The Libertarian Party of Colorado announced Tuesday night that it has partnered with the campaign of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As part of this partnership, the party will place the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket on the Colorado state ballot.
In a statement shared via social media, the Libertarian Party of Colorado stated that its Board of Directors approved a resolution to partner with the Kennedy campaign as a way to strategically challenge the current two-party system and appeal to disillusioned voters in the aftermath of last week’s CNN presidential debate.
“The first presidential debate of the 2024 election highlighted major flaws and issues that all voters, especially unaffiliated and disenfranchised voters, have with the status quo candidates,” the party stated. “Now, more than ever, is the time to take bold action to disrupt the authoritarian duopoly machine.”
The party further praised Kennedy for sharing “many of the Libertarian Party’s core principles,” namely what they call his commitment to civil liberties, free markets, and a non-interventionist foreign policy.
As part of the partnership, the Libertarian Party of Colorado will place Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan on the Colorado state ballot under the Libertarian Party line. In turn, Kennedy has signed the party’s Presidential Liberty Pledge to affirm his commitment to Libertarian values. The party said that the contents of the pledge will be released at a later date.
Regarding why it chose not to endorse Libertarian Party nominees Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat, the Colorado affiliate referenced an earlier resolution approved in June. In this resolution, the party stated that its decision not to support the national ticket was a reflection of its state delegation’s support for None of the Above in the final round of voting, adding that the ticket did not align with its values and strategies.
Michael Gilson – A state LP supporting a candidate other than the one chosen by the national convention is a violation of the 1970s era state affiliation agreements, which read in part “We hereby certify that if recognized by the National Libertarian Party as an affiliate, we will not endorse or in any other manner support, any candidates running in opposition to the National Libertarian Party’s nominees for President and Vice President of the United States.”
Although Colorado’s state affiliation agreement is not publicly available, there are copies for several states available on LPEDIA, courtesy of Caryn Ann Harlos. The language for all of the ones I checked from the 1970s is identical. I have no reason to believe Colorado’s is different.
Whatever strategy you contemplated early on, it did not make it beyond the point where states began affiliating with the national party by signing that statement.
Calm down, people.
We always contemplated something like this strategically, but I’m unsure where the formal policy is. It was more in the context of state parties pushing direct democracy as in Florida then a fusion law. Colorado has neither. I believe this was authorized by a past Convention/LNC but the record-keeping and documentation of successes by LNC is improvable and should to my mind be a priority. A big problem has been far-conservatives getting on state and national committees and ‘losing’ the archives.
Ad interim the LNC can recognize a state LP and (as was once done) any number of affiliated and if legal party-structured ‘Libertarian Associations.’
I suggest the secretaries get to work. Otherwise this would go to the JC. long term the next Convention needs to set a procedure.
Kennedy has acknowledged the Libertarian Party of Colorado’s formal support in a recent press release.
Link: https://www.kennedy24.com/kennedy_historic_libertarian_ballot_access_colorado
Goodman showing exactly why we should all be grateful that Mark Rutherford won VC, and kudos to the Mises delegates that broke rank and voted Rutherford over this sorry excuse for a fiduciary. Disaffiliation now.
Put me down for replacing Chase Oliver. He’s not a libertarian at all.
Catfight between Mises’ Caryn Ann Harlos and Mises’ Hannah Goodman when? Will there be popcorn or should I bring my own?
Oh, sorry, now it is. Speed reading miss.
It’s not apparently obvious who you mean by she: Hannah Goodman? Caryn Ann Harlos? Anyone else? If so, who?
According to an email screenshot shared by the Libertarian National Committee Secretary, she has resigned from the Colorado affiliate’s Judicial Committee. Additionally, she is filing an appeal with the remaining Judicial Committee members and calling on the Libertarian Party of Colorado’s Board of Directors to hold a Special Convention for a recall vote of the board members.
Nathan and Robert:
None of that will happen.
Robert: do you consider yourself loyal to the Liberal Party, Libertarian Party, or both? Wouldn’t the last one be a conflict of interest?
Sad state of affairs for the LP/LNC when the founding party in the founding state doesn’t back the chosen candidate.
As mentioned elsewhere the LNC can put the kibosh on this nonsense by simply showing their unwavering support voting unanimously to re-affirm the P/VP along with all other officers & at-large elected by the delegates at convention. In addition they can vote to state that any affiliate that doesn’t support the Chase Campaign will lose all support immediately including any financial or data & would be subject for immediate vote on disaffiliation. They also can vote to help finance the placement of the campaign as an independent candidate.
Isn’t this grounds for disaffiliation?
Free markets?
Kennedy?
Commitment to?
Dumping Chase Oliver is absolutely the right move. Nominating Kennedy is absolutely the wrong move.
Interesting development, that way Kennedy got in the ballot in one more state. Better or worse, certainly he has more chance than Chase Olivier anyway. But again we are seeing this infighting inside a third party, which does not help they already very small political power…
They did something right..