I identify as a libertarian, but the party has become a farce.
I am a libertarian, but I am completely repelled by the party. And I am not alone, especially now with Chase Oliver as its 2024 candidate.
Even though libertarian ideology is very popular, the party has consistently pushed away voters with its outrageous behavior and out-of-touch candidates, and this election cycle is no different.
Ever since Oliver won the Libertarian primary at the end of last month, the former Georgia Senate candidate has been gaining attention for some of his more liberal views.
In videos that have resurfaced, the 38-year-old has been criticized for publicly supporting defunding the police “until [they] restore trust with the people,” calling drag queen story hours “performance art,” advocating for open borders, and supporting gender-affirming care for transgender kids as “the status quo.”
The core libertarian principle is “live and let live,” and there are libertarians who embrace that ethos on both the right and the left.
However, the party is making a major mistake by selecting a strongly left-leaning libertarian with values that are likely to alienate Republicans who might consider an alternative in 2024.
“The entire country is seeking something different from the same old options,” said Mark, a 42-year-old libertarian. “This came to a halt when the party nominated another leftist Libertarian in 2024.”
For Mark, who works in IT in Dallas, Oliver’s nomination was the last straw that led him to change his voter registration to be unaffiliated with any party: “So many missed opportunities in the last two decades, and I’ve had enough.”
Truly, the party has been an embarrassment with unknown candidates—like Jo Jorgensen in 2020—and outrageous nominees—like Gary Johnson in 2016.
Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, who reached 13% in polls, couldn’t name a world leader he admired and famously didn’t know the location of Aleppo, Syria during the refugee crisis.
But Johnson was the only candidate on the 2016 Libertarian primary debate stage who answered “yes” to the question, “Should someone need a government-issued license to drive a car?”
Most people associate libertarianism with ideas like free speech, small government, religious freedom, and gun rights— not the right to drive with no qualifications and risk others’ lives.
Unfortunately, that viral moment reflected the extreme ideological purity of the party.
“A third party needs practicality above all,” said Sam, a 22-year-old libertarian who works in communications in New Jersey. “Most people, including myself, associate libertarianism with social freedom and free market capitalism. We aren’t puritans or philosophers.”
Yet, the driver’s license incident wasn’t even the wildest thing to happen at a libertarian convention.
Other memorable moments include a candidate for party chairman stripping on stage on a dare, and Vermin Love Supreme, who sat on the Libertarian Party’s judicial committee while always wearing a boot on his head.
“I switched my registration to Independent when I realized how unserious the party had become,” said Greg, a 34-year-old finance professional from California. “It is not a viable or serious party in any real sense.”
This year’s presidential election should be a significant opportunity for libertarians. Two unpopular incumbents should make a third-party candidate more viable than ever.
Freedom, liberty, and self-determination are values that attract both the right and the left.
Yet, the party— which has become an anarchist echo chamber isolated from market pressures— completely missed the mark by choosing a candidate who instantly turns off many Americans.
Libertarian ideology should be taken seriously. However, the libertarian party has repeatedly shown that it cannot be.
