Travis Irvine, the 2018 Libertarian candidate for governor of Ohio
The Libertarian Party of Ohio is running 22 candidates statewide in this November’s election, following the state’s restoring last month of their status as a party.
WOSU 89.7 FM radio, the NPR affiliate in Columbus, reported on the party’s selection of the candidates, led by Travis Irvine, running for governor, and Todd Grayson, running for lieutenant governor. From the station’s Aug. 27 article, “Travis Irvine picked as Libertarian candidate for Ohio governor,” by Gabe Rosenberg with contributions by AP:
Restored to minor party status in Ohio, the Libertarian Party has picked its statewide ballot for November’s elections.
In the governor race, Bexley native Travis Irvine will run as the “pro-freedom alternative to career politicians” Mike DeWine and Richard Cordray, the Republican and Democratic candidates, respectively. Business owner Todd Grayson will run for lieutenant governor.
Irvine is a filmmaker and comedian who ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Bexley in 2007.
“Voters who want real, positive change here in Ohio know they’re not going to get it from Republicans or Democrats,” Irvine said in a statement.
Irvine’s platform includes the legalization of marijuana, protecting gun rights, criminal justice reform, reducing regulations and cutting taxes.
Todd Grayson, the 2018 Libertarian candidate for lieutenant governor of Ohio
The party nominated Robert Coogan, a Cincinnati accountant and finance professional, for state auditor. He’ll run against Republican Keith Faber and Democrat Zack Space. Dustin Nanna, of Delaware, will run for secretary of state against Democrat Kathleen Clyde and Republican Frank LaRose.
The Libertarian Party of Ohio regained minor party status in July through a process imposed under Ohio’s new, more restrictive third-party law. That allowed the party’s candidates to seek office in the upcoming election despite not being able to hold a primary.
The Libertarian Party will not field a candidate for the 12th District congressional election, after Matthew Brendan O’Connor failed to submit enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. However, it will run candidates in four other congressional races.
Irvine must win 3 percent of the statewide vote in order to keep the Libertarian Party’s status for the 2020 presidential election.
The four candidates the party selected to run for U.S. house are:
- Dirk Austin Kubala, District 1
- Don Kissick, District 5
- David Harlow, District 10
- Johnathan Miller, District 15
Learn more about these Ohio Libertarian candidates at their campaign websites:
- Travis Irvine for Governor and Todd Grayson for Lieutenant Governor: IrvineForOhio.com
- Robert Coogan for Ohio Auditor of State: Coogan4liberty.org
- Dustin Nanna for Secretary of State: Facebook.com/DustinNannaActivist
Learn about LP Ohio’s full slate of 2018 candidates.
Learn more about the work of LP Ohio.
More than 800 other Libertarian candidates are running for office throughout the country in 2018.
