Libertarian Party presidential candidate Chase Oliver addressed New Hampshire voters during his campaign tour of the New England region this past Saturday night.
Speaking to a full private room at The Farm Bar and Grille, a local restaurant in downtown Manchester, Oliver outlined where he stood on several hot-button issues and fielded audience questions about his campaign. Independent Political Report was in attendance that evening to report on the event.
The event was open to the public, attracting a mix of party individuals and locals, including one such local man who identified himself as a Social Democrat. Oliver’s presence also drew the attendance of several well-known local Libertarian Party figures, among them former Libertarian Party of New Hampshire Chair Conrad Nelson and former Libertarian National Committee Chair Nicholas Sarwark, the latter whose private organization co-hosted the event in conjunction with the Oliver campaign.
Oliver opened the night by recounting his journey into the Libertarian Party, crediting his involvement to Georgia Libertarian John Monds over a decade ago. At the time, Oliver identified as an anti-war activist, a perspective he said was brought on by the events of September 11. He was a member of the Democratic Party when he was approached by Monds, who shared a common commitment to anti-war principles.
According to Oliver, who had grown dissatisfied with the Democrats at the time, Monds welcomed him into the organization without subjecting him to a test of ideological purity, allowing him to further grow and embrace the principles of the Libertarian Party at an organic pace.
Oliver drew a contrast between this approach and the expectation that individuals must agree on all issues from the outset, which he saw as creating a situation where members are “stuck in an echo chamber, stuck in irrelevance and never having the chance to grow the party.” And to Oliver, who wishes to see the Libertarian Party flourish, expanding the party means investing in the next generation of voters in a similar way, particularly Generation Z.
Oliver additionally delved into several topics frequently asked of him during his campaign, such as his positions on reproductive health and access to gender-affirming care for young people, immigration reform, the outbreak of war in Israel, and his pursuit of the Libertarian Party nomination.
I get a lot of questions about the Dobbs decision,” Oliver remarked on the topic of abortion access. Oliver said to attendees that he is pro-choice, but supports the Hyde Amendment. He would rather see society invest in an “age-appropriate awareness of sex” and make the pre-existing adoption system more accessible to those wanting to adopt.
When discussing immigration, Oliver recounted his experiences growing up with neighbors from diverse backgrounds, including Cajun, Guatemalan, and Chinese individuals, and how their presence influenced him during his youth. He expressed his desire to “free and open up our immigration system,” aiming for a process reminiscent of the Ellis Island era.
“Let them come here and live,” Oliver said to the crowd.
Commenting on the outbreak of war in Israel, Oliver remarked that in his view, “the people of Israel were attacked by Hamas.” However, he expressed reservations about the response from Israel, saying he didn’t find it “justified.” Instead, Oliver wanted a two-state solution and stressed that the United States should not take the lead in initiating dialogue. Instead, “[America’s] place is to be advocates of peace,” he stated.
Regarding gender-affirming healthcare access for youths, Oliver stated, “No, I do not want to trans the children,” addressing criticisms he has received while on the campaign trail. He elaborated on his stance, expressing support for the right of young people to access affirming care but clarifying that he does not advocate for surgical intervention until they reach adulthood. Oliver emphasized his desire to see overall decision-making shift away from the government and back toward parents and families.
Oliver also pushed back against individuals who dispute the existence of trans youths entirely, adding that he had known such trans people since a younger age. “I’ve known a trans young person for twenty years,” Oliver remarked, sharing a story of someone he grew up with to the audience, “don’t tell me trans young people don’t exist.”
Toward the end of the evening, Oliver shared his thoughts on campaigning and winning the nomination in a Libertarian Party mired by intraparty disputes.
Oliver noted that he had already raised more money than any other Libertarian candidates had at this stage in the 2020 election cycle. Independent Political Report has independently verified this claim by cross-referencing Federal Election Commission records for the October 2019 quarterly filing period of available candidates.
Oliver also said he’s dedicated to maintaining a positive tone when discussing fellow Libertarian presidential hopefuls. He mentioned his intention to embody a Libertarian interpretation of former President Ronald Reagan’s “Eleventh Commandment,” which advises against attacking a primary election competitor unless they initiate such attacks.
Oliver additionally expressed his belief that no caucus has the same level of unity seen in the lead-up to the 2020 convention season. He revealed that he had allegedly been approached by two state chairs from the Mises Caucus who, according to Oliver, acknowledged that he is not what they were initially told to expect.
Still, he stated that his campaign had prepared strategies to secure ballot access with or without the support of the Libertarian National Committee if needed be.
The 2024 Libertarian National Convention is scheduled to be held on Memorial Day weekend from May 24 to 26, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Individuals interested in learning more about the convention can do so by visiting the Libertarian Party website here. Know that a presidential candidate is coming to New Hampshire? Notify Independent Political Report today!
[Editorial note: The original article said Oliver opposes the Hyde Amendment. He actually supports the Hyde Amendment. – 10/25/23]
Hi visited the link that Darryl posted but I could not find any video there.
I am going to be observing the South Carolina libertarian party convention in November which they have happened to schedule about a $10 Uber ride from where I live.
I am going to try to get time to interview each of the candidates that show up, and also report on anything interesting that happens. When I volunteered, I promised George that even though I am no longer in the party I would be objective. 🙂
The South Carolina Libertarian Party has a long history of running their conventions very carefully “by the book” to make sure that none of the other parties can claim they have violated any of the state election laws regarding how to organize and hold a convention. I expect this one to be no different.
How he became a Libertarian is similar to how Ed Clark became a Libertarian. Ed Clark was a liberal Republican when while on a business trip at a hotel room he saw President Richard Nixon announce he was striking a blow for the free market and he was instituting wage and price controls. Ed Clark called his wife Alicia and started complaining to her about what just happened. Soon after he heard a Libertarian speak and he told himself those are my views. He joined the Libertarian Party and the rest is history.
He also spoke at a World Affairs Council NH event. Video is available at: https://wacnh.org/event-5440830