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TOPEKA Libertarian Party political director Matt Clark offered an undiplomatic assessment of a Kansas House bill requiring independent candidates for statewide office to qualify for the ballot by securing 25,000 signatures of registered voters abandoning the current threshold of 5,000 and reinforcing a ban on unaffiliated candidates gaining ballot access by paying a fee.

Clark, representing one of the four official political parties in Kansas, said the attempt to raise the barrier on independent candidates for governor and other statewide offices was an attack on electoral freedom. It illustrated lingering bitterness among Republicans with Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys back-to-back victories against prominent GOP gubernatorial nominees Kris Kobach and Derek Schmidt, he said.

Allow us to be blunt, Clark said. This bill exists because Republicans believe their candidate would have won the gubernatorial race in 2018 and 2022 if it werent for an independent candidate running in each of those elections.

In 2018, Kelly ran against Kobach, Libertarian Jeff Caldwell, independent Rick Kloos and independent Greg Orman, who had built name recognition by conducting a previous independent campaign for U.S. Senate. Kelly prevailed with 48% of the vote, while Kobach scored 42.9%, Orman secured 6.5%, Caldwell had 1.9% and Kloos finished with 0.6%. Overall, candidates not representing one of the states two major parties combined for 9%.

Four years later, Kelly won reelection in a four-person general election. She improved to 49.5% to narrowly surpass the 47.3% earned by Schmidt. Libertarian nominee Seth Cordell had 1.1%, while independent Dennis Pyle, a state senator with a conservative track record, drew 2%. Candidates outside the GOP and Democratic parties attracted support from 3.1% of Kansans voting in the election.

Clark said increasing the petition requirement from 5,000 signatures to 25,000 signatures was a big government solution, and an ugly one.

The House Elections Committee gathered testimony Thursday primarily from critics of House Bill 2516. They pointed to fairness issues of raising the bar on independent candidates and reminded lawmakers the state currently forbid independent candidates for statewide office from gaining access to the ballot by writing a big check to the state. Nominees from the states political parties have the option of paying the filing fee.

Rep. Les Mason, a Republican from McPherson, said he introduced a comparable bill in 2023 and was supportive of the more elegant and simple solution proposed this year by Rep. Paul Waggoner, a Hutchinson Republican.

Mason said the change in election law would compel independent candidates to secure valid signatures from 1.3% of the states registered voters rather than a mere one-fourth of 1%. The objective was to deal with candidates playing a spoiler role in recent Kansas gubernatorial races, he said.

This is not an attempt to prevent third-party candidates from running, Mason said. In reality, it is an attempt to assure that those running are serious and credible candidates.

In 2022, supporters of Kellys reelection helped collect petition signatures for Pyles independent candidacy in anticipation Pyle and Schmidt would split conservative Republican votes sufficiently to benefit Kelly. If every Pyle vote had gone to Schmidt, he would have still lost to Kelly.

Clay Barker, general counsel and deputy secretary of state for Kansas, said the House bill unnecessarily included a provision prohibiting independent candidates from filing by fee. Under current statute, he said, independent candidates for statewide office must file by petition.

Barker said the bill would establish an impractical timeline for the office of Secretary of State Scott Schwab and the states 105 county election officials to sort and verify signatures on independent candidate petitions. The secretary of state was responsible for organizing petitions by county before forwarding petitions to individual county offices where staff confirmed which signers were eligible voters and which were invalid signatures.

He noted the last independent gubernatorial candidate to contend in Kansas was John Brinkley, the populist politician and diploma-mill physician who was a leading proponent of transplanting goat testicles into humans to cure male impotence and an assortment of other ailments.

When Brinkley lost his medical license in Kansas due to confirmed quackery, he launched a write-in candidacy for governor in 1930 and seized 29.5% of the vote. He might have prevailed if the states attorney general hadnt disqualified an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 votes because Brinkleys name wasnt written on ballots by voters in a specific way. In 1932, the medical charlatan took another shot at the governorship in Kansas and pulled in 244,000 or 30.6% of the vote in a loss to Republican Alf Landon.

Brett Anderson, a Sedgwick County Republican precinct committeeman, told the House committee that he was opposed to the petition bill because the threshold was too steep and was crafted to undermine candidates not in step with the Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or No Labels parties in Kansas.

I understand people did not like the situation that presented itself when Senator Pyle ran for governor, Anderson said. Whether you like it or not, he still followed the rules and was able to be placed on the ballot. This bill is meant to disenfranchise and discourage any candidate who does not agree with the political parties who are in Topeka. Ballot access should be open to all candidates of the state regardless of party affiliation.

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Libertarian view of bill aimed at independent Kansas candidates: It's about GOP election losses - Kansas Reflector

As we reflect on January 29th, 1919, a pivotal moment in history occurred that would teach us a lesson we seem determined to forget the ratification of the 18th Amendment, ushering in the era of Prohibition. A mere 14 years later, the United States Government admitted its mistake, repealing the amendment and putting an end to a failed experiment that birthed violence, black markets, and tragedy. Now, over a century later, we find ourselves grappling with a similar narrative in the form of the federal governments war on drugs, particularly the prohibition of cannabis products. The Libertarian Party urges a departure from the mistakes of the past, advocating for an end to the criminalization of substances. By examining Portugals transformative 2001 drug decriminalization law as a model, we can build a compelling case for redirecting our approach toward addiction, treatment, and individual liberty.

Prohibition, born out of good intentions, quickly unraveled into chaos. The 18th Amendment may have aimed to curb alcohol-related issues, but it birthed a massive black market, escalating violent confrontations between bootleggers and authorities. Thousands lost their lives due to the consumption of improperly made alcohol, highlighting the unintended consequences of government overreach.

Fast forward to today, and we witness history repeating itself with the federal governments continued war on drugs, specifically the prohibition of cannabis products. While states are pushing back, legalizing cannabis in various forms, a glaring states-versus-feds issue persists. The question arises: Have we not learned from the pitfalls of the past?

Libertarians assert that the government should cease its criminalization of substances, opting instead for a model that prioritizes individual freedom, responsibility, and treatment for addiction. Portugals 2001 law, which decriminalized the possession and use of drugs, serves as a compelling model for this argument. By shifting the focus from punishment to treatment, Portugal achieved remarkable success in reducing drug-related harms.

Under the Portuguese model, those found with small amounts of drugs for personal use are not criminally prosecuted. Instead, they are referred to local Commissions for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction, composed of legal, medical, and social work professionals. The result? A significant decrease in drug-related deaths, HIV infections, and problematic drug use.

Libertarians advocate for a similar approach in the United States. By decriminalizing its use and opening pathways for addicts to seek treatment without the fear of legal repercussions, we can dismantle the black market, reduce violent confrontations, and allow individuals the autonomy to make choices about their own bodies.

As we commemorate the anniversary of Prohibition, lets reflect on the lessons of history. The Libertarian Party stands firm in its call for an end to the war on drugs, using Portugals success as a guide toward a more compassionate, effective, and liberty-focused approach. Its time to break the chains of prohibition, learn from our past, and forge a future where individual freedom and responsible choices prevail. Join the Libertarian Party in standing against this tyrannical position and donate today to help us continue fighting the powers entangled in our Federal government.

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Learning From History: The Pitfalls of Prohibition Then and Now - Libertarian Party

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering running for the Libertarian Partys presidential nomination. He previously sought the Democratic Party nomination before changing his candidacy to a third party independent run, where he has run into problems with ballot access.

Thats something that were looking at, he tells CNNs Michael Smerconish. We have a really good relationship with the Libertarian Party. I am going to be speaking at the California Libertarian Party convention. Were talking about me speaking in New York at the Libertarian convention.

Mr. Kennedy is only on the ballot as a third party candidate in Utah, where the likely Republican nominee, President Trump, will almost assuredly win in November. He is making progress toward getting his name on the ballot in more than a dozen other states.

Guaranteeing a position on the ballot as an independent candidate in the general election is always difficult. The Libertarian Party would afford Mr. Kennedy with a nationally recognized political party that has already been granted ballot access in all 50 states.

The chairwoman of the Libertarian Party, Angela McArdle, told Mr. Smerconish last year that she is open to Mr. Kennedy leading her party in the general election.

Weve had a lot of good conversations and were on good terms, she said of Mr. Kennedy. Libertarians really admire the strong position he took against [vaccine] mandates and lockdowns, and so were going to stay on friendly terms and see what happens.

Mr. Kennedy said he is talking regularly with the party and its local chapters.

The dynastys scion failed to catch fire after announcing he would challenge President Biden for the Democratic nomination, and quickly shot up in the polls after announcing his independent bid. Despite strong national polls that put him in the double-digits, he is nowhere near a polling lead that could produce an electoral college victory.

The vast majority of Americans do not want a rematch between Messrs. Trump and Biden, and nearly 40 percent are open to considering a third party alternative to the two presidents. Across the ideological spectrum, those candidates are jumping in the race, including Green Party candidate Jill Stein and left-wing independent candidate Cornel West. Senator Manchin has also said he is considering a 2024 run on the No Labels party line, though he has yet to make a decision.

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Struggling To Get on Ballots, RFK Jr. Teases Running on a Libertarian Party Ticket - The New York Sun

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he is open to joining with the Libertarian Party as he races to get on the ballot in all 50 states before the November election.

CNNs Michael Smerconish pressed Kennedy during an interview that aired on Saturday whether it was possible that he would seek to be the Libertarian candidate as it would assure him of getting on the ballot across the board.

Thats something that were looking at. We have a really good relationship with Libertarian Party, Kennedy said, adding that he expects to speak at the California Libertarian Party convention in the coming weeks and may also deliver remarks in New York.

Kennedy also voiced optimism in regards to his signature-gathering campaign and said his recently-announced effort to file paperwork to establish a new political party in several states, including North Carolina and Texas, gives him an advantage in lowering the threshold for ballot access.

The nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and son of former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy initially entered the 2024 contest seeking the Democratic Partys nomination, but he switched to an independent run after raising complaints about how the Democrats have conducted their election process, including a lack of debates.

Some polls show Kennedy getting double-digit support in a match-up against President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, which comes as surveys find voters are not enthusiastic about a 2020 rematch.

Smerconish played audio of Angela McArdle, the head of the Libertarian Party, talking positively on his radio show about Kennedy.

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Weve had a lot of good conversations and were on good terms. And I respect his decision to want to go independent. Though libertarians really admire the strong position he took against mandates and lockdowns, and so were going to stay on friendly terms and see what happens, she said.

The host urged Kennedy to make some news as he posited that McArdle appeared to be welcoming him to ask for the Libertarian Partys ballot position.

Yea. Well, we are talking to the Libertarian Party and I feel very comfortable with most of the values of Libertarian Party. And you know, we like I say, we have good relationships. Im talking regularly to Libertarian groups. So, well continue to do those talks, Kennedy said. I cant give you a headline news story today, Michael. Im sorry.

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RFK Jr. Open To Libertarian Party Run - The Daily Wire

Libertarian Sid Daoud might have a slim chance of winning the U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in Montana in the 2024 election.

But the exceptionally tight race could determine overall control of the closely divided Senate and that could mean that the IT worker and state Libertarian Party Chair stands to play a pivotal role in shaping America's political future. Just as a third-party candidate could yet help shape the presidential ballot this year, the same goes for some some key congressional races as well.

"I think one of the things that has surprised me the most in recent years is that I'm actually stuck in the rational middle," Daoud told Newsweek.

"I always thought of myself as some kind of radical person that wanted to get back to our Constitution, wanted to do things that maybe wasn't the norm, but I'm finding that I'm stuck in the middle with a bunch of folks that have been kind of left behind by the two big parties," he said.

With Senator Joe Manchin's retirement, West Virginia may go red this year, meaning, Democrats could control 50 seats in the Senate. But to reach that, Democrats must defend seats in the swing states of Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as well as the red states of Ohio and Montana.

Although Montana voted for former President Donald Trump by a more than 16-point margin in 2020, its Democratic Senator, Jon Tester, won in 2018 by a margin of over three and a half percentage points. He will be running for his fourth term and currently appears poised to face Bridger Aerospace CEO and ex-Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, who is vying to represent the Republican Party.

One of the most recent available polls, from J.L. Partners in August, found Tester trailing Sheehy 46 percent to 42 percent, but that was before Daoud entered the race in November.

James Johnson, co-founder of the polling firm said that 38 percent of respondents identified as independentuniquely high for any stateand that Daoud might draw more votes from the Republican candidate, especially if voters feel emboldened to vote for a third-party candidate because Montana is so firmly Republican on the presidential ballot.

"There's potential for that third party effect to have a slightly higher impact in Montana," Johnson told Newsweek.

By analyzing the data to identify libertarian-minded voters through isolating those who reported school choice, government spending, and second amendment rights as their top priorities, Johnson found that such individuals constituted 17 percent of those polled and that among that group, Sheehy led Tester 57 percent to 30 percent.

Much may depend on the issues that resonate in the election. Democrats are seeking to put abortion rights near the top of their 2024 messaging after apparent success on that issue in 2022 midterms, and that could also mean that those who support limited government could turn away from Republicans.

"In Montana, we don't like people telling us what to do, especially the federal government," Tester told Newsweek. "What the Republicans are doing with choice, telling people that they're going to make health care decisions for them, I don't think it sells in Montana."

Sheehy did not respond to Newsweek's request for comment, but according to his campaign website, the former Navy SEAL, who was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medal, is "proudly Pro-Life." His political positions largely align with his party's national platform, but his pro-military and anti-abortion positions conflict with the libertarian views of Daoud.

Eric Raile, a political science professor at Montana State University, told Newsweek that if abortion is framed as a rights issue, it might resonate more in Montana than elsewhere.

"Prior to Roe v. Wade, the parties had different positions on abortion, and the Republican position was really more of a libertarian one that government shouldn't be involved in regulating that sort of thing. That's a long time ago at this point, and maybe that memory is gone, but it was part of the libertarian way of thinking."

Daoud, who's met Tester and views him as a "genuine person" and "amicable" listener whom he respects, considers abortion one of the few subjects where the two have common ground.

"Personally, I believe that life begins at conception," Daoud said, "but the one thing that doesn't put me in line with everybody else that gives that narrative is that I don't believe that government has any place in this decision."

The Republican-controlled Montana legislature attempted to effectively bar third party candidates from the Senate race last spring by introducing a bill that would have altered the primary to ensure that only the two top vote getters advanced to the general election. Daoud and Montana Democrats spoke out against the effort and lawmakers ultimately shelved the bill.

Conventional wisdom states that libertarians pull more votes from Republicans, but Daoud said he's not out to spoil either major political party's chances and believes that a desire from Americans to embrace third party candidates offers him a real chance at flipping the seat.

Daoud is a strong critic of the two-party system and believes the major parties have spent too much time engaging in polarizing feuds. As a veteran who opposes American involvement in foreign wars, he also sees that as a differentiator from the other candidates alongside his determination to curb government spending.

Raile said that while Montana prefers limited government, the nationalization of politics and rise of political polarization make for a less independent electorate that is more likely to place party affiliation above policy considerations.

Rural America has become intertwined with the populist platform of the Republican Party under Trump, and Montana ranks among the country's most rural states. These trends have been on the rise for some time, but the independent streak of Montana has allowed Tester to defy the odds.

However, since Tester's 2018 reelection, Montana's population has grown from nearly 1,062,000 people to roughly 1,123,000 people, according to USA Facts, an almost 6 percent change. While Raile said the data on this trend isn't firm, anecdotally, many of these people are so-called conservative refugees from blue states, people who generally adhere to Republican Party values over traditional Montanan independence.

"A lot of Montanans like to think of themselves as being independent," Raile told Newsweek. "When you ask people, a big chunk of the population in Montana will say that they're political independents, but their behavior often tells a different story. So, I think there is this streak of 'leaving us alone,' but I think it's become politicized, and so I think it's really more of a conservative anti-federal government streak at this point."

Montana nonetheless receives more federal funds than it pays in taxes. Due to this dynamic, Tester said voters want legislation like the Farm Bill, which outlines U.S. agricultural policy and provides funding to farmers, to pass.

Daoud said that he'd "love" to have Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale, a member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus and potential challenger to Sheehy, join the Libertarian Party, saying "he votes very much like a libertarian."

Rosendale has opposed Ukraine funding and increases to the federal budget. Given that he represents half the stateMontana holds two seats in the Houseit appears likely that some Rosendale supporters would back Daoud's candidacy.

While Rosendale would not say whether he believes his supporters would favor Daoud over Sheehy, he told Newsweek "it's very flattering" that Daoud would like to see him join the Libertarian Party and said he enjoyed hearing that the "independent thinkers from around the state support me."

In addition to combating the state's possible shift to the right, Tester faces the additional burden of running during a presidential election year. While Tester has done so before, winning in 2012 with Obama at the top of the ticket, the popularity of Trump and unpopularity of BidenReal Clear Politics has Trump winning 49-28 percent in the statewill no doubt affect the race.

Furthermore, the rising national debt, grim public polling around the economy, and record migration numbers at the border all stand as issues that the Republican Party will leverage.

Raile said after his 17 years in the Senate, challengers to Tester would try to paint him as a Washington selloutTester is the Democratic Party's second highest recipient of lobbying contributions, according to Open Secrets.

However, the Montana Democrat denies being influenced by lobbying money. Tester cultivates a down-to-earth character, overseeing the farm that has been in his family for generations alongside his Senate duties, dropping the occasional expletive and poking fun of the fact he has only two fingers on his left hand after a childhood accident grinding meat.

Tester said he acknowledges that Daoud's values will resonate for many in freedom-loving Montana too.

"They're all libertarians. I mean, Democrats, Republicans, they're all libertarians in the end," he said.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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The Libertarian Who Could Hold the Key to the Senate - Newsweek