The Libertarian Party selected Chase Oliver as its presidential nominee on Sunday after a series of elimination votes during a lively four-day convention in Washington. Oliver, an openly gay former Democrat known for forcing a runoff in a 2022 U.S. Senate race in Georgia, emerged victorious over nine other candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was eliminated in the first round of voting with just 2 percent of the vote. Donald J. Trump, who sought the party’s backing but was not an official candidate, received only six write-in votes.
The Libertarian Party, recognized as one of the more established minor parties, guarantees its nominee a spot on the November ballot in at least 37 states, with plans to increase that number. The party, advocating for individual liberties and limited government, attracts a diverse range of supporters. Its platform includes dismantling the regulatory state, legalizing drugs and sex work, supporting cryptocurrency, opposing tariffs and foreign military spending, and calling for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
