Libertarian Party Rules Out RFK Jr. and Trump for Nomination

The Libertarian Party made significant decisions this weekend, rejecting independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s bid for the 2024 presidential nomination and ruling former President Donald Trump ineligible. Instead, the party selected Chase Oliver, a former Georgia Senate hopeful, as their nominee.

Despite Trump’s efforts to rally Libertarians behind him, his appearance at the party’s convention on Saturday was met with resistance. Trump urged the Libertarian Party to “combine” with his campaign, promising to place a Libertarian in his cabinet and senior posts. However, his speech was met with boos, and he received only six write-in votes in the first round. The Libertarian Party chair declared Trump ineligible to be the party’s nominee.

“We cannot give Crooked Joe Biden four more years,” Trump insisted, advocating for a coalition with his campaign. “Only do that if you want to win. If you want to lose, don’t do that. Keep getting your three percent every four years.”

Trump later posted on Truth Social, acknowledging that he couldn't accept the Libertarian nomination due to his impending Republican nomination in July. He dismissed Kennedy as a “Radical Left Democrat” and criticized his impact on energy costs and policies.

Key Outcomes of the Libertarian Convention:

• RFK Jr.’s Rejection
  Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who left the Democratic primary to run as an independent, also spoke at the convention but was eliminated in the first round of voting, securing only 2% of the delegates’ votes.

• Chase Oliver’s Nomination
  Oliver won the nomination after seven rounds of voting, surpassing the required 50% threshold over his final opponent, “none of the above.” Oliver’s past social media posts indicate his support for an “open border” and opposition to Republican legislation preventing boys from competing in girls’ sports. He has also called for the abolition of ICE.

Oliver, who played a pivotal role in the 2022 Georgia Senate election by pushing it to a runoff, expressed his vision in his victory speech. “I will continue to bring a hopeful and positive message of liberty to both those who consider themselves libertarian and those who don’t know they are libertarian yet,” Oliver declared.

Libertarian candidates traditionally receive around 1% of the vote in presidential elections. However, in 2016, Gary Johnson achieved a notable 3% of the national vote, highlighting a rare peak in Libertarian support.

As the 2024 election approaches, the Libertarian Party's decision to nominate Oliver reflects their commitment to distinct, liberty-focused policies despite pressures from more prominent political figures.

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