Derrick Michael Reid Announces 2028 Libertarian Presidential Bid

Derrick Michael Reid has entered the race for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination, announcing his candidacy this week to prospective delegates to the 2028 Libertarian National Convention.

Reid shared news of his candidacy in a private Facebook group on August 13, presenting members with a platform he said is intended to usher in a unity government. The platform calls for the elimination of the federal income tax, national debt, Federal Reserve, and what he calls “federal socialism.” He also called himself “indispensable to the nation” and “invincible as a presidential candidate,” predicting that his platform would garner overwhelming support among Libertarians.

In a biography included with the announcement, Reid said he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a law degree from Western State University in Fullerton. He said he spent much of his professional career working in engineering and patent law and also identified himself as the longtime chair of the Libertarian Party of Orange County.

This is not Reid’s first bid for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination. He previously sought it during the 2016 cycle, participating in party events, including an early presidential debate, and ultimately appearing on primary ballots in California, North Carolina, and Oregon, although those contests did not bind national convention delegates. Reid did not receive enough delegate support to qualify for the presidential ballot at the national convention.

Aside from his presidential bids, Reid ran for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian in 2018, receiving 60,000 votes, or roughly 0.9 percent, in California’s top-two primary. He most recently ran as a Libertarian in California’s 47th Congressional District this year, finishing the June primary with 1,291 votes, or roughly 0.7 percent.

Reid’s entry comes as former Libertarian presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen considers another bid for the party’s nomination. Jorgensen formed an exploratory committee in May and has since begun recruiting supporters and raising money around a possible 2028 campaign, though she has not moved beyond the exploratory phase.