Chase Oliver
| Chase Russell Oliver | |
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| Chair Libertarian Party of Atlanta | |
| 2016—2017 | |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth: | August 16, 1985 Nashville, Tennessee |
| Education: | Georgia State University |
| Occupation: | Political activist, sales account executive, HR representative |
| Residence: | Suburban Atlanta |
| Party: | Libertarian Party (2010-present) |
| Media | |
| Website: | http://votechaseoliver.com votechaseoliver.com |
| Facebook: | |
| Twitter: | |
| Instagram: | |
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Chase Oliver (born August 16, 1985) is Libertarian activist, sales account executive, and HR representative. Known for his prominent role within the Libertarian Party, he has been described by Rolling Stone as "...the most influential Libertarian in America." Oliver is a passionate advocate for individual rights against the growing power of the state.
Early life
Oliver was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He worked in the restaurant business for 13 years before delving into political activism.
Political career
Early political involvement
Oliver initially supported the Democratic Party and endorsed Barack Obama during the 2008 U.S. presidential election. However, due to his anti-war views, which he felt were not adequately represented by the Democrats, Oliver transitioned to the Libertarian Party in 2010. This transition was influenced by a chance meeting with several party members at the Atlanta Pride Festival.
2020 U.S. House campaign
Oliver first ventured into politics in 2020 as the Libertarian nominee for the 2020 Georgia's 5th congressional district special election, hoping to replace the late John Lewis. Although he secured 2% of the votes, he did not proceed beyond the blanket primary.
2022 U.S. Senate campaign
In 2022, Oliver secured the Libertarian nomination for the U.S. Senate election in Georgia, challenging incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker. He was acknowledged for potentially influencing the election into a runoff between Warnock and Walker. Oliver refrained from endorsing either candidate in the runoff but proposed an internet forum between the two.
2024 presidential campaign
In December 2022, Oliver announced his interest in the Libertarian presidential nomination for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. His official campaign began on April 5, 2023. During his campaign, Oliver made several appearances, notably at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox, marking the event's first third-party presidential candidate speaker.
Political positions
Oliver's political views encompass a wide range of issues:
- Abortion: Pro-choice, opposes taxpayer-funded abortions.
- Climate Change: Advocates free-market solutions.
- Electoral Reform: Strong proponent of ranked-choice voting.
- Gun Rights: Favors gun rights, famously stating, "Armed gays are harder to oppress."
- War on Drugs: Supports ending the war on drugs and legalizing marijuana.
- Police Reform: Advocates ending qualified immunity.
- Immigration: Supports an "Ellis Island-style" system.
- Education: Advocates for more choice in education and supports abolishing the U.S. Department of Education.
- Homelessness: Opposes regulatory barriers preventing aid to the homeless.
Personal Life
Oliver, who is openly gay, resides in suburban Atlanta. He has actively opposed certain regulatory measures, such as those restricting aid to homeless individuals, as evidenced by his speech at the Columbia, South Carolina City Council meeting in 2023.
Media appearances
Oliver has featured on several media platforms, including PBS, CNN, Fox Business, CSPAN, WSB TV and Radio, Fox 5, 11 Alive News, Vice Media, and Reason TV. His views and campaign activities have also been covered by notable publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone.