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Libertarian Party of New York

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Libertarian Party of New York
ChairDuane Whitmer
Vice ChairDaniel Castello
SecretaryAndrew Kolstee
TreasurerChance Haywood
Founded1973 (1973)
HeadquartersAlbany, New York
Membership (March 2021)Decrease 20,298[1]
IdeologyLibertarianism
National affiliationLibertarian Party
ColorsA dark shade of grey or blue; golden yellow
New York State Assembly
0 / 150
New York State Senate
0 / 63
New York City Council
0 / 51
U.S. Senate (New York)
0 / 2
U.S. House of Representatives (New York)
0 / 26
Other elected officials0 (June 2024)[2]
Website
lpny.org/

The Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY) (also known as the Free Libertarian Party of New York),[3] is the affiliate of the Libertarian Party in the U.S. state of New York. Due to changes in New York State election law in 2020, the Libertarian Party lost its ballot status.[4] It is the recognized affiliate of the national Libertarian Party.

The Libertarian Party of New York is dedicated to the principle that free people have the right to live the way they please, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud, against other persons or their property.

History

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The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971[5] on the libertarian principle: that people should be free to do whatever they wish, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud against others or their property. The principle does not preclude retaliatory force, as in the redress of wrongs through courts, and as in the traditional common law of self-defense. National Libertarian Party members, including the New York members, have paid $25 per year, and have as a condition of membership signified: "I certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals."

The Libertarian Party of New York was founded as an unregistered political party in 1970 by Paul and Michael Gilson who became its first people in public office the next year on election to a zoning board in Upstate New York. It helped drive the creation of a national party, and was re-organized in 1972 by a group now centered around Ed Clark, later the Libertarian Party presidential candidate. Its name was changed to the "Free Libertarian Party" when the New York Board of Elections ruled that the name Libertarian Party would confuse voters with the Liberal Party of New York. However, the Board of Elections eventually allowed the name "Libertarian Party" to be used. The Statue of Liberty is their ballot symbol, and they now appear on the ballot as the Libertarian Party.

Since 1974, the Libertarian Party of New York has had a candidate for Governor of New York on the ballot every four years except for 1986, the only party in New York State without official ballot status up to that point to do so. Several other minor parties in New York have achieved ballot status through electoral fusion, endorsing the candidate of a major party. The Libertarian Party of New York declined to achieve ballot status by this means, although Republican William Weld flirted with the LPNY gubernatorial nomination in 2006.[6]

In 2018, Larry Sharpe, the Libertarian Party nominee for governor that year, finished with over 90,000 votes, the most in the state party's history for a gubernatorial candidate. By surpassing 50,000 votes, the Libertarian Party had achieved qualified party status, and ballot access, for the first time in its history.[7] The party's membership jumped 25 percent after the qualification.[8] However, the Libertarian Party lost its ballot status line in 2020 due to a change in New York State election law that is still under litigation.[4]

Ballot access

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After it first received write-in votes in 1972 for presidential candidate John Hospers and vice presidential candidate Tonie Nathan (The first female candidate for Vice President to receive an electoral vote), the LPNY has obtained at least 15,000 petition signatures and placed statewide candidates on the ballot in every statewide election between 1974 and 2016, except 1986. These signatures were, by law, collected in a six-week period in mid-July to August (except in 1994, see Schulz v. Williams, 44 F.3d 48 (2d Cir. 1994)).

In the gubernatorial elections, Libertarian candidates included a full slate of the possible statewide candidates: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and, when one is up for election: Senator. In the Presidential races, candidates included the full number of Electors for President and Vice President, and when one is up for election, Senator. This regular achievement of statewide ballot status by a full slate of candidates for 42 years indicates substantial support in New York State. Under the change in New York State election law, the Libertarian Party lost its status as one of the Qualified New York political parties. Nationally, the Libertarian Party has 208,456 voters registered by the respective state boards of election.[9]

Leadership

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The officers of the Libertarian Party of New York are elected annually. In 2018, the party become a ballot-recognized party, and a political entity was created that is recognized under election law. Therefore, the party is current going through a transition as it works to restructure. The officers of both entities are listed.[10][11]

Position Name
Chair Duane Whitmer
Vice-Chair Daniel Castello
Secretary Andrew Kolstee
Treasurer Chance Haywood
Communications Director Christopher Skelly
Fundraising Director Mark Axinn
IT Director Justin Carman
Legislative Affairs Director Rich Purtell
Outreach Director Pietro Geraci
Political Director Paul Grindle
Volunteer Director Catrina Rocco

Past leadership

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Listed local affiliates

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The Libertarian Party of New York contains local county affiliates, each of which is administered by its own local Libertarian Party. County officers are elected in accordance with their rules.

County Website Chair
Chautauqua Chautauqua County Libertarian Party Len Morlock
Chemung Craig Colwell
Columbia Columbia County Libertarian Party Scott Hoskins
Dutchess Catrina Rocco
Erie Erie County Libertarian Party Duane Whitmer
Kings (Brooklyn) Libertarian Party of Brooklyn Christopher Skelly
Madison Mark Braiman
Monroe Monroe County Libertarian Party Steven Becker
Nassau Nassau County Libertarian Party Blay Tarnoff
New York (Manhattan) Manhattan Libertarian Party Chance Haywood
Oneida Keith Redhead
Onondaga Onondaga County Libertarian Party Rachel Becker
Queens Libertarian Party of Queens John Clifton
Putnam Bill O'Donnell
Richmond (Staten Island) Libertarian Party of Staten Island Susan Overeem-Cummings
Saratoga Rob Arrigo
Schoharie Lora Newell
Suffolk Suffolk County Libertarian Party George Ostrowski
Tioga Sara Price
Ulster Ulster County Libertarian Party Sam Kniffen
Wayne Jim Dayton

Manhattan Libertarian Party

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The Manhattan Libertarian Party (MLP) is a chapter of the Libertarian Party of New York established in 2000.

The Manhattan LP was the host chapter of the 2012 Libertarian Party of New York convention, held January 21, 2012. The convention was attended by several candidates seeking the national Libertarian Party's presidential nomination, including former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson and New York attorney Carl E. Person.

Candidates endorsed in the 2008 election endorsed by MLP

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Sam Sloan and the Manhattan madam Kristin M. Davis both sought the Libertarian Party nomination for Governor of New York State. Andrew Clunn sought to be nominated for Lieutenant Governor, Carl Person sought the nomination for Attorney General. John Clifton sought the nomination for US Senate, and Michel Faulkner sought the nomination for US Congress from the 15th Congressional District previously held by Charles Rangel.

Libertarian Party of Queens County

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The Libertarian Party of Queens County, formerly known as the "Queens Libertarian Party" led by Tom Stevens (politician), is the local affiliate of the LPNY for the Queens county-borough in the City of New York. The chapter was known for whipping up candidates for public office until 2010 when Blay Tarnoff hijacked the party and passed a surprise motion to decertify the chapter.

In December 2016, the LPNY State Committee voted to de-charter the chapter. Shortly thereafter, a small group of former Democrats and two former Republicans chartered the chapter under a new name. The "Libertarian Party of Queens County", or LPQC for short, was chaired by Elliot Axelman for its first 8 months. Axelman is a radio host, certified Paramedic and former Lieutenant for Whitestone Volunteer Ambulance Corps. In October 2017, Axelman resigned following a move to New Hampshire. His Vice Chair, Christopher Fuentes-Padilla, took over until November 19, 2017.

Accolades

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The Queens Chapter is the first chapter in the history of the LPNY to elect a Chair under the age of 24. Christopher Fuentes-Padilla, the former Vice Chair, was sworn in as Chairman at age 20 on November 20, 2017.

Padilla is also the first Hispanic to hold the Office in Queens and the first Puerto Rican male to hold office in the LPNY.

Suffolk County Libertarian Party

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The Suffolk County Libertarian Party (formerly "SCLO") is a chapter of the Libertarian Party of New York established in 1974.

Vote totals for Libertarian candidates in New York

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State elections

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Governor

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Year Candidate Votes %
1974 Jerome Tuccille / Louis J. Sicilia 10,503 0.2%
1978 Gary Greenberg / James Franz 18,990 0.4%
1982 John Northrup / David Hoesly 16,913 0.3%
1990 W. Gary Johnson / Dottie-Lou Brokaw 24,611 0.6%
1994 Robert Schulz / Stan Dworkin 9,506 0.2%
1998 Christopher B. Garvey / Donald Silberger 4,722 0.1%
2002 Scott Jeffrey / Jay Greco 5,013 0.1%
2006 John Clifton / Donald Silberger 15,068 0.3%
2010 Warren Redlich / Alden Link 48,386 1.1%
2014 Michael McDermott / Chris Edes 15,209[13] 0.4%
2018 Larry Sharpe / Andrew Hollister 95,033 1.6%
2022 Larry Sharpe / Andrew Hollister Not on ballot Not on ballot

Attorney General

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Year Candidate Votes %
1974 Leland W. Schubert
1978 Delores Grande
1990 Margaret M. Fries
1998 Daniel A. Conti 19,864 0.5%
2002 23,213 0.6%
2006 Christopher Garvey 29,413 0.7%
2010 Carl Person 36,488 0.8%
2014 23,586 0.6%
2018 Christopher Garvey 41,183 0.7%
2022 Sean Hayes Not on ballot Not on ballot

Comptroller

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Year Candidate Votes
1974 Robert S. Flanzer
1982 William P. McMillen
1990 Vicki Kirkland
2002 James Eisert 19,235
2006 John J. Cain 38,483
2010 John Gaetani 27,898
2014 John Clifton 36,583
2018 Cruger Gallaudet 32,353
2022 William Schmidt Not on ballot

Federal elections

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U.S. Senate

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Year Candidate Votes %
1980 Richard Savadel 21,465 0.4%
1992 Norma Segal 108,530 1.7%
1994 17,991 0.4%
1998 William P. McMillen 8,223 0.2%
2000 John Clifton 4,734 0.8%
2004 Donald Silberger 19,093 0.3%
2006 Jeff Russell 15,929 0.5%
2010 Randy Credico 25,975^^[note 1] 0.5%
2010[note 2] John Clifton 17,872 0.4%
2012 Chris Edes 31,980 0.5%
2016 Alex Merced 43,856 0.6%
2018 Aaron Commey Not on ballot Not on ballot
2022 Thomas Quiter Not on ballot Not on ballot

U.S. President

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Year Candidate Votes %
1972 John Hospers 6 0.0%
1976 Roger MacBride 12,197 0.2%
1980 Ed Clark 52,648 0.9%
1984 David Bergland 11,949 0.2%
1988 Ron Paul 12,109 0.2%
1992 Andre Marrou 13,451 0.2%
1996 Harry Browne 12,220 0.2%
2000 7,649 0.1%
2004 Michael Badnarik 11,607 0.2%
2008 Bob Barr 19,513 0.3%
2012 Gary Johnson 47,229 0.7%
2016 161,836 2.3%
2020 Jo Jorgensen 60,234 0.7%

Current officeholders

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As of September 19, 2020:[14]

  • Debra Altman – New York City Education Council, District 75
  • Michael Becallo – Cicero Town Councilor
  • Nick Grasso – Elmira City Council, District 1
  • Mark Grozio – Niagara County Legislator, District 3
  • Ryan Sanders – Sherman Village Board
  • Michael Korchak – Broome County District Attorney
  • Brandon Lyon – Johnstown Water Board
  • Michael Paestella – Minetto Town Council
  • Jame VanDewalker – Allen Town Clerk
  • Keith Readhed - Ava Town Supervisor
  • Kathleen Readhed - Ava Town Tax Collector

References

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  1. ^ Winger, Richard. "March 2021 Ballot Access News Print Edition". Ballot Access News. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "Elected Officials". Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  3. ^ Free-Libertarian-Party-of-New-York-2018-Tax-Return.pdf
  4. ^ a b Winger, Richard (December 3, 2021). "New York Libertarian and Green Parties file Reply Brief in Ballot Access Case in Second Circuit". Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "Our History". Libertarian Party. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  6. ^ Brydson, Nicole (April 21, 2006). "Weld to Seek Libertarian Line". New York Observer. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  7. ^ "NYS Board of Elections Unofficial Election Night Results". Archived from the original on 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  8. ^ "Capitol Confidential". 5 February 2019.
  9. ^ Winger, Richard (Dec. 1, 2002) "2002 October Registration Totals", ''Ballot Access News.
  10. ^ "LPNY Holds 47th Annual Convention". Libertarian Party of New York. May 29, 2019.
  11. ^ "Libertarian Party of New York - Officers".
  12. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2016-05-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ New York State Unofficial Election Night Results, archived from the original on November 7, 2013, retrieved November 7, 2014
  14. ^ "Elected Officials". LP.org. Retrieved September 19, 2020.

Notes

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  1. ^ Includes votes Credico earned on the Anti-Prohibition Party line. It is impossible to determine separate vote tallies for each line due to the fact that some jurisdictions conflated both of Credico's ballot lines onto one space on the ballot.
  2. ^ Special election.
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