Local candidates affiliated with the Libertarian Party in Michigan, Kansas, and Washington state advanced in nonpartisan primary elections held Tuesday, securing spots on the November general election ballot in their respective communities.
Elections took place in seven states earlier this week, including municipal primaries in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, and Washington, and special elections in Mississippi, Delaware, and Rhode Island. Ahead of those races, the national Libertarian Party identified and promoted a slate of six local members seeking office on social media.
According to results shared by the party following Tuesday’s primaries, four of them were successful in their races. One other candidate had their primary cancelled after a challenger withdrew, automatically triggering a process that qualifies all those who would have appeared on the ballot during that primary had it taken place. All five candidates will now advance to general elections scheduled for November 4.
In Washington state, local reports show that Cobi Clark earned 1,798 votes in his race for Auburn City Council, securing 29.5% of the total and placing second overall in the primary. Clark, a member of the Libertarian Party of Washington State, earned the party’s endorsement ahead of the race and previously served on the Libertarian National Committee’s 2022 Platform Committee. He will now compete against the first-place finishing candidate in the general election for a four-year term.
Also in Washington, unofficial results show that Alan Rubio qualified for the Everett City Council general election after winning 334 votes for 32.49% of the vote. He is also a member of the state Libertarian Party and formally received its endorsement ahead of his primary election. Like Cobi Clark, Rubio will join the top vote-getter on the ballot in a race for a four-year term on the council.
In Michigan, unofficial results show Chris Clark advanced to the general election for Taylor City Council, securing 1,783 votes for 5.53% of the total in a field of 16 candidates. Clark is a member of the state party and former legislative candidate, having sought Michigan’s 13th legislative district as a Libertarian during the 2024 election cycle. Clark and 13 other candidates will appear on the general election ballot, where voters will select seven to serve at-large. Each winning candidate will hold a four-year term.
Also in Michigan, Scotty Boman advanced to the general election in his race for Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners, which is responsible for overseeing the Detroit Police Department, including setting policy, approving the budget, and handling misconduct complaints. Boman is a current member of the Libertarian Party of Michigan’s Executive Committee and an elected member of Detroit’s Community Advisory Council. After one of Boman’s fellow candidates withdrew from the primary, it was cancelled, with all candidates slated to automatically progress to the November ballot. If successful later this year, Boman will serve another four-year term.
Lastly, in Junction City, Kansas, local reports show that Sam Yoskowitz finished second out of ten candidates for City Commission, receiving 365 votes for 15.8% of the total. Yoskowitz is a first-time candidate. She will now face six other candidates in the general election once provisional ballots are tallied, competing for one of three open seats. All commissioners serve two-year terms, with staggered elections held every year.
Libertarian Party members were also successful in a number of races earlier this year, with candidates picking up or retaining municipal seats in Oklahoma, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas.
Editorial note: Scotty Boman is a contributor to Independent Political Report. He was not approached or consulted for this article.
Also Reese Smith in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who is the Republican and Democratic nominee for a school board seat. He is an active member of the LPPA.