Libertarian Party of North Carolina
Libertarian Party of North Carolina | |
---|---|
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Chairperson | Brent DeRidder[1] |
Senate leader | None |
House leader | None |
Founded | 1975 |
Headquarters | Raleigh |
Ideology | Libertarianism Classical liberalism |
National affiliation | Libertarian Party (United States) |
Colors | Gold |
Website | |
www | |
The Libertarian Party of North Carolina (LPNC) is the North Carolina affiliate of the Libertarian Party.
History[]
The Libertarian Party of North Carolina first appeared on the ballot in 1976, with Carl Wagle of Greensboro NC as candidate for the Fifth Congressional District, and Dr. Arlan Andrews, Sr., of Greensboro, as the gubernatorial nominee. The party has been on the ballot in NC for every presidential and gubernatorial election since, except 1988. The party had been on the NC ballot continuously from 1996–2004. In that period alone, the LPNC placed over 300 candidates on the ballot for every office from President of the United States to county soil and water district supervisor.
LPNC currently has elected members on three city councils, five soil and water district boards, and in the office of Harnett County Surveyor. About a dozen Libertarians currently sit on various appointed city and county boards across NC.[citation needed]
Organization[]
Members of the executive committee are elected biannually at conventions to carry out the essential functions of a political party.[2]
- State Chair - Brent DeRidder (Pender County)
- Vice Chair - Joseph Garcia (Orange County)
- Treasurer - Barbara Howe (Granville County)
- Secretary - D. Reid Deal (Davidson County)
- Members at Large:
- Christopher "Dooley" Cash (Cabarrus County)
- Matthew Clements (Orange County)
- Jonathan Hopper (Rockingham County)
- Timothy Conard (Mecklenburg County)
The party also maintains active local organizations in over two dozen counties and on half a dozen college campuses. LPNC may also be the only party in U.S. history that had an Indian Nation as an active local affiliate, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.[3]
Party platform[]
The most recent platform of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina was adopted at the party's convention on May 20, 2018. [4]
The Libertarian Party of North Carolina follows the national party's platform with certain planks tailored to state-specific issues such as advocating for the abolition of the North Carolina ABC and the North Carolina Education Lottery along with a liberalization of laws to allow private actors to compete in these spaces. The party supports efforts to greatly expand ballot access in the state for both organized parties and individual independents and has partnered with the Green Party of North Carolina to sue both the Federal Election Commission and the State of North Carolina in efforts to improve access to debates and elections. [5]
Recent Election Results[]
2020 Elections[]
Gubernatorial election[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Roy Cooper (incumbent) | 2,834,790 | 51.51% | +2.49% | |
Republican | Dan Forest | 2,586,605 | 47.01% | -1.79% | |
Libertarian | Steven J. DiFiore | 60,449 | 1.10% | -1.09% | |
Constitution | Al Pisano | 20,934 | 0.38% | N/A | |
Total votes | 5,502,778 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
Turnout | 5,545,847 | 75.35% | |||
Registered electors | 7,359,798 | ||||
Democratic hold |
United States Senate election[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Thom Tillis (incumbent) | 2,665,598 | 48.69% | -0.13% | |
Democratic | Cal Cunningham | 2,569,965 | 46.94% | -0.32% | |
Libertarian | Shannon Bray | 171,571 | 3.13% | -0.61% | |
Constitution | Kevin E. Hayes | 67,818 | 1.24% | N/A | |
Total votes | 5,474,952 | 100.0% | |||
Republican hold |
Electoral history[]
In 1992, Libertarian candidate for Governor Scott Earle McLaughlin achieved 4.05 percent of the popular vote in a fully contested race, with 104,983 votes. This remains the highest percentage gained by a third party candidate for that office by any party in North Carolina since that year.
In the 2008 elections, Michael Munger running as the party's candidate for Governor of North Carolina, received 121,585 votes for 2.85% of the total vote.
Also in 2008, Chris Cole, running as the party's candidate for US Senate, received 133,430 votes for 3.12% of the total vote.
Related[]
- List of State Libertarian Parties
- North Carolina Green Party
References[]
- ^ "County Affiliates".
- ^ "Executive Committee".
- ^ "Short History of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina".
- ^ "Platform of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina".
- ^ "Libertarians, Greens Sue FEC".
- ^ "State Composite Abstract Report - Contest.pdf" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved 18 December 2020..
- ^ "State Composite Abstract Report - Contest.pdf" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
External links[]
- Libertarian Party (United States) by state
- Political parties in North Carolina
- 1975 establishments in North Carolina