair like in 2018- those are the types Sarwark’s group brought in.
Better a Bill Weld type than the motley assortment of MAGA-lite podcasters and edgelords that they’re currently trying to appeal to.
Essentially they say the LP should water down the message and invite Bill Weld types. No thanks.
The party is in better shape than this group wants you to believe. They are obviously biased.