Jo Jorgensen, the Libertarian Party’s 2020 presidential nominee, has formed an exploratory committee for a possible 2028 presidential campaign, opening the door to another bid for the party’s nomination.
In a statement dated May 27, Jorgensen said she has spent recent months considering whether to run again, with that decision weighing more heavily following the Libertarian Party’s recent national convention in Grand Rapids. She said forming an exploratory committee will allow her to listen to supporters, assess the road ahead, and begin building the structure needed for a possible campaign.
“I have been deeply humbled by the many people who have reached out to me, spoken with me in person, commented on social media, and encouraged me to keep going,” Jorgensen said. “I want those people to know that I hear them, and I do not take their trust for granted.”
Jorgensen was the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee in 2020, winning the nomination on the fourth round of voting. She ran with podcaster Spike Cohen, originally Vermin Supreme’s running mate, as her vice presidential nominee. The ticket appeared on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and received 1,865,535 votes nationally, finishing third behind Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump.
Before her 2020 campaign, Jorgensen was also the party’s 1996 vice presidential nominee alongside Harry Browne. That ticket received 485,798 votes nationally, finishing fifth. She was also the Libertarian nominee for South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District in 1992.
Outside her time in Libertarian electoral politics, Jorgensen has worked in academia and currently serves as a principal lecturer at Clemson University. She is also president of People for Liberty, a nonprofit that operates as a speakers bureau for libertarian figures.
In her statement, Jorgensen said she is not considering another run for attention or power, but because she believes voters deserve an option focused on responsibility, sound money, peace, and constitutional limits. She compared seeking office to “a form of self-defense” in response to what she portrayed as a cycle of reckless government growth, spending, and borrowing.
Jorgensen also focused on inflation, which she called one of the “cruelest taxes.” She said that while it is often discussed in abstract terms by government officials, it has become “painfully real” for working families. She also criticized the federal debt, monetary policy, and both the Republican and Democratic parties for contributing to “more control, more spending, and more excuses.”
“We cannot sustain this course,” she continued. “We cannot borrow forever, print forever, regulate forever, and pretend there will be no reckoning. Our country needs a course correction rooted in liberty, discipline, and hard truths.”
The statement is directing supporters to sign up through a new website associated with the committee, where Jorgensen said she will share campaign developments, fundraising notices, and additional ways to stay involved as the process continues.
“I am grateful for the encouragement I have received,” Jorgensen said. “I am taking this responsibility seriously. And I believe, now more than ever, that liberty is worth defending and that the American people are ready to hear the truth.”
@Adamson, my point in my comment was to show that it’s not just “the various socialist parties who repeatedly run the same person or the Drys who have done much the same.”
NR & DWP – Ronald Reagan ran a shadow campaign for President in 1968, a real campaign for President in the Republican primaries in 1976, and lost both times. He ran a third time in 1980 and carried 44 states. He promoted tax relief and deregulation along with some policies that were less beneficial. In 1980, fewer people said he already ran too many times than the number of people who voted for him.
Darryl, I don’t think any of those you cite are great examples to recommend someone running multiple times. Biden was too old when finally elected, Nixon too paranoid, and W..J. Bryan a tired crank. (Note: my libertarianism aside, I think Nixon would have made a good President had he been elected in 1960.)
Jo ran two quiet candidacies (my libertarian friends all called her “Jo the Librarian” for her lack of verve and vivacity on the stump and doesn’t deserve a third chance.
@NewFed: notable major party candidates to run and/or be on a ballot multiple times
Joe Biden ran for POTUS in 1988, and was a 2 term VP (2009-2017) before being elected in 2020.
Richard Nixon was a 2 term VP, and ran in 1960 against JFK. He was elected POTUS in 1968.
William Jennings Bryan was the Dem nominee three times (1896, 1900, 1908).
And me recently Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney & John McCain all lost a POTUS nomination bid before later winning their party’s nomination.
While I’m happy to Jo Jorgensen active in the liberty movement, I much rather see someone more prominent and younger take on the mantle of presidential candidate. Personally I’d love to see Spike Cohen, Cory Massimino, Thomas Massie, or Amash aim for the spot
I hope she reconsiders. She has already appeared on the national ticket twice. I believe that is enough. The third time is not the charm… it puts the LP in a league with the various socialist parties who repeatedly run the same person or the Drys who have done much the same.
Ahh, that was lost between the Substack post and here! I’ve added that back in. You can also find her website here.
The URL of the her new web site would be of interest. Her last campaign, by standing against alt-right racist nonsense, also known as Republicanism, was a sound step.
She needs to explore how she screwed up her last campaign with the anti-racist nonsense and supporting BLM.
I am glad to hear that Jo Jorgensen is still active and interested in running again.