Libertarian Party holds VP debate; votes overwhelmingly to oppose death penalty

For Immediate Release Saturday, May 28, 2016

ORLANDO – Last night at its presidential nominating convention, the Libertarian Party held a debate of vice presidential candidates, including four candidates who qualified by a vote of the delegates: businesswoman and trial lawyer Alicia Dearn , speaker and freedom activist William Coley , executive business consultant Larry Sharpe , and former Massachusetts governor William Weld.

To qualify for the VP debate, candidates needed the support of ten percent of the 495 delegates in attendance who cast votes:

William Weld – 126 (25.5%)

Larry Sharpe – 125 (25.3%)

Alicia Dearn – 89 (18.0%)

William Coley – 51 (10.3%)

Kerry Douglas McKenna – 22 (4.4%)

Mark Stewart – 20(4.0%)

Judd Weiss – 17 (3.4%)

Derrick Grayson – 15 (3.0%)

Jeff Mortensen – 12 (2.4%)

Others-8 (3.6%)

Candidates who received less than ten percent of the vote will still qualify to be included in Sunday’s nominations for vice president if they receive at least 30 delegates’ votes by the time delegates have selected their presidential nominee, expected by late morning on Sunday.

After heated debate, delegates also voted 364 – 105 to add a plank to the Libertarian Party platform calling for an end to the death penalty.

Click here to view the debate.