Libertarian Party of California


The Libertarian Party of California is the California affiliate of the national Libertarian Party. The party chairwoman is Mimi Robson, and is based in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. As of 2016 Libertarians represent approximately 0.74% of the state's registered voters.

History

In 1972 the party considered suing county clerks in Placer and Butte counties for refusing to allow voters to register as Libertarians. In 1978 Ed Clark, who had been the affiliate's chairman from 1973 to 1974 and later the national presidential candidate in 1980, ran as an independent for governor of California to gain party recognition and received over five percent. However, the Secretary of State ruled that the two percent requirement was for retaining party recognition and not gaining party recognition and that since Clark had ran as an independent and not a Libertarian it would not count either way. The party filed a lawsuit against the decision, but it was first dismissed then ruled against on appeal. The Libertarian Party of California has hosted the Libertarian National Convention in 1977, 1979, 1980, and in 2000.

Current officials

YearPresidential nomineeVotesChange
1972John Hospers 980
1976Roger MacBride56,388 0.71%
1980Ed Clark148,434 1.01%
1984David Bergland49,951 1.20%
1988Ron Paul70,105 0.18%
1992Andre Marrou48,139 0.28%
1996Harry Browne73,600 0.30%
2000Harry Browne45,520 0.31%
2004Michael Badnarik50,165 0.02%
2008Bob Barr67,582 0.10%
2012Gary Johnson143,221 0.60%
2016Gary Johnson478,500 2.27%

Senate Class I

Senate Class III

Gubernatorial

Lieutenant Gubernatorial

Attorney General

Secretary of State

State Treasurer

State Controller

Insurance Commissioner

State Assembly

Voter registration

Libertarian voter registration in the state of California has experienced significant growth.
YearRegistered votersVoter gain or loss from previous year
2017141,461 1,656
2016139,805 17,929
2015121,876 1,072
2014120,804 11,168
2013109,636 900
2012108,736 16,490
201192,246 1,135
201091,111 7,748
200983,363 211
200883,574 154
200783,420 45
200683,465 503
200583,968 5,649
200489,617 77
200389,540 955
200290,495 2,865
200193,360 1,540
200094,900 12,561
199982,339

Governance

The Libertarian Party of California is a "political party that has detailed statutory provisions applicable to its operation", which are in division 7, part 3 of the California Elections Code. The Libertarian State Central Committee, the governing body of the Libertarian Party of California, functions pursuant to its standing rules and bylaws. The regular officers of the Central Committee are the chairman, two regional vice chairmen, secretary, and treasurer.

County central committees

There are semi-autonomous county central committees for many of California's 58 counties. The counties which currently have active affiliates are as follows: