Each election cycle, the Libertarian Party works hard to get our candidates on as many ballots across the country as we can.
The results on Election Day will determine how much time, money, and effort will be needed to achieve ballot access in 50 states plus D.C. for our 2020 presidential nominee, just as we did in 2016.
Here are eight important races for Libertarian Party ballot access:
Travis Irvine, Ohio
Travis is running for governor of Ohio in a four-way race. The national Libertarian Party and the Libertarian Party of Ohio have invested more than $200,000 in petitioning efforts to run candidates in Ohio for 2018. If Travis gets 3 percent of the vote or more, Libertarians would automatically achieve 2020 ballot access Ohio. Travis is currently polling at 4.1 percent.
Jilletta Jarvis, New Hampshire
Jilletta is running for governor of New Hampshire, reaching out to people who have been marginalized by the current adminstration. She is working with dozens of non-profit groups to help address the opioid epidemic in New Hampshire. Ballot access for 2020 will automatically be secured for New Hampshire if Jilletta recieves 4 percent of the vote.
Larry Sharpe, New York
Larry Sharpe is running for governor of New York. Larry has campaigned in every county in the state and has received considerable media attention, including interviews on The Rubin Report, The Joe Rogan Experience, and FOX’s Kennedy. If Larry receives 50,000 votes, that would secure ballot access for New York Libertarians for the next four years. This would be a historic achievement for the Libertarian Party in New York.
Jake Porter, Iowa
Jake Porter is running for governor of Iowa. Jake is focusing on educating voters about critical issues like criminal justice reform. If he achieves 2 percent of the vote, the Libertarian Party will have automatic ballot access in Iowa in 2020. Jake recently polled at 7 percent.
Mark Rutherford, Indiana
Mark Rutherford is running for secretary of state of Indiana. Mark is a former vice chair of the Libertarian National Committee. Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed Mark to the Indiana Public Defender Commission in 2007, and he was soon elected as its chair. He has remained on the commission ever since. Mark was polling at 10 percent in May; 2 percent would secure ballot access in Indiana for both 2020 and 2022.
Bill Gelinau, Michigan
Bill is running for governor of Michigan, marking the first alternative-party candidate in 48 years to qualify for gubernatorial primary ballot in Michigan. To retain major-party status in Michigan through 2020, Bill needs to receive at least 5 percent of the vote for the winning secretary of state.
Chris Powell & John Yeutter, Oklahoma
Chris Powell is running for governor of Oklahoma and John Yeutter is running for State Auditor. Until 2016, Oklahoma Libertarians faced the strictest ballot access laws in the country. The Libertarian Party’s election results for the Gov. Gary Johnson and Gov. Jim Weld presidential race in 2016 secured ballot access for 2018. With 2.5 percent of the vote for Chris or John on Tuesday, Oklahoma Libertarians will have ballot access in 2020.
Rod Hanscomb, Connecticut
Rod is running for governor of Connecticut. This is the first time a Libertarian has been on the ballot for governor in this state in 20 years! 1 percent of the vote for Rod secures ballot access for the next Libertarian gubernatorial candidate in the 2022 election.
Vote totals for these and many other races are critical for us to have ballot access in future election cycles. We can achieve ballot access through other means, but it is best when we receive it automatically through our candidates’ vote totals.
Please vote Libertarian on Nov. 6!
You can find the Libertarian candidates on your ballot at: LP.org/ivote
As always, thank you,
Nicholas Sarwark
Chair, Libertarian National Committee
