The Libertarian Party has chosen political activist Chase Oliver as its presidential nominee, passing over former President Trump and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Oliver is a proponent of small government, individual freedoms, and significant budget cuts.
The Libertarian Party has nominated political activist Chase Oliver as its presidential candidate, rejecting long-shot bids from former President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The decision was made at the party's convention on Sunday, where Oliver secured the nomination in the seventh round of voting.
Oliver, an activist from Atlanta, Georgia, received nearly 60% of the vote in the final round, finally clearing the 50% threshold required for victory. His last opponent was the "none of the above" option. Oliver's victory was a setback for the Mises Caucus, a right-leaning faction that had taken control of the Libertarian Party two years ago.
In his victory speech, Oliver pledged to continue delivering a "hopeful and positive message of liberty." The Libertarian Party platform emphasizes small government, individual freedoms, and opposition to war, drug prohibition, and excessive taxation.
Trump, who is the Republican nominee for president, faced booing from some members of the audience during his speech at the Libertarian convention on Saturday. The former president did not qualify for the Libertarian nomination and received only six write-in votes in the first round.
Kennedy, an independent presidential candidate, received a more receptive reception at the convention on Friday. However, he received only 19 votes in the first round of voting.
Oliver has proposed major cuts to the federal budget, the elimination of the death penalty, and the closure of overseas military bases. He has also expressed support for pardoning WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.
Oliver forced a runoff in the 2022 Georgia Senate election between Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker. He has previously run for the U.S. House.
The Libertarian Party's decision to nominate Oliver reflects a rejection of the more conservative and nationalistic direction that the Mises Caucus had brought to the party. Oliver's nomination emphasizes the party's commitment to individual liberty and small government.
However, it remains to be seen how Oliver will fare in the general election. The Libertarian Party has historically struggled to gain traction in presidential races, often failing to reach the 5% threshold required for federal funding. Nonetheless, Oliver's nomination could provide an alternative for voters disillusioned with the two major parties.
