2020 Libertarian Party presidential primaries


The 2020 Libertarian Party presidential primaries and caucuses were a series of electoral contests to indicate non-binding preferences for the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate in the 2020 United States presidential election. These differ from the Republican or Democratic presidential primaries and caucuses in that they do not appoint delegates to represent a candidate at the party's convention to select the party's presidential nominee.
The party's nominee was subsequently chosen directly by registered delegates at the 2020 Libertarian National Convention, held through an online convention from May 22 to May 24. Jo Jorgensen was chosen as the party's presidential nominee, becoming the first woman to receive the Libertarian nomination, after four rounds of voting. Spike Cohen was nominated for vice-president.

Background

The 2020 United States presidential election will be the thirteenth contested presidential election in which the Libertarian Party will participate. The 2016 election saw the highest vote total and percentage of votes for a Libertarian presidential ticket ever, with former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, receiving over four million votes and 3.28% of the total vote. During his presidential campaign in 2016, Johnson often stated that it would be his last run for the presidency.

Candidates

The following is a list of declared candidates who meet at least one of the following criteria: a) meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines; b) have participated have received substantial media coverage.

Withdrew during the primaries

Withdrew before the primaries

CandidateBornExperienceStateCampaign
announced		Campaign
suspended		Popular voteRef.

Christopher Marks		Columbia City, IndianaLawyer and technician
Indiana		0

Zoltan Istvan

Los Angeles, California		Transhumanist activist and futurist
Candidate for Governor of California in 2018
Transhumanist nominee for President in 2016
California
0

Formed exploratory committee but did not run

Declined to be candidates

These individuals have been the subject of presidential speculation, but have publicly denied or recanted interest in running for president.

2017

Active campaign
Exploratory committee
Withdrawn candidate
Midterm elections
New Hampshire primary
Super Tuesday
COVID-19 pandemic
national emergency
declaration
Libertarian convention
Final primary
General election

Endorsements

Primaries and caucuses

The Libertarian Party will be eligible to participate in presidential primaries in numerous states.
Candidates listed in italics have suspended their campaigns.

Results

Debates and forums

Schedule

No.DateTime
PlaceSponsorModeratorsRef
1March 31, 2019Holiday Inn Seattle–Issaquah,
Issaquah, Washington		Libertarian Party of WashingtonRandy McGlenn II
2April 13, 2019Courtyard by Marriott Bay City,
Bay City, Michigan		Libertarian Party of MichiganJeff Wood
3April 27, 2019Hotel Eleganté Conference & Event Center,
Colorado Springs, Colorado		Libertarian Party of Colorado--
4May 5, 20191–2 pmHotel Alba Tampa-Westshore,
Tampa, Florida		Libertarian Party of FloridaC. Michael Pickens
5June 1, 2019Radisson Hotel at The University of Toledo,
Toledo, Ohio		Libertarian Party of OhioLarry Sharpe
6July 13, 2019VFW Post 529 – George Dilboy Post,
Somerville, Massachusetts		Libertarian Party of MassachusettsMatt Welch
7November 2, 20197–9 pmFrancis Marion University,
Florence, South Carolina		Libertarian Party of South CarolinaMatt Welch
8November 9, 20197–9 pmOlean High School,
Olean, New York		Cattaraugus County Libertarian PartyJames Weeks II, Daniel Donnelly, and Luke Wenke
9January 11, 2020Holiday Inn,
Concord, New Hampshire		Libertarian Party of New HampshireDaniel Fishman
10January 18, 2020Douglasville Convention Center,
Douglasville, Georgia		Libertarian Party of GeorgiaJessica Szilagyi
11February 16, 202010 pm–12 amDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles,
Culver City, California		Libertarian Party of CaliforniaMatt Welch
12February 22, 2020Holiday Inn & Suites,
Orlando, Florida		Libertarian Party of Florida
13February 28, 20206:30–9 pmBirmingham Marriott,
Birmingham, Alabama		Libertarian Party of AlabamaTBD
14March 7, 2020Renaissance Philadelphia Airport Hotel,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania		Libertarian Party of PennsylvaniaLarry Sharpe
15March 13, 20209:15–11:30 pmEmbassy Suites East Peoria,
East Peoria, Illinois		Libertarian Party of IllinoisTBD
16April 17, 2020McAllen Convention Center,
McAllen, Texas		Libertarian Party of TexasTBD
17April 23, 2020OnlineLibertarian Party of KentuckyChris Wiest
18May 2, 2020OnlineLibertarian Party of KentuckyChris Wiest
19May 9, 2020OnlineLibertarian Party of KentuckyChris Wiest
20May 16, 2020OnlineLibertarian Party of Kentucky
Libertarian Party of Missouri		Matt Welch
21May 18, 2020OnlineLibertarian Party of TexasTimothy Martinez
22May 21, 2020OnlineLibertarian Party National ConventionJohn Stossel

