Public Records Request Shines Light on Correspondence Between Colorado Election Officials and State and National Libertarians

Several dozen pages of email correspondence between Colorado election officials and state and national Libertarians, stemming from disputes over the placement of Libertarian Party nominee Chase Oliver on the state ballot, were publicly shared on social media last week

Libertarian Party of Colorado member and LNC Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos shared the emails via X last Thursday, saying she obtained them through a Colorado Open Records Act request. The emails pertain to efforts by the Libertarian Party of Colorado, which had announced a partnership with the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign in early July, to prevent the placement of Libertarian Party nominee Chase Oliver on the state ballot. Harlos also stated that she expects to receive a second batch of emails later this month.

The collection of emails show correspondence between the Chase Oliver campaign and the Colorado Secretary of State’s office regarding the filing of necessary paperwork to appear on the ballot. They also include communications from officers of the Libertarian Party of Colorado disputing Oliver’s placement following a resolution taken by the state party to remove him from the ballot. Additionally, the emails contain a list of presidential electors filed by the state party’s secretary, Ashley Buss, which were selected at a convention in Colorado Springs on May 25, 2024. In one email, LNC Chair Angela McArdle requested the withdrawal of the “false electors,” later following up with a statement that the Libertarian National Committee had no desire to be involved in a legal battle.

“Good Afternoon Mr. Mustin: I am the Chair of the national Libertarian Party, and I am requesting that the false electors be withdrawn. Please advise,” McArdle wrote in an email to Ballot Access Manager Jeff Mustin on July 17.

The Libertarian Party of Colorado announced on its website two days later, on July 19, that it would host a vacancy committee during the third week of August to nominate a Libertarian Party presidential candidate, vice presidential candidate, ten presidential electors, and candidates for several down-ballot offices. However, an email shared to the Libertarian National Committee’s business list the following week indicated that the Colorado Secretary of State’s office ultimately moved forward with placing Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat on the state ballot.

It is not yet known by Independent Political Report whether the Libertarian Party of Colorado proceeded with the August meeting to select a new presidential ticket; however, its involvement with the Kennedy Victory Fund was announced by the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this month. Harlos has since moved forward with a lawsuit against the Libertarian Party of Colorado and its chair in her capacity as a member of the state organization.