Presidential Candidates 2020

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The 2020 Libertarian Party presidential primary consisted of individuals seeking the Libertarian Party nomination during the first portion of the 2020 Libertarian National Convention on May 22 via online ballot.

On 23 May 2020, the Libertarian Party nominated Jo Jorgensen.[1] Spike Cohen was nominated for Vice President the following day.

The Jorgensen/Cohen ticket ran in the 2020 United States Presidential election, held on November 3rd 2020.

Declared Candidates

Candidates on the May 23 Convention Ballot

Name Background State Campaign Announced Campaign Ended
Jo Jorgensen Psychology Senior Lecturer at Clemson University
1996 Libertarian nominee for Vice-President
South Carolina website 13 August 2019 3 November 2020
Nominated 23 May 2020
Jacob Hornberger Future of Freedom Foundation, Founder and President Virginia website 2 November 2019[2] 23 May 20
eliminated on the 4th Ballot- endorsed Jo Jorgensen
Vermin Supreme
(running mate- Spike Cohen)
Performance Artist and Activist
Candidate for President since 1992
Massachusetts website 28 May 2018 23 May 20
eliminated on the 4th Ballot- endorsed Jo Jorgensen
John Monds 2014 Libertarian Party of Georgia Nominee for Public Service Commission, District 1
2010 Libertarian Party of Georgia nominee for Governor
Georgia website 2 February 2020 23 May 2020
eliminated on the 3rd Ballot- endorsed Jo Jorgensen
Jim Gray
(running mate- Larry Sharpe)
former Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County, California
2012 Libertarian nominee for Vice-President
California website 13 April 2020[3] 23 May 2020
eliminated on the 2nd Ballot- endorsed Jo Jorgensen
Adam Kokesh
(running mate- John McAfee)
Anti-War Activist and Author
2018 Write-in Candidate for U.S. Senate from Arizona
Arizona website 18 July 2013 23 May 2020
eliminated on the 1st Ballot

Other Declared Candidates

Over 66 filings were listed under the Federal Election Commission as seeking the Libertarian nomination for President.[4]

The individuals listed below had filed their campaigns with the FEC and created a social media page/website declaring their intention to run:

Name Background State Campaign Announced Campaign Ended
Sorinne Ardeleanu Author and Motivational Speaker California website 17 January 2020 23 May 20
Kenneth Blevins Pipe Fitter/Welder Oklahoma website 6 June 2019[5] 23 May 20
Daniel Christmann Libertarian Party of Brooklyn Vice-Chair New York website November 17 2019[6] 23 May 20
Keenan Wallace Dunham Libertarian Party of Horry County Chair South Carolina website 20 August 2019 23 May 20
Erik Gerhardt Activist Pennsylvania website 5 January 2020[7] 23 May 20
Phil Gray Businessman Texas website 4 February 2020[8] 23 May 20
Souraya Faas 2018 candidate for the Republican nomination for US House Florida District 26
2016 Independent Write-in candidate for President
Florida social media page 11 May 2019 23 May 20
Jedi Hill Author and Professional Speaker Ohio website 31 July 2019 23 May 20
Shuan McCutcheon Engineering Executive Alabama website 5 May 2020 23 May 20
James O. Ogle Artist and Mathematician
2012 Candidate for the Libertarian Presidential nomination
California website 02 July 2018 23 May 20
Steve Richey FedEx Courier Hawaii social media page 17 May 2018 23 May 20
Rhett Smith Security Guard
Candidate for the 2016 Libertarian Presidential nomination
Texas website 24 February 2020 23 May 20
Louis Dean Vanacore Engineer Florida website 8 February 2020 23 May 20
Arvin Vohra Former Libertarian National Committee Vice-Chair (2014-2018)
Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate from Maryland in 2018
Maryland website 03 July 2018 23 May 20
Andy Williams Paralegal and Activist Illinois social media page 7 August 2019 23 May 20

Withdrawn Candidates

Name Background State Campaign Announced Withdrew
Sam Robb
Software Developer and Entrepreneur Pennsylvania website 01 April 2018 23 May 20
(endorsed Jo Jorgensen)
Daniel Behrman Podcaster and Internet Personality
2014 Libertarian nominee for District 125 of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas website 29 May 2016 23 May 2020
(endorsed Vermin Supreme)[9]
Brian Ellison 2018 Libertarian Party of Michigan nominee for US House Michigan District 8
2018 Candidate for the Libertarian Party of Michigian nomination for US Senate
Michigan website 14 February 2020 19 May 2020
(endorsed Vermin Supreme)[10]
Justin Amash* US House of Representatives- Michigan's 3rd District (2011-2021) Michigan website 28 April 2020[11] 14 May 2020[12]
Ken Armstrong Former Executive
Former Honolulu County Neighborhood Board
Oregon website 10 May 2019 29 April 2020
(ran for Vice-President)[13]
Mark Whitney CEO THELAW.NET
1996 Libertarian Candidate for Vermont State Senate
California website 17 December 2019 23 April 2020 [14]
(endorsed Jim Gray)
Lincoln Chafee 74th Governor of Rhode Island (2011-2015)
US Senator from Rhode Island (1999 to 2007)
Mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island (1993 to 1999)
Wyoming website 5 January 2020[15] 5 April 2020[16]
John McAfee Former CEO of McAfee Inc.
2016 Candidate for the Libertarian Presidential nomination
Tennessee website 03 June 2018 4 March 2020
(ran for Vice-President)[17]
Max Abramson New Hampshire House of Representatives, Rockingham District 20
2016 Libertarian Nominee for Governor of New Hampshire
New Hampshire website 30 June 2019 2 March 2020[18]
(quit the party)
Benjamin Leder Libertarian Party of Henderson County Chair Texas website 24 March 2018 20 February 2020[19]
(endorsed Mark Whitney)
Kim Ruff
(running mate- John Phillips)
Former Libertarian Party Radical Caucus Secretary
2018 Candidate for Arizona State Mine Inspector
Arizona website 06 July 2018 11 January 2020[20]
(endorsed Vermin Supreme)
Christopher Marks Programmer and Activist Indiana social media page 1 March 2019 8 August 2019 [21]
William Hurst Defense Contractor Alabama website 30 July 2018 28 May 2019 [22]
(endorsed Kim Ruff) [23]
Benjamin Dryke
(running mate- Jeff Wood)
2018 Libertarian Nominee for the Michigan House of Representatives District 36 Michigan social media page 2018 19 February 2019 [24]
(endorsed Bernie Sanders)
Zoltan Istvan Transhumanist and Futurist
2018 Candidate for Governor of California
California website 25 November 2017 11 January 2019
(ran for Vice-President)

*formed an exploratory committee

Debates

2018
2020 Libertarian Party Presidential Primaries, 2018 Debates
Date Host/Moderators Location Candidates Media
11 December 2018 Johnny Rocket, Raylene Lightheart Internet Livestream Daniel Behrman
Ben Leder
Kim Ruff
Arvin Vohra
Video
2019
2020 Libertarian Party Presidential Primaries, 2019 Debates
Date Host/Moderators Location Candidates Media
8 February 2019 Kerry McKennon Internet Livestream Daniel Behrman
Ben Leder
Arvin Vohra
Video
26 February 2019 Liberty on the Air
Daniel Fishman (Moderator)
Internet Livestream Daniel Behrman
Ben Leder
Arvin Vohra
Video
15 March 2019 We Are Libertarians
Hodey Johns (Moderator)
Internet Livestream Christopher Marks
Kim Ruff
Ben Leder
Arvin Vohra
Video
31 March 2019 TVW
Randy McGlenn (Moderator)
Libertarian Party of Washington
2019 State Convention
Adam Kokesh
Arvin Vohra
Video
27 April 2019 Libertarian Party of Colorado Libertarian Party of Colorado
2019 State Convention
Adam Kokesh
Vermin Supreme
Arvin Vohra
Video
1 June 2019 Larry Sharpe (Moderator) Libertarian Party of Ohio
2019 State Conference
Adam Kokesh
Christopher Marks
Kim Ruff
Vermin Supreme
Arvin Vohra
Video
23 September 2019 Libertarians of Montgomery
Libertarian Party of Ohio
Matthew McGowan (Moderator)
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Presidential Town Hall
Dayton, OH
Ken Armstrong
Souraya Faas
Vermin Supreme
Video
2 November 2019 South Carolina Libertarian Party
Matt Welch (Moderator)
South Carolina Libertarian Party
2019 State Convention
Florence, SC
Adam Kokesh
Kim Ruff
Vermin Supreme
Dan Behrman
Ken Armstrong
Jo Jorgensen
Video
9 November 2019 Cattaraugus County Libertarian Party
Olean Senior High School
Olean, NY
Jedi Hill
Daniel Christman
Arvin Vorha
Dan Berhman
Sam Robb
Ken Armstrong
Max Abramson
Vermin Supreme
Video
2020
2020 Libertarian Party Presidential Primaries, 2020 Debates
Date Host/Moderators Location Candidates Media
11 January 2020 Daniel Fishman New Hampshire LP Convention Sam Robb
Max Abramson
Daniel Behrman
Arvin Vohra
Vermin Supreme
Eric Gerhardt
Jo Jorgensen
Mark Whitney
Video
18 January 2020 Libertarian Party of Georgia
Jessica Szilagyi (moderator)
Douglasville, Georgia Dan Behrman
Kenneth Blevins
Lincoln Chafee
Erik Gerhardt
Jo Jorgensen
Adam Kokesh
Sam Robb
Vermin Supreme
Mark Whitney
Video
16 February 2020 Libertarian Party of California
Matt Welch (moderator)
Los Angeles, California Lincoln Chafee
Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
Adam Kokesh
Vermin Supreme
Mark Whitney
Video (GI MJ)
Video (3L Productions)
22 February 2020 Libertarian Party of Florida Orlando, Florida Lincoln Chafee
Mark Whitney
Adam Kokesh
Jo Jorgensen
Jacob Hornberger
Arvin Vohra
Dan Behrman
John Monds
Vermin Supreme
Video
29 February 2020 Libertarian Party of Iowa Des Moines, Iowa Ken Armstrong
Jacob Hornberger
Lincoln Chafee
Jo Jorgensen
Mark Whitney
Adam Kokesh
Dan Behrman
Sam Robb
Video
7 March 2020 Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ken Armstrong
Vermin Supreme
Adam Kokesh
Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
Video
22 April 2020 Libertarian Party of Kentucky
(first of a series)
Online Adam Kokesh
Jim Gray
Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
Mark Whitney
Video
2 May 2020 Libertarian Party of Kentucky
(second of a series)
Online Jim Gray
Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
John Monds
Vermin Supreme
Video
6 May 2020 Libertarian Party of Kentucky
(fourth of a series)
Online Dan Behrman
Brian Ellison
Adam Kokesh
Sam Robb
Arvin Vohra
Video
6 May 2020 Lions of Liberty Online Sorinne Ardeleanu
Jim Gray
Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
Vermin Supreme
Andy Williams Jr.
Video
9 May 2020 Libertarian Party of Kentucky
(fifth of a series)
Online Justin Amash
Jim Gray
Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
Vermin Supreme
Video
18 May 2020 Libertarian Party of Texas Online Dan Behrman
Jim Gray
Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
Adam Kokesh
John Monds
Vermin Supreme
Video
19 May 2020 Lions of Liberty Online Jim Gray
Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
Adam Kokesh
Vermin Supreme
Video
20 May 2020 Libertarian Party of Kentucky
("final debate")
Online Jim Gray
John Monds
Jo Jorgensen
Video
21 May 2020 Libertarian National Committee
John Stossel (moderator)
Online Jacob Hornberger
Jo Jorgensen
John Monds
Vermin Supreme
Jim Gray
video

Primaries, Caucuses, and State Party Straw Polls

The following are primaries, caucuses, or straw polls that have been conducted by Libertarian Party affiliates, at affiliate conventions, or by state governments. (Per the LP's national bylaws, these results are not binding on the delegations of these states.)[25]

New Hampshire

2020 Libertarian Party Presidential Primary- New Hampshire (January 11, 2020)[26]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Vermin Supreme 26 59.09%
Kim Ruff (withdrew Jan. 11) 22 50%
Jo Jorgensen 17 38.64%
None of the above (NOTA) 13 29.55%
Dan "Taxation is Theft" Behrman 13 29.55%
Jacob Hornberger (write-in) 9 20.45%
Sam Robb 8 18.18%
Arvin Vohra 6 13.64%
Mark Whitney (write-in) 6 13.64%
Ken Armstrong 5 11.36%
Lincoln Chafee (write-in) 4 9.09%
Others 11 25%

Georgia

2020 Georgia Libertarian Party Straw Poll (January 18, 2020)[27]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Adam Kokesh 48 28.7%
Jo Jorgensen 29 17.4%
Vermin Supreme 26 15.6%
Dan "Taxation is Theft" Behrman 21 12.6%
Sam Robb 20 12.0%
other 23

Note: Each member of the debate audience was given three votes to allocate among the candidates.

Iowa

2020 Libertarian Party Presidential Caucus- Iowa (February 8, 2020)[28]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 134 47.52%
Lincoln Chafee 36 12.77%
Jo Jorgensen 18 6.38%
Adam Kokesh 17 6.03%
Dan Behrman 14 4.96%
John McAfee 10 3.55%
Vermin Supreme 9 3.55%
Other (write-in) 8 2.84%
None of the Above (NOTA) 8 2.84%
Sam Robb 7 2.48%
Max Abramson 6 2.13%
Mark Whitney 4 1.42%
Arvin Vohra 3 1.06%
Ken Armstrong 2 0.71%
Souraya Faas 2 0.71%
Benjamin Leder 1 0.35%
John Monds 1 0.35%

California

Two straw polls were held at the 2020 California convention following the presidential debate. The first "informal" poll was done immediately following the debate, with anybody present allowed to vote, and using a form which listed the debate participants. The second "official" (provided for in the LPC's standing convention rules) poll was done the following day, with only state convention delegates participating.

2020 California Convention Informal Straw Poll (16 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 51 39.2%
Adam Kokesh 22 16.9%
Lincoln Chafee 19 14.6%
Jo Jorgensen 15 11.5%
Mark Whitney 13 10.0%
Vermin Supreme 8 6.2%
NOTA 2 1.5%
2020 California Convention Official Straw Poll (17 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 30 36.6%
Adam Kokesh 19 23.2%
Lincoln Chafee 10 12.2%
Jo Jorgensen 8 9.8%
Vermin Supreme 6 7.3%
Mark Whitney 3 3.7%
Sorinne Ardeleanu 2 2.4%
John Monds 2 2.4%
Arvin Vohra 2 2.4%

The California primary was held 3 March 2020 and included a presidential preference portion for each recognized party. There were 13 candidates listed on the ballots being provided to registered Libertarians. Voters not affiliated with any recognized party could also request this ballot. (Note: This election was nominally held 3 March, but voting started in some counties as early as the first week of February.)

2020 California Presidential Preference Primary (3 March 2020)
(preliminary results as of 8 April)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 5515 19.4%
Jo Jorgensen 3519 12.4%
Vermin Supreme 3458 12.2%
Ken Armstrong 3005 10.6%
Kim Ruff 2328 8.2%
Adam Kokesh 2143 7.5%
Sam Robb 1718 6.0%
Dan Behrman 1687 5.9%
Max Abramson 1600 5.6%
Souraya Faas 995 3.5%
Steven A. Richey 978 3.4%
Erik Chase Gerhardt 743 2.6%
Keenan Wallace Dunham 713 2.4%

Note: Two candidates listed on this ballot withdrew from the race before this vote was completed (Kim Ruff on 11 January and Max Abramson on 2 March), but there is no provision in California law for a candidate to be de-listed from the ballot and there was no indication on the ballot that these individuals were no longer running.

Arkansas

2020 Arkansas Convention Straw Poll (22 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 21 67.7%
John Monds 2 6.5%
Lincoln Chafee 2 6.5%
Sam Robb 2 6.5%
Dan Behrman 1 3.2%
Keenan Dunham 1 3.2%
Mark Whitney 1 3.2%
NOTA 1 3.2%

Florida

2020 Florida Convention Straw Poll (22 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 29 26.4%
John Monds 22 20.0%
Vermin Supreme 21 19.1%
Adam Kokesh 10 9.1%
Dan Behrman 9 8.2%
NOTA 6 5.5%
Jo Jorgensen 5 4.5%
Mark Whitney 3 2.7%
Arvin Vohra 3 2.7%
Lincoln Chafee 2 1.8%

Montana

2020 Montana Convention Straw Poll (23 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 8 29.6%
Lincoln Chafee 8 29.6%
John Monds 5 18.5%
Ken Armstrong 3 11.1%
Daniel Behrman 2 7.4%
Steve Richey 1 3.7%

Nevada

2020 Nevada Convention Straw Poll (29 February 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
John Monds 6 46.2%
NOTA 5 38.4%
Jo Jorgensen 2 15.4%

North Carolina

2020 North Carolina Presidential Preference Primary (3 March 2020)
(preliminary results as of 4 March)
Candidate Votes Percentage
No Preference 2060 29.8%
Jacob Hornberger 604 8.7%
John McAfee 570 8.2%
Kim Ruff 545 7.9%
Vermin Supreme 410 5.9%
Ken Armstrong 366 5.3%
Jo Jorgensen 316 4.6%
Steve Richey 278 4.0%
Adam Kokesh 240 3.5%
Max Abramson 236 3.4%
James Orlando Ogle 232 3.4%
Kenneth Blevins 199 2.9%
Dan Behrman 194 2.8%
Jedidiah Hill 194 2.8%
Souraya Faas 193 2.8%
Erik Gerhardt 150 2.2%

Massachusetts

2020 Massachusetts Presidential Preference Primary (3 March 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
No Preference 804 21.0%
Vermin Supreme 399 10.4%%
Jacob Hornberger 369 9.6%
Dan Behrman 294 7.7%
Kim Ruff 224 5.8%
Arvin Vohra 151 3.9%
Ken Armstrong 145 3.8%
Jo Jorgensen 141 3.7%
Sam Robb 127 3.3%
Adam Kokesh 125 3.3%
Max Abramson 98 2.6%
all others 958 25.0%

Alaska

2020 Alaska Convention Straw Poll (7 March 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 9 56.3%
Jo Jorgensen 5 31.3%
Adam Kokesh 1 6.3%
Mark Whitney 1 6.3%

Indiana

2020 Indiana Convention Straw Poll (7 March 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 19 24.7%
Jo Jorgensen 16 20.8%
John Monds 12 15.6%
Lincoln Chafee 9 11.7%
Adam Kokesh 7 9.1%
Vermin Supreme 7 9.1%
Ken Armstrong 3 3.9%
Max Abramson 1 1.3%
NOTA 3 3.9%

Kentucky

2020 Kentucky Convention Straw Poll (8 March 2020) (initial round)
Candidate Votes Percentage
John Monds 13 40.6%
Mark Whitney 6 18.8%
Adam Kokesh 4 12.5%
Jacob Hornberger 3 9.4%
Jo Jorgensen 3 9.4%
Ken Armstrong 1 3.1%
Vermin Supreme 1 3.1%
Justin Amash (w.i.) 1 3.1%

Virginia

2020 Virginia Convention Straw Poll (14 March 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 25 44.6%
Ken Armstrong 8 14.3%
Jo Jorgensen 8 14.3%
Dan Behrman 3 5.4%
John Monds 3 5.4%
NOTA 3 5.4%
Lincoln Chafee 2 3.6%
Vermin Supreme 2 3.6%
Arvin Vohra 2 3.6%

Wyoming

2020 Wyoming (virtual) Convention Straw Poll (4 April 2020)
Candidate Votes Percentage
Lincoln Chafee 14 87.5%
Jacob Hornberger 1 6.25%
NOTA 1 6.25%

Michigan

2020 Michigan Convention Straw Poll (4 April 2020)
(instant runoff)
Candidate 1st Round
Votes
1st Round
Percentage
2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Final
Percentage
Jacob Hornberger 22 29.3% 24 24 26 26 28 33 58.9%
Justin Amash (w.i.) 21 28.0% 21 21 21 21 21 23 41.1%
Vermin Supreme 10 13.3% 10 12 12 12 16
Adam Kokesh 5 6.7% 6 7 7 9
Lincoln Chafee 4 5.3% 4 5 5
Nicholas Sarwark (w.i.) 4 5.3% 4 4
Brian Ellison 3 4.0% 3
Ken Armstrong 3 4.0% 3
Arvin Vohra 1 1.3%
Jo Jorgensen 1 1.3%
Donald Trump (w.i.) 1 1.3%


Preceded by:
2016
Libertarian Party US Presidential Election Candidates, 2020
Succeeded by:
2024



References

  1. https://reason.com/2020/05/23/jo-jorgensen-wins-libertarian-party-presidential-nomination/
  2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/LPMC1/permalink/492810797976682/
  3. https://reason.com/2020/04/13/judge-jim-gray-to-seek-libertarian-presidential-nomination/?fbclid=IwAR0HvgfP79YDMvfYKOq2BOY7JEqU3eYj46H1_1ZUim2FDnsJPNPNLuyICNc
  4. https://www.fec.gov/data/candidates/president/?election_year=2020&cycle=2020&election_full=true&party=LIB
  5. https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/P00012278/?tab=about-candidate
  6. https://www.facebook.com/Christmann2020/posts/422886131968855
  7. https://www.facebook.com/erikgerhardt2020/posts/379591559384246
  8. https://www.facebook.com/PhilGray2020/posts/116340956591139
  9. https://www.facebook.com/Behrman2020/posts/2756666761110936
  10. https://www.facebook.com/LibertarianforPresident/posts/2758031060972994
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/us/politics/justin-amash-president.html
  12. https://www.axios.com/justin-amash-2020-election-f9f4c363-bea8-4950-bbc1-d2bd6cf9c4b8.html
  13. https://www.facebook.com/armstrongVP2020/posts/247080036649523
  14. https://www.facebook.com/MarkWhitney2020/posts/260585408660190
  15. https://www.wpri.com/news/politics/chafee-files-to-run-for-president-again/?fbclid=IwAR3ppw8dboh_4Z04Gi5Gz3X0jMBHJ7MOI3ZHkVf430eldsixJcGY9Rztrj0
  16. https://www.facebook.com/LincolnForLiberty/posts/1728202350652936
  17. https://www.facebook.com/officialmcafee/videos/152905009138846/
  18. https://www.facebook.com/Max4Prez/posts/912653245804607
  19. https://www.facebook.com/benjamin.leder.94/videos/2801693469873850/
  20. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1865008280211669/permalink/2782683561777465/
  21. https://www.facebook.com/Marksfor2020/posts/2469915329762150
  22. https://www.facebook.com/williamhurstcampaign/posts/2115923502041126
  23. https://twitter.com/William_J_Hurst/status/1141173906021240832?s=19
  24. https://www.facebook.com/benjamin.dryke/posts/10218742817464525
  25. https://www.lp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018_LP_Bylaws_and_Convention_Rules_w_2016_JC_Rules.pdf
  26. https://lpnh.org/2020/01/14/results-2020-libertarian-presidential-preference-primary/
  27. https://lpgeorgia.com/5032-2/
  28. https://lpia.org/2020/02/08/libertarian-party-of-iowa-presidential-caucus-winner-and-results/