2004 Libertarian Party presidential primaries

2004 Libertarian Party presidential primaries
Non-binding preferential vote
Gary Nolan (5)	No contest
Previous Libertarian nominee; Harry Browne;	Libertarian nominee ; Michael Badnarik;

The 2004 Libertarian Party presidential primaries allowed voters to indicate non-binding preferences for the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate. These differed from the Republican or Democratic presidential primaries and caucuses in that they did not appoint delegates to represent a candidate at the party's convention to select the party's nominee for the United States presidential election. The party's nominee for the 2004 presidential election was chosen directly by registered delegates at the 2004 Libertarian National Convention, which ran from May 28 to 31, 2008. The delegates nominated Michael Badnarik for president and Richard Campagna for vice president.

Five primaries were held.^[1] A total of 26,701 votes were cast in these primaries.

Candidates[]

Candidate	Profession	Campaign	On primary ballot					Popular vote
Candidate	Profession	Campaign	MO	WI	CA	MA	NE	Popular vote
Gary Nolan	Talk radio host							14,683
Aaron Russo	Entertainment businessman, film producer and director, and political activist							4,964
Michael Badnarik	Software engineer							4,879
Jeffrey Diket								223
Ruben Perez	2002 candidate for Texas Railroad Commission^[2]							219
Alternate ballot options:
Uncommitted/No preference/Uninstructed delegation	N/A							1,115

Primaries and caucuses[]

Missouri primary[]

In the Wisconsin primary on February 3, the Libertarian Party had a state-run primary held alongside the Democratic, Republican primaries.^[3]

Missouri Libertarian presidential primary, February 3, 2004^[3]
Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Gary Nolan	899	45.7
Uncommitted	746	37.9
N. Ruben Perez	167	8.5
Jeffrey Diket	155	7.9
Total	1,967	100

Wisconsin primary[]

In the Wisconsin primary on February 17, the Libertarian Party had a state-run primary held alongside the Democratic, Republican primaries.^[4]

Wisconsin Libertarian presidential primary, February 17, 2004^[4]
Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Gary Nolan	1,491	43.22
Michael Badnarik	1,416	41.04
Uninstructed delegation	139	4.03
Total	3,450	100

California primary[]

Type: Semi-Closed

In the California primary on March 2, the Libertarian Party had a state-run primary held alongside those for the Republicans, Democrats, the Green Party, and the Peace and Freedom Party.^[5]

California Libertarian presidential primary, March 2, 2004^[5]
Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Gary Nolan	11,885	59.2
Aaron Russo	4,858	24.2
Michael Badnarik	3,335	16.6
Total	20,078	100

Massachusetts primary[]

In the Massachusetts primary on March 2, the Libertarian Party had a state-run primary held alongside the Democratic, Republican, and Green primaries.^[1]^[6]

Massachusetts Libertarian presidential primary, March 2, 2004^[7]
Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Gary Nolan	292	28.0
No preference	230	22.0
Aaron Russo	106	10.2
Michael Badnarik	82	7.9
Jeffrey Diket	68	6.5
Ruben Perez	52	5.0
Write-ins	214	20.5
Total	1,044	100

Nebraska primary[]

In the Nebraska primary on May 11, the Libertarian Party had a state-run primary held alongside the Democratic and Republican primaries.^[8]

Missouri Libertarian presidential primary, May 11, 2004^[8]
Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Gary Nolan	116	71.61
Michael Badnarik	46	28.40
Total	162	100

2004 National Convention[]

Notes[]

^ The primaries were non-binding. Despite not receiving a plurality of the popular vote, Badnarik was able to secure a majority of delegate votes at the convention, and thus the nomination.

References[]

^ ^a ^b "Major Third Party 2004 Presidential Primaries". www.thegreenpapers.com. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
^ "VOTE PEREZ for RAILROAD COMMISSION". voteperez.freeservers.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2002. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "All Results Official Election Returns State of Missouri Presidential Preference Primary Presidential Preference Primary Tuesday, February 03, 2004 As announced by the Board of State Canvassers on Monday, February 23, 2004" (PDF). www.sos.mo.gov. Missouri Secretary of State. February 23, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Wisconsin State Elections Board Results of President Primary Election - 02/17/2004" (PDF). elections.wi.gov. Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 18, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Statement of Vote" (PDF). elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
^ "Search". electionstats.state.ma.us. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
^ "2004 President Libertarian Primary". electionstats.state.ma.us. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "2004 Official Nebraska Primary Election Results May 11, 2004" (PDF). sos.nebraska.gov. Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[Badnarik-1] The primaries were non-binding. Despite not receiving a plurality of the popular vote, Badnarik was able to secure a majority of delegate votes at the convention, and thus the nomination.

[greenpapers1-2] "Major Third Party 2004 Presidential Primaries". www.thegreenpapers.com. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[3] "VOTE PEREZ for RAILROAD COMMISSION". voteperez.freeservers.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2002. Retrieved May 26, 2021.

[MO-4] "All Results Official Election Returns State of Missouri Presidential Preference Primary Presidential Preference Primary Tuesday, February 03, 2004 As announced by the Board of State Canvassers on Monday, February 23, 2004" (PDF). www.sos.mo.gov. Missouri Secretary of State. February 23, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[WI-5] "Wisconsin State Elections Board Results of President Primary Election - 02/17/2004" (PDF). elections.wi.gov. Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 18, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[ca-6] "Statement of Vote" (PDF). elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[MA-7] "Search". electionstats.state.ma.us. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[8] "2004 President Libertarian Primary". electionstats.state.ma.us. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

[ne-9] "2004 Official Nebraska Primary Election Results May 11, 2004" (PDF). sos.nebraska.gov. Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

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