Debates

Forums

Primary election polling

National polling

National polling of delegates to the Convention

Both of these polls were conducted using ranked choice voting, progression down the table indicates later rounds of voting as the candidate with the lowest total is eliminated.
Poll sourceSample sizeDateAmashGrayHornbergerJorgensenKokeshMondsSupremeOthers
Released May 19, 2020350 –17.4%22.9%22%7.7%9.1%12.6%8.3
Released May 19, 2020350 –17.4%22.9%22%7.7%9.1%12.6%8.3
Released May 19, 2020350 –17.7%23.1%22.3%7.7%9.1%12.6%7.4%
Released May 19, 2020350 –17.7%23.4%22.3%7.7%9.7%12.9%6.3%
Released May 19, 2020350 –17.7%24.0%22.3%8.6%10%13.7%3.7%
Released May 19, 2020350 –19.2%24.4%23%8.8%10.5%14.2%–
Released May 19, 2020350 –20.4%25.7%26%–11.5%16.3%–
Released May 19, 2020350 –22%27.6%31.8%––18.7%–
Released May 19, 2020350 –26.5%32.4%41.1%––––
Released May 19, 2020350 ––39.5%60.5%––––
Released May 19, 2020350 36.2%6.1%17.1%12.8%7%5.5%9.9%5.4%
Released May 19, 2020350 36.2%6.1%17.1%12.8%7%5.5%9.9%5.4%
Released May 19, 2020350 36.2%6.1%17.4%12.8%7%5.5%10.1%4.9%
Released May 19, 2020350 36.2%6.4%18%13%7%5.5%10.1%3.7%
Released May 19, 2020350 36.8%6.7%18.1%13.2%7%5.6%10.2%2.3%
Released May 19, 2020350 37.1%6.7%18.7%13.2%7.6%5.8%10.8%–
Released May 19, 2020350 37.7%7%19.9%15.2%7.9%–12.3%–
Released May 19, 2020350 39.4%–20.6%19.1%8.2%–12.6%–
Released May 19, 2020350 41.1%–21.9%22.2%––14.7%–
Released May 19, 2020350 44.9%–25.6%29.4%––––
Released May 19, 2020350 52.8%––47.2%––––

Online straw polls

The following are early unofficial online polls that have included various speculative and potential candidates, including some that are not members of the Libertarian Party.
Poll sourceDateAmashCampbellInceIstvanJohnsonKerbelKokeshMcAfeeMironPaulPerryPetersenRuwartSanfordSupremeSarwarkSchiffSharpeVenturaWeldOthers
The Libertarian VindicatorJan 2–4, 2018—2%3%6%—0%9%—1%———4%—-8%-55%-6%None of the Above 6%
TheJackNewsAug 13–19, 201729.1%2.9%———0.9%3.9%—1.1%———2.8%—8.2%--28.5%—-N/A
TheJackNewsJuly 9–15, 2017—6%———6%10.2%—10.2%————-—--16%-43%Undecided 8%
A Libertarian FutureMar 20178%———4%—2%3%—26%1%18%-1%—--25%3%8%None of the Above 1%
A Libertarian FutureNov 20165%———10%—1%3%—33%1%27%———6%4%9%--None of the Above 1%

Campaign finance

This is an overview of the money used by each campaign as it is reported to the Federal Election Commission and released on October 15, 2019. Totals raised include loans from the candidate and transfers from other campaign committees. Some of the Libertarian candidates have not filed with the FEC, and financial data for those candidates are therefore not available.