"This is just the beginning," says Bob Barr, the 2008 presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party.
He couldn’t be more right.
The 2008 election was yet another record-breaking year for the Libertarian Party. Not only did two candidates break the million-vote mark, it was also the first time in the Party’s history that our presidential vote total went up in three consecutive presidential elections.
Indeed, the foundation is set for the Libertarian Party to become the nation’s leading political party fully dedicated to the principles of the Constitution, and the philosophy of liberty.
This is an exciting time to be a part of the Libertarian Party.
Why is this such an exciting time for the Libertarian Party?
Membership is up.
Donations are up.
People are fired up for liberty.
And we have you to thank for all of your support, your hard work campaigning, and your commitment to spreading the word about the Libertarian Party.
Here are just a few facts we thought you should know:
One of the core victories for the Libertarian Party in 2008 was the retention of ballot access status in eight states across the United States. One of these states was North Carolina, thanks to the efforts of Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate Mike Munger. This past year, it took the collection of more than 100,000 signatures to get the Libertarian Party on the ballot.
In 2012, it will take 0.
Another state is Texas, where our state affiliate typically runs more than a hundred candidates in presidential election years.
Retention of ballot status requires candidates must receive a certain percentage of the vote, and will save us more than $200,000 for the next election cycle.
This money can go towards outreach and bringing more people into the party.
However, this is an area in which we also did well this past year.
The total number of "Sustaining" donors from 04/04-10/04 increased by 3.45 percent, for a total of 727 net donors. Compare this to the total number of Sustaining donors from 04/08-10/08, which increased by 17.71 percent for a total of 2,587 net donors.
New donors from Apr-Oct 04 were 2438, but compare this to Apr-Oct 08 where we had 4,694 donors—a 92.53 percent increase.
Renewals on membership are also up 108 percent compared to the same time period in 2004.
This is a sure sign that we are growing, and we are growing strong.
Top ten states for growth (by percent) from Apr 08 to Oct 08:
RI 56%
KY 45%
NE 43%
AL 42%
TN 34%
ND 33%
MS 30%
LA 30%
TX 29%
MA 29%
We are growing, and we are growing fast.
Normally, I would be writing to you after a presidential election encouraging you to keep your chin up, and to ask you to dig in your heels for the next four years.
This year, I don’t think I need to do that.
These results are beyond encouraging. They are a mandate that we can, and we must, grow to become America’s leading political party of freedom and liberty. There is a desperate vacuum for such a party in American politics, and the next four years will require that vacuum to be filled.
Are you with us?
Off-year elections are tougher times for the Libertarian Party. Donations typically get more scarce, and enthusiasm for the party usually wanes.
We must not let this happen.
There is no time to rest for ballot access. We will have the best results in the next presidential cycle when we do the most that we can as soon as we can.
And that time is now, and it starts with a $25, $50, $100 or $1,000 donation to begin working for ballot access in 2012.
We are already gearing up for local elections in 2009, where we can elect more Libertarians to local office, where we flourish. To do this, we need your help in raising money to help these candidates and help the Libertarian Party continue to grow.
One of the most important ways that you can help the Libertarian Party meet its goals and make progress is by donating right now to start building up the party for 2009 and beyond.
Please take this time to visiting our Web site and donating to help the Party grow in these next few years. You’ll notice our new program, "Operation Elect Us," which aims to elect Libertarians to office in 2009.
You can help us do this by donating $25, $50, $100 or $1,000. Every dollar will go towards making the Libertarian Party bigger, better and more effective at electing Libertarians to office around the country.
We cannot thank you enough for your support in 2008, and we ask that you continue to support the Libertarian Party and the candidates we try to elect to office by continuing that support into the off-year.
We have high hopes for us from here to 2012, and we can only meet our goals with your help.
There is not a better time to be a part of this outstanding organization, and I have never been more proud to be its chairman.
Help us be the shining light of liberty in the coming years.
In Liberty,
Bill Redpath
National Chairman
Libertarian National Committee, Inc.
PS – If you are reading this, and have not yet become a member of the Party and wish to do so, please click here to sign up to become a member of the only political party dedicated completely to cutting taxes and maximizing liberty. If you need to renew, please do so by clicking here.
PSS – If you have not yet contributed, please consider a donation right now of $25, $50, $100 or $1000 to the Libertarian Party. Your contribution will be used to grow the Party and expand the message of liberty. From ads to outreach, every dollar goes leading the liberty movement in its fight to restore the Constitution and maximize freedom.
