Michael McDermott (politician)

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Michael McDermott
BornSeptember 14, 1953
DiedMarch 9, 2021(2021-03-09) (aged 67)
Huntington Station, New York
NationalityAmerican
Known forLibertarian Party candidate for Governor of New York
Political partyLibertarian Party

Michael S. McDermott (September 14, 1953 – March 9, 2021) was an American politician and real estate broker. He was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of New York state, in the election of 2014,[1][2] losing to Andrew Cuomo and falling very short of the 50,000 votes needed to maintain ballot access. The libertarian ticket dropped by 0.63% of all voters from the previous year and received less than a third of the votes from the last cycle despite being included in the only gubernatorial debate of 2014.[3]

According to his website, McDermott worked as a real estate broker and developer from 2001 to 2008. He has served in a number of capacities in the Libertarian Party of New York. He was a Member-At-Large of the State Committee from 2016 to 2018 and from 2019 to 2020. He was also an officer of the Suffolk County Libertarian Party, serving as Vice-Chair (2016–2017) and Chair (2017–2020).[4]

McDermott died on March 9, 2021, at the age of 67 after a longtime illness.[5]

Political career[]

In 2012, McDermott was the Libertarian candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 3rd Congressional District of New York. He was defeated by Democrat Steve Israel on November 6, 2012.

In 2014, McDermott was the Libertarian nominee for governor of New York.[6][7]

In 2016, McDermott ran for a seat in Congress representing New York's 3rd congressional district, in a race to replace Steve Israel, who decided to retire.[8][9] He failed to make it onto the ballot, forcing him to be a write-in candidate.

Electoral history[]

US House election, 2012: New York District 3 [10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Israel 146,271
Working Families Steve Israel 6,506
Independence Steve Israel 5,103
Total Steve Israel (incumbent) 157,880 57.8
Republican Stephen LaBate 98,614
Conservative Stephen LaBate 14,589
Total Stephen LaBate 113,203 41.5
Libertarian Michael McDermott 1,644 0.6
Constitution Anthony Tolda 367 0.1
None Blank/Void/Scattered 35,105 0
Total votes 273,094 100
Democratic hold
Gubernatorial election in New York, 2014 [11]
Party Candidate Running mate Votes Percentage Swing
Democratic Andrew Cuomo 1,811,672 47.08% Decrease 9.44%
Working Families Andrew Cuomo 126,244 3.22% Decrease 0.13%
Independence Andrew Cuomo 77,762 2.02% Decrease 1.15%
Women's Equality Andrew Cuomo 53,802 1.41% N/A
Total Andrew Cuomo Kathy Hochul 2,069,480 54.19% Decrease 8.86%
Republican Rob Astorino 1,234,951 32.59% Increase 4.65%
Conservative Rob Astorino 250,634 6.60% Increase 1.57%
Stop-Common-Core Rob Astorino 51,294 1.39% N/A
Total Rob Astorino Christopher Moss 1,536,879 40.24% Increase 6.71%
Green Howie Hawkins Brian Jones 184,419 4.86% Increase 3.56%
Libertarian Michael McDermott Chris Edes 16,967 0.42% Decrease 0.63%
Sapient Steven Cohn Bobby Kalotee 4,963 0.13% N/A
Scattering 6,378 0.19% Increase 0.09%
Majority 480,605 13.26% Decrease 16.74%
Totals 3,930,310 100.00%
Democratic Hold

References[]

  1. ^ Klepper, David (October 22, 2014). "NY governor hopefuls debate economy, leadership". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  2. ^ Filler, Lane (October 14, 2014). "Filler: Want big ideas? Listen to Howie Hawkins and Michael McDermott". Newsday. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  3. ^ "Video: Candidates square off in sole gubernatorial debate". October 23, 2014.
  4. ^ "Who We Are". The Libertarian Party of Suffolk County, New York. March 3, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "Libertarian Party of New York Mourns the Passing of 2014 Gubernatorial Candidate Michael McDermott". March 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "Michael McDermott to Lead Libertarian Team in Drive for Governor's Race". The Libertarian Party of Suffolk County, New York. April 27, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Libertarians nominate LIer Michael McDermott for governor". Newsday. 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  8. ^ "Jack Martins' bid for delay shakes up House race". The Island Now.
  9. ^ Hackman, Michelle (August 30, 2016). "N.Y. Republican Seeks to Postpone Election Date to December". Wall Street Journal.
  10. ^ http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2012/General/CD_07292013.pdf
  11. ^ "NYS Board of Elections Unofficial Election Night Results". Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2014.

External links[]

Party political offices
Preceded by Libertarian nominee for Governor of New York
2014 		Succeeded by
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