The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has formally appealed its disaffiliation by the Libertarian National Committee, asking the Libertarian Party’s Judicial Committee to either reverse the action and restore its state affiliate status or order the creation of an investigatory committee.
Attorney Ian Huyett filed the petition on behalf of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire and Chair Jeremy Kauffman on July 2, with the document shared to the Libertarian National Committee’s public Business List that same day. It comes in response to a May 25 meeting, where the LNC voted to revoke LPNH’s recognition as a state affiliate and require it to stop using the Libertarian Party name and logo. The petition asks the Judicial Committee to reverse that action “together with all relief incidental to making reinstatement effective.”
A June 4 notice from LNC Chair Evan McMahon, sent to the state party and included with the appeal as an item of evidence, gives LPNH’s 2024 endorsement of Donald Trump as a reason for revocation. It also says the state party undermined Libertarian candidates and “espoused numerous anti-libertarian positions” at the national level. Through the party, McMahon also shared a statement on X presenting the language of the motion stating the same reasons.
LPNH argues that the LNC failed to give the state party advance notice that revocation was being considered and identify the specific conduct alleged to constitute cause, nor did it provide it with an opportunity to respond. It also says that the Trump endorsement was the only specific charge raised during the national committee’s discussion, in the motion, and in the mailed notice, and that general claims about LPNH’s public positions are not enough to support disaffiliation “for cause.”
The petition further restates the party’s argument that the Trump endorsement should not be used against the current state party because the officers who voted for it no longer hold leadership positions. Minutes from the November 4, 2024 Executive Committee meeting provided with the appeal show that then-Treasurer Zephan Wood, then-At-Large member Reinita Susman, and then-At-Large member Matthew Fletcher voted in favor of endorsing Trump, while then-Vice Chair Nick Hubbard, who the party said spoke in opposition to the idea, voted against the motion.
Independent Political Report previously shared a copy of the minutes, noting that they reported Kauffman was appointed secretary earlier in the meeting but not listed among those voting on the endorsement, as well as that the party did not specify whether Kauffman was eligible to vote at the time. The party clarified in its appeal that Kauffman was appointed secretary in absentia, was not present at the meeting, and would not have had a vote as an interim member under LPNH bylaws even if he had been in attendance.
The filing also references a June 4 resolution approved by the current LPNH Executive Committee in response to the vote, repudiating the Trump endorsement and stating that no official act of the state party, its officers, or agents acting in its capacity will endorse a candidate of another party in a partisan election going forward. That same resolution also originally authorized Kauffman to petition the Judicial Committee.
As an alternative to reinstatement, LPNH is asking the Judicial Committee to instead order a new investigatory process based on the 2021 Dixon Committee, which the LNC created to investigate an earlier dispute involving the New Hampshire affiliate. That committee, chaired by Patrick Dixon, was created in response to a 2021 coup d’état in the state party and questions over the role of then-LNC Chair Joe Bishop-Henchman in the efforts involving the separate New Hampshire group.
The Dixon Committee ultimately concluded that Bishop-Henchman was “involved in, guided, and likely initiated” the strategy, finding his actions inappropriate as national chair. It also found that he deleted party email records before resigning following a failed vote to disaffiliate the party. As part of its work to make that determination, the committee interviewed relevant people, reviewed emails and other evidence, and constructed a timeline of events, which the current LPNH wants replicated now.
The next step in the appeal process rests with the Judicial Committee, which LPNH is asking to acknowledge receipt of the petition, set a hearing, and “preserve the status quo” while the appeal is pending. Under the most recent Libertarian Party bylaws, the committee must set a hearing within 20 to 40 days of receiving the appeal and issue its ruling within 30 days of that hearing.
Editorial note: Dr. Joe Buchman, who served on the 2021 Dixon Committee, is a member of Independent Political Report’s editorial team. He was not consulted for this article and did not contribute to its reporting or writing.
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