The 2016 Libertarian National Convention was the gathering at which delegates of the Libertarian Party chose the party's nominees for president and vice president in the 2016 national election. The party selected Gary Johnson, a former Governor of New Mexico, as its presidential candidate, with Bill Weld, a former Governor of Massachusetts as his running mate. The convention was held from May 26–30, 2016, in Orlando, Florida.

Theme

The theme of the 2016 convention was #LegalizeFreedom.

Events

May 26 – The presidential candidates Marc Allan Feldman, Gary Johnson, John McAfee, Darryl W. Perry, and Austin Petersen participated in a political debate at the convention. May 27 – A debate between the Libertarian candidates seeking the vice presidential nomination was held. On the same day, the candidates for chairperson of the LNC debated. May 28 – A debate between the Libertarian presidential candidates was held. The debate was televised live by C-SPAN. It was moderated by Larry Elder. May 29 – The vote and nomination of the Libertarian presidential and vice-presidential candidates was held and televised by C-SPAN. Multiple ballots extended this. In addition to the announcement of the Party's presidential ticket, a chairperson for the LNC was elected at the convention. Incumbent chairman of the Libertarian National Committee, Nicholas Sarwark was re-elected to the position.

Presidential delegate count Libertarian National Convention Presidential vote, 2016 – 1st BallotCandidateFirst BallotPercentage Gary Johnson 458 49.5% Austin Petersen 197 21.3% John McAfee 131 14.2% Darryl Perry 63 6.8% Marc Allan Feldman 58 6.3% Kevin McCormick 91.0% None of the above 5 0.5% Ron Paul (Write-in) 1 0.1% Vermin Supreme (Write-in) 1 0.1% Heidi Zemen (Write-in) 1 0.1% Derrick Grayson (Write-in) 1 0.1% Totals 925 100%

No candidate achieved the majority on the first ballot, so there was a second ballot vote. Due to finishing last of the six nominated candidates, McCormick was excluded from the second ballot.

Libertarian National Convention Presidential vote, 2016 – 2nd BallotCandidateSecond BallotPercentage Gary Johnson 518 55.8% Austin Petersen 203 21.9% John McAfee 131 14.1% Darryl Perry 52 5.6% Marc Allan Feldman 18 1.9% None of the above 2 0.2% Derrick Grayson (Write-in) 1 0.1% Michael Shannon (Write-in) 1 0.1% Kevin McCormick (Write-in) 1 0.1% Rhett Smith (Write-in) 1 0.1% Totals 928 100%

State by state delegate count

Libertarian National Convention Presidential vote, 2016 – 1st BallotState / DistrictCandidateWrite-inAbstentionsMarc Allan FeldmanGary JohnsonJohn McAfeeKevin McCormickDarryl W. PerryAustin PetersenN.O.T.A.Derrick GraysonRon PaulVermin SupremeHeidi ZemenAlabama7321Alaska15Arizona2117222Arkansas1431California44821343311Colorado171221Connecticut334Delaware111District of Columbia3Florida4283513Georgia59845Hawaii41Idaho61Illinois19314Indiana118429Iowa23113Kansas212Kentucky173Louisiana481Maine25Maryland41022Massachusetts83Michigan2155111Minnesota522Mississippi611Missouri17111121Montana11212Nebraska26Nevada1111New Hampshire1251New Jersey29523New Mexico112New York1163316North Carolina4182113North Dakota122Ohio82139Oklahoma12111OregonPennsylvania31641261Rhode Island3South Carolina94South Dakota1Tennessee1431Texas72615210Utah12221Vermont3Virginia1192261Washington113103West Virginia5Wisconsin1321Wyoming21Totals58458131963197511112Percentages6.3%49.5%14.2%1.0%6.8%21.3%0.5%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%

No candidate achieved the majority on the first ballot, so there was a second ballot vote. Due to receiving less than 5% of the votes, McCormick was excluded from the second ballot.

