Announcing a Multi-Part Series on the 2024 Election
A Personal Account of the Libertarian Party’s Rollercoaster Year
(This promo video above captured the sentiments Libertarians for Kennedy worked with)
Looking back on the chaotic 2024 election cycle, I’ve decided to share my perspective on how the year unfolded from the early days of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leaving the Democratic Party race to the creation of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Coalition that propelled Donald Trump’s return to the White House. This series of articles will break down the key events of 2024, both from a personal point of view and from within the heart of the Libertarian Party.
I was involved in many of the defining moments of the year, and I’m excited to take you through the twists and turns that led to the unexpected year and the many internal battles that threatened to tear apart the Libertarian Party itself. The main character in this story ended up being Angela McArdle, the Libertarian Party’s National Chair who weathered the storm, kept the party financially afloat and protected Chase Oliver, the unpopular party nominee, from being replaced.
The series will dive deep into the following key periods of 2024:
Overview 2023: Kennedy Leaves the Democratic Party Race, Libertarian Appeals, and October 7
The journey begins in 2023, when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the bold decision to leave the Democratic Party race and run independently. The move immediately sparked massive interest, especially from disillusioned Democrats and Republicans and Libertarians looking for a strong alternative to the establishment. I’ll explore how Kennedy’s decision created an opening for the Libertarian Party and how we began to position ourselves for the fight ahead. Additionally, I’ll discuss the significance of October 7, a date that would become a turning point for Libertarians as they began to solidify their strategies for 2024.
Early 2024: Kennedy Appears at the LP California Convention and the Launch of Libertarians For Kennedy
In early 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made his first major public appearance at the Libertarian Party of California Convention. This was a pivotal moment as we sought to convince Kennedy supporters that the Libertarian Party was the place for them. Based on Kennedy’s performance at the California convention, myself, Jorge Besada and Steven French founded Libertarians for Kennedy (LFK) to invite him to seek the Libertarian Party nomination. We had hopes that Kennedy could be inspired by the lessons of Argentine President Javier Milei toward leading a free market revolt against the leviathan state. The decision was not universally welcomed, as the National Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos threatened to sue the group for using the term Libertarian and the party logo in our website and literature.
April-May 2024: Pre-Convention Coup Against McArdle, the Trump v Kennedy Debate, the Beth Vest Lawsuit, and the Credentials Committee Controversy
As the convention neared, the Libertarian Party found itself embroiled in multiple conflicts. Behind the scenes, a pre-convention coup was brewing against Angela McArdle, aimed at undermining her leadership and destabilizing the party. Meanwhile, tensions between the Trump and Kennedy camps led to a highly anticipated debate challenge that shaped much of the pre-convention narrative. On top of that, there were legal challenges like the Beth Vest lawsuit, and a Credentials Committee controversy that blocked several attempts to have non-bylaw compliant people apply to become delegates to the convention (out-of-state delegate controversy). This period was marked by internal strife and a complete breakdown in party discipline.
Memorial Day Weekend 2024: The “Seat Them All” Counter-Takeover, the Deal that Never Happened, the Rectenwald Disaster, Rival Kennedy and Trump Speeches, Ron Paul baton pass to Nicole Shanahan, and the Early 4th-Day Nomination of Chase Oliver and the NOTA Movement
Memorial Day Weekend 2024 will be remembered as one of the most chaotic periods in the history of the Libertarian Party. A counter-takeover led by the “Seat Them All” faction sought to push through Chase Oliver as the party’s nominee and afterwards split the party. The deal that never happened to make Kennedy the nominee is a story of missed opportunities and broken promises. During this weekend, we also witnessed a disastrous Rectenwald media appearance and the failed attempt by Michael Heise at rallying support and unity. Additionally, there were rival speeches from Kennedy and Trump, and the baton pass between Ron Paul and Nicole Shanahan added to the fractious atmosphere. The convention eventually dragged late into the night leading to the early fourth-day nomination of Chase Oliver, amid the NOTA movement (None of the Above) that gained unexpected traction.
June 2024: Libertarians for Kennedy Seek a Peaceful Solution to Chase Oliver's Unpopularity, States Declare Not Seating Oliver, Talks About Switching Oliver Ticket, and the Trump and Biden Debate
As the summer heat kicked in, Libertarians for Kennedy sought to resolve the unpopularity of Chase Oliver by asking him to work with the Kennedy campaign, releasing certain states to nominate Kennedy instead so he could qualify for the upcoming CNN debate. Many states, especially those with delegations that voted NOTA, took the drastic step of declaring they would not seat Oliver as the nominee. Behind the scenes, talks began about switching the Oliver ticket to something more palatable for the party. Meanwhile, the national Trump-Biden debate was heating up, and the party was caught in the middle, struggling to find its place in a fractured political environment.
July 2024: Joint Fundraising Committee and the Harlos Meltdown
July was a pivotal month for the Libertarian Party, with the creation of the first-ever Joint Fundraising Committee (JFC) between the Libertarian Party and other political organizations, chiefly among them Team Kennedy, the Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. campaign committee. This initiative was seen as a necessary step to keep the party financially viable. However, not everyone was on board, and National Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos had a public meltdown over the JFC creating further turmoil within the party. Meanwhile, the Oliver ