Mike ter Maat, the Libertarian Party’s 2024 vice presidential nominee, has joined the Republican Party and the Republican Liberty Caucus, according to a press release shared with Independent Political Report. He is joined by several dozen former Libertarian activists.
Editorial note: This article has been updated to include a quote from Chase Oliver, ter Maat’s presidential running mate during the 2024 election cycle.
In the June 10 release, ter Maat described the move as a “strategic shift” rather than an ideological change. He referred to the Republican Party as the “arena for critical debate” in the next political cycle, and added that in order to strengthen the economy through free markets, unify the nation through the Constitution, and advocate for fiscal conservatism and a “common-sense foreign policy,” Americans must engage “where it matters most.”
Republican Liberty Caucus Chair John Dennis welcomed the announcement, calling ter Maat “a leading voice for liberty” and pointing to Donald Trump’s appearance at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention as indicative of a broader effort to appeal to “liberty-minded change agents.” Dennis described the caucus as “the right entry point” for liberty Republicans, Libertarians, and independents committed to the fight for constitutional governance.
Following the release, Chase Oliver, ter Maat’s presidential running mate during the 2024 election cycle, gave IPR the following statement:
This isn’t the choice I would make, and I’m skeptical of its success, but Mike is his own man, and I respect him as a good person, and he was a supportive running mate. He’s made clear to me personally and to others that this isn’t a personal attack or a statement against me or our campaign. We were both proud of running for public office and the efforts we made as candidates for president and vice president.
If he ends up being successful in spreading liberty and libertarianism in the GOP, I’ll be happy to be proven wrong. I don’t believe, however, that the GOP is a climate for those ideas to grow at this time.
I wish him well, even though I am highly skeptical of his chance to succeed in the current climate of the GOP, which disrespects libertarian positions on the economy, due process, separation of powers, and more.
The release identifies four former Libertarian Party leaders spearheading the shift. They are Michael Smith, former chair of the Libertarian Party of Broward County in Florida; David Moscrip, former chair of the Libertarian Party of Hillsborough County in Florida; Irene Mavrakakis, former chair of the Libertarian Party of Delaware; and Corey Fauconier, a former state senate candidate and communications director for the Libertarian Party of Virginia.
“This is the right team, supporting the right brand, to fight the right fight,” ter Maat added. “We’re excited to join the battle inside the GOP for constitutional governance.”
Also named were several dozen additional former Libertarian Party candidates, officers, and organizers, making the transition over to the Republican Liberty Caucus, many of whom were involved in ter Maat’s 2024 campaign. Others are current members of the Republican Party joining the transition. These include former Libertarian Party of Florida chair Joshua Hlavka, Libertarian Party of Virginia district chairs Donna Johnson Grebas and Amity Dolby, and Talks Over Drinks podcast contributors Jeff Kleb and Sandy Sanders. A full list is included in the release.
I have seen this kind of thing happen many times over the past 40 years. I much prefer the libertarians who stay with the Libertarian Party.
Many years ago at a Libertarian Party of California convention the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) had a table (booth) at the convention. A delegate made a point of personal privilege and asked why the convention organizers allowed an organization of another political party to have a table. The organizers responded the RLC was a libertarian origination so they should be allowed to have a table. There was disagreement about allowing the RLC which was a caucus in the Republican Party to have a table at a Party convention. There was a motion which was seconded to require the convention organizers to ask the RLC to leave. The motion which I voted in favor of was easily adopted and the RLC was required to leave which they did.
In light of his views I am glad Mike ter Maat left and though I considered voting for him to be our presidential nominee I am glad I did not. I suggest local, state, and the national party never invite Mike ter Maat to speak at any Party event. Of course if he is still a Party member of the national or of a state Party his membership rights should be honored but membership rights does not mean a Party member who is a member of another political party can not be denied from being an official speaker at any Party event.
Matt:
I hate to say this, but there is something terribly “transactional” about this move.
Color me disappointed, to say the least.
Larry Gillis, Director at Large 2, Libertarian Party of Florida
Another fool’s errand I’m afraid.
Editorial note: This article has been updated to include a quote from Chase Oliver, ter Maat’s presidential running mate during the 2024 election cycle.
I agree Shawn. I’ve seen this happen repeatedly since RLC formed in 1991. A look at today’s Republican Party gives an indication of how successful that approach has been. However, everyone has to find their own path. I wish them well.
It’s too bad modern Republicans hate them.
I’m sorry that they left the LP.
I feel they will be fighting a greater uphill battle that will achieve no more within the GOP than they did in the LP, with the drawback of having their voices effectively silenced.
That said, this is the point of a marketplace of ideas. You always have other options. Anyone who has a plan that depends on “we ALL must do ‘x'” has hit a point of failure from the start.