Libertarian National Convention Presidential vote, 2016 – 2nd BallotState / DistrictCandidateWrite-inMarc Allan FeldmanGary JohnsonJohn McAfeeDarryl W. PerryAustin PetersenN.O.T.A.Derrick GraysonKevin McCormickMichael ShannonRhett SmithAlabama9211Alaska15Arizona118231Arkansas54California15625233Colorado1171311Connecticut4141Delaware12District of Columbia3Florida2315312Georgia1101028Hawaii41Idaho61Illinois19314Indiana12418Iowa425Kansas24Kentucky83Louisiana418Maine25Maryland21012Massachusetts83Michigan1164211Minnesota811Mississippi611Missouri10113Montana232Nebraska251Nevada112New Hampshire2431New Jersey111423New Mexico121New York201315North Carolina119315North Dakota221Ohio32179Oklahoma33OregonPennsylvania184127Rhode Island3South Carolina814South Dakota1Tennessee1431Texas23412381Utah53Vermont3Virginia21225Washington113103West Virginia14Wisconsin151Wyoming21Totals185181315220321111Percentages1.9%55.8%14.1%5.6%21.9%0.2%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.1%

Vice-presidential delegate count Prior to vice presidential balloting, Marc Allan Feldman endorsed Gary Johnson's running mate Bill Weld, and Austin Petersen endorsed Alicia Dearn. Judd Weiss, whom John McAfee had selected as his running mate, withdrew his name from consideration and endorsed William Coley, who had been Darryl Perry's running mate. Consequently, McAfee endorsed Derrick Grayson, who received a write-in vote in each round of the presidential contest but had not campaigned for either the presidency or vice presidency prior to the convention.

Libertarian National Convention Vice Presidential vote, 2016 – 1st BallotCandidateFirst BallotPercentageBill Weld 426 49.0% Larry Sharpe 264 30.4% William Coley 93 10.7% Derrick Grayson 48 5.5% Alicia Dearn 29 3.3% None of the above 6 0.7% Daniel Hogan (Write-in) 1 0.1% Austin Petersen (Write-in) 1 0.1% Gary Johnson (Write-in) 1 0.1% Totals 869 100%

No candidate achieved the majority on the first ballot, so there was a second ballot vote. Due to finishing last of the five nominated candidates, Dearn was excluded from the second ballot. Dearn then endorsed Weld. Additionally, both Coley and Grayson withdrew their names and endorsed Sharpe. However, Grayson withdrew his candidacy after the second ballots had been handed out, and therefore his name remained on the ballot as a valid candidate.

Libertarian National Convention Vice Presidential vote, 2016 – 2nd BallotCandidateSecond BallotPercentage Bill Weld 441 50.6% Larry Sharpe 409 46.9% None of the above 12 1.4% Derrick Grayson 9 1.0% Mary Ruwart (Write-in) 1 0.1% Totals 872 100%

Speakers Notable speakers included: Craig Bowden, 2016 candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah's 1st congressional district William Coley, 2016 Libertarian vice presidential candidate Judge Jim Gray, 2012 Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee Larry Elder, lawyer, writer and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central," a district of Los Angeles, California Bruce Fein, lawyer specializing in constitutional and international law Sharon Harris, libertarian political activist and president of the Advocates for Self-Government, author Carla Howell, political activist and small government advocate Adam Kokesh, Iraq War veteran, anti-war and libertarian activist, and author Tim Moen, Leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada since May 2014, firefighter, paramedic, business owner, filmmaker, and volunteer John Moore, former member of the Nevada Assembly representing District 8, realtor Jordan Page, singer-songwriter and musician Jim Rogers, Chairman of Rogers Holdings and Beeland Interests, Inc., Co-founder of the Quantum Fund, businessman, investor and author Jeffrey Tucker, economics writer of the Austrian School, advocate of anarcho-capitalism and Bitcoin, publisher of libertarian books, conference speaker, and internet entrepreneur Dr. Thomas Woods, historian, author, and senior fellow of the Mises Institute

James Weeks' dance and expulsion On May 29, candidate for chairman of the LNC James Weeks took stage and stripped down to a thong, saying "I thought we could use a little bit of fun." He danced on the stage before announcing the suspension of his bid for chairperson. He was booed loudly by the delegates and removed from the convention. The incident was streamed live on C-SPAN. This took place during the tabulation of votes on the second ballot for vice president, and many delegates attempted to make a motion to expel Weeks from the party. This was cut short when chairman Nicholas Sarwark moved to set the matter aside and announce the results of the vice presidential nomination. Weeks was later expelled from the Libertarian Party of Michigan, which disavowed all support for his candidacy for county Sheriff.

See also Libertarian National Convention Libertarian Party presidential debates and forums, 2016 Libertarian Party presidential primaries, 2016 United States Libertarian Party Other U.S. political parties' presidential nominating conventions of 2016: Constitution Party National Convention Democratic National Convention Green National Convention Republican National Convention 2016 United States presidential election

References

External links Official 2016 Convention web site Official party web site