Adrian F Malagon has resigned from his at-large representative position on the Libertarian National Committee, submitting a public statement sharply critical of the party’s finances, internal culture, and several fellow members. His departure follows that of Kathy Yeniscavich, who stepped down from her at-large role earlier this week.
Malagon’s posted his resignation Tuesday on the LNC’s public Business List, where he included a lengthy message outlining his reasons for stepping down. He described the national party as “a deeply unserious organization made up primarily of equally deeply unserious people” and claimed his efforts to support the national organization were no longer sustainable given its direction and internal conflicts.
“I was one of five factionless Board members, tirelessly working to plug up leaks on a sinking ship,” he wrote. “Now, Ms. Yeniscavich, the most important one of those members, has had enough and taken her leave*. The rest of the Board insists on finding obstacles to crash the ship into so long as it helps ‘their side,’ depending on the issue or day, making the attempt to find land before the ship goes under completely a clearly futile effort—one not worthy of my 30+ volunteer hours a week.”
Malagon pointed to the Libertarian Party’s ongoing financial challenges, stating the LNC is currently operating at a monthly net loss of approximately $15,000, with total expected liabilities of up to $150,000 before year’s end. He also noted what he described as declining membership numbers and an anticipated breakdown of the organization’s upcoming national convention as evidence of an institution in decline.
His resignation also included a separate message from a former board member, which offered a broader critique of the Libertarian Party Mises Caucus’ influence on national operations. The unnamed author accused former Chair Angela McArdle of mismanagement and alleged that her tenure left behind “a shell — an organization incapable of performing even its most vital functions.” The letter described a lack of fundraising infrastructure, loss of institutional knowledge, and disengagement by donors and experienced staff.
Malagon similarly resigned from his subcommittee roles, which included serving as chair of the LNC’s Financial Standards Committee and as a member of the Employment Policy and Compensation Committee. He ended his statement by quoting Jean-Paul Sartre, stating, “Hell is other people.” His resignation is effective immediately, with a vote to accept it currently underway.
Malagon was most recently elected to the Libertarian National Committee as an at-large representative this past February, though he previously served as the Region 4 Representative from May 2023 to September 2023 before becoming an at-large representative that same month until May 2024. He was named the Region 4 Alternate in June 2024 following the party’s national convention until his most recent reelection to the at-large seat. He is also Chair of the Libertarian Party of California and has served the LNC’s secretary pro tem on occasion.
*Editorial note: A link was added to Adrian F Malagon’s quote by the author of this article for context.
The hotshot Millennial jumps ship.
More fun!
Walter, given how far Libertarians finished behind Greens in last year’s presidential voting, no, it’s probably more that, when rats desert the sinking ship, the sharks start looking for chum.
Adrian was a voice of sanity in an otherwise dysfunctional board. He will be missed.
I am glad to hear that he has resigned. Hopefully he will be replaced by someone more congenial and polite.
The justification for his tactics designed to get things done is in stark contrast with what he actually accomplished in his more influential role: internal rulemaking and spectacle.
A lack of vision and lack of commitment to action in any meaningful way has been noticed by everyone watching… Must invisible to the FIVE people Mr. Malagon mentioned he belonged to.
The Libertarian Party got just big enough to matter, and that’s when the sharks started circling.
“I was one of five factionless Board members”
Uh huh… Malagon was part of the Mises Caucus faction that helped create this mess, hence his nickname MAGAlon, best dubbed by Region 1 Representative Aron Lam.
But it’s the outright denial, the constant defending of former Chairwoman Angela McArdle, and hostile and harassing unprofessional behavior toward Caryn Ann Harlos and numerous others on the LNC why Malagon’s resignation was long demanded, and now their wish has been granted.