The 2018 Libertarian National Convention was held from June 30 to July 3, 2018, in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to the Libertarian Party, the 2018 convention was the "biggest Libertarian National Convention ever," breaking previous records in attendance and fundraising.LP News March 2019
Theme The theme was "I'm THAT Libertarian!", a phrase uttered by the late Marc Allan Feldman in a Libertarian presidential debate at the 2016 national convention.
Events Chair election Nicholas Sarwark's seat as Chair of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC) was up for election. Sarwark faced challenge from Washington LP member Joshua Smith, Libertarian Socialist Caucus member Matt Kuehnel, former Gary Johnson and John McAfee campaign staffer Christopher Thrasher and Libertarian Party of Carbon County Chair Matt Schutter. Sarwark ended up winning an unprecedented consecutive third-term as LNC chair.
Endorsements
Polling Poll sourceSamplesizeDate(s)Dearn(withdrew) Sarwark Smith Others The Libertarian Vindicator134February 2018–47%28%None of the Above 25% The Libertarian Vindicator73April 201822%29%41%None of the Above 8%
Results Libertarian National Convention LNC Chairman Vote, 2018CandidateFirst BallotPercentage Nicholas Sarwark 517 65% Joshua Smith 175 22% Christopher Thrasher 46 6% NOTA 33 4% Matt Kuehnel 13 2% John Keil 4 1% Matthew Schutter 1 nil Write-In 1 nil Totals 790 100%
Vice chair election The seat of Vice chair was also up for election, the incumbent being Arvin Vohra. Alex Merced, 2017 candidate for New York comptroller, Libertarian Youth Caucus founder Trent Somes III, 2018 Iowa gubernatorial candidate Jake Porter, Indiana activist Joe Hauptmann, Treasurer of the Libertarian Radical Caucus Steve Scheetz, former Indiana Libertarian Party chair Sam Goldstein and Montana Libertarian Joe Paschal all sought election to the position.
In January 2018 Arvin Vohra drew criticism for condoning sexual relations between adults and minors so long as affirmative consent is given, using the example of a 25-year-old male and a 15-year-old female. Multiple state Libertarian parties demanded Vohra be relieved from his position, as well as the Libertarian Youth Caucus through Trent Somes III, one of Vohra's opponents in the vice chairmanship election. Endorsements
Debates + Debates among candidates for vice chairman of the Libertarian National Committee Date Place Host Participants Participant. Absent. Confirmed non-invitee. Out of race (exploring, suspended, or not yet entered)Sam GoldsteinJoe HauptmannAlex MercedJoe PaschalJake PorterSteve ScheetzTrent SomesArvin VohraJames Weeks February 10 Google Hangouts71 Republic February 22 Google HangoutsThe Feldman Foundation March 3 Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania 2018 ConventionLibertarian Party of Pennsylvania March 10 Libertarian Party of Connecticut 2018 ConventionLibertarian Party of Connecticut April 21 Libertarian Party of New York 2018 ConventionLibertarian Party of New York
Polling Poll sourceSamplesizeDate(s) Goldstein Hauptmann Merced Paschal Porter Scheetz Somes Vohra Weeks OthersThe Libertarian Vindicator248January 2018–6%46%4%8%6%20%10%–N/A99February 20188%5%59%4%3%5%–5%4%None of the Above 7%
Speakers Notable speakers included: Jim Cantrell, entrepreneur Judge James P. Gray, 2012 Libertarian vice presidential nominee Carla Howell, former Executive Director of the Libertarian National Committee Zoltan Istvan, 2018 candidate for Governor of California and 2020 candidate for President of the United States Tim Moen, leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada (2014–) Brandon Phinney, Libertarian member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (2016–2018) Larry Sharpe, 2016 vice presidential candidate and 2018 candidate for Governor of New York Joel Trammell, entrepreneur
Controversies Feud with Libertarian Party Mises Caucus In late 2017, the Libertarian Party Mises Caucus reached out to the chairman of the 2018 LP Convention Committee, Daniel Hayes, entertaining the thought of former congressman and 1988 Libertarian Party presidential nominee Ron Paul and Freedom Watch host Judge Napolitano speaking at the convention, offering to pay off speaking fees. Hayes rejected the idea of Paul speaking at the convention, saying "he has no idea what the LP represents", criticizing Napolitano as well. Ron Paul confronted the controversy, stating he has been a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party since 1987 when he paid using a gold coin, and asked, "do I get my gold coin back?"
On February 3, 2018 Nicholas Sarwark confronted the controversy, saying in a tweet: "If Ron Paul decides he wants to attend the Libertarian Party national convention in New Orleans and speak, I'll make sure he gets time on the stage. It's the least we can do for a life member, former Presidential nominee, and Hall of Liberty award winner."
See also United States elections, 2018
References
External links Convention Website