Former Libertarian presidential candidate Lars Mapstead won the New Mexico presidential primary earlier this week, defeating a slate of uncommitted delegates. The Libertarian Party nominated its presidential ticket at the Libertarian National Convention last month.
Unofficial results released by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office show that Mapstead handily beat the uncommitted slate following the June 6 primary, earning 428 votes to 332 votes for the slate, accounting for 56% of the total. No other candidate filed to appeared on the ballot.
| Candidate Name | Vote Total | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Lars Mapstead | 428 votes | 56% |
| Uncommitted Delegates | 332 votes | 44% |
Under New Mexico law, only registered Libertarians were able to vote in the June 6 primary election.
The results have no impact on the Libertarian Party’s nomination process, which concluded over Memorial Day weekend with delegates choosing Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat. Even if the primary had preceded the convention, its results would have remained non-binding. Mapstead was eliminated during the fourth round of convention voting, where he earned the support of 139 delegates.
I thank and congratulate Mr. Mapstead on his sincere efforts.
Every little bit helps in increasing awareness. Keep spreading the good word!
–MG
I thank and congratulate Mr. Mapstead on his sincere efforts.
Every little bit helps in increasing awareness. Keep spreading the good word!
–MG
The NMLP that has ballot access is not affiliated with the national LP and not bound by its convention results. They might choose to put Oliver, Mapstead, no candidate, or whoever else they wish on the ballot. They’re not necessarily bound by the primary, either.
There’s a petition effort to put the national ticket on the ballot there, which may or may not succeed, and may or may not be suspended if they decide to put that ticket on the ballot (or, they may want the LNC to spend as much as possible out of spite even if they like that ticket).
“The results of the primary have no impact on the Libertarian nomination process”
More’s the pity. I wouldn’t have voted Mapstead out of the LNC line-up and I would never vote him in the general election. However, winning the New Mexico LP’s nomination in spite of the LNC’s pick would have been a satisfying compensation for Trump’s cronies removing his campaign ads at the LNC.
That said, Jordan, IIRC, the NM LP is one of those state parties that still has “its own ballot line,” right? So, presumably, Lars is the candidate in NM, unless, irony of ironies, McAwful sues?
Or will both he and Chase be listed separately?
(Rubs hands with glee or something)