Author Archive | Bob Johnston

Although Republicans have often been thought of as the party of lower taxes, decreased spending, free trade, and smaller government, even at its best the GOP rarely delivered much more than rhetoric. In recent years, it has even abandoned most of the rhetoric. Mimi Robson, chair of the Libertarian Party of California, explains why the […]

The Libertarian National Committee passed the following resolution regarding immigration and the border wall on Feb. 11, 2019, elaborating on longstanding support for property rights, individual freedom, and unhindered immigration in the Libertarian Party platform: WHEREAS, the Libertarian Party believes that the only proper role of law is in the protection of the natural rights […]

Planning for the 2020 Libertarian National Convention in Austin, Texas, is well under way with a theme contest that has brought in more than $14,000 in donations so far to help cover convention expenses. The field has been narrowed to the top 16 most popular, with support nearly neck and neck for the top two. […]

William Hunt Jr. of the Libertarian Party of Rhode Island finished second in a four-way special election race for a seat in the 68th state House of Representatives on March 5, obtaining 615 votes and 28.4 percent of the vote. In addition, he defeated incumbent Kenneth Marshall, who ran as an independent and wound up […]

A record number of Americans believe that government is the main problem, including significant numbers of both Democrats and Republicans, reports American Institute for Economic Research Editorial Director Jeffrey Tucker in this Feb. 26 article: Think of all the troubles in the world. Climate change. Student debt. Terrorism. Job insecurity. What’s the number one most […]

Libertarians in Lowndes County, Miss., are working to get a referendum on the ballot to nullify a 2 percent restaurant sales tax. From The Dispatch on Feb 21, 2019: As a first- and second-grade teacher, Frieda Hallman doesn’t have much time to cook. She eats out pretty much every day, a habit that she believes […]

A Libertarian Party affiliate may soon be able to take credit for legalization of retail recreational cannabis shops in the city of Richland, Wash. The Benton County LP, led by Chair Ryan Cooper, created an organization called Legalize Richland and has spearheaded a petition drive to require the city council to consider repealing the ban […]

Libertarian Jeff Hewitt, candidate for the Riverside County (Calif.) board of supervisors’ fifth district seat, has won the endorsement of the Press-Enterprise, the county’s primary daily newspaper. Hewitt, since 2015 the mayor of Calimesa, Calif., is running against former assemblyman Russ Bogh for the nonpartisan seat. From the Oct. 26 editorial, “Jeff Hewitt for Riverside […]

Gov. Gary Johnson, the 2018 Libertarian candidate for the U.S. senate in New Mexico, participated in a televised debate sponsored by KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, N.M. on Oct. 12. Johnson and his opponents, Republican Mick Rich and incumbent Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, discussed such issues as education, wasteful spending, Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. […]

Boston’s largest daily newspaper, the Globe, has endorsed Libertarian candidate for state auditor Dan Fishman. Fishman is running in a four-way race against Democratic incumbent Suzanne Bump, Republican Helen Brady, and a Green-Rainbow Party candidate, Edward Stamas. From their editorial published on Oct. 29, “Editorial board endorsement: Dan Fishman, a Libertarian, for auditor”: The office […]

The Washington Times ran a news story on this election cycle’s notable increase in polling results among Libertarian candidates. From the Oct. 21 article, “Libertarians poll high enough to tip key races,” by Seth McLaughlin: Rick Breckenridge has the chance to play a significant role in Montana’s senatorial election…. He is one of a number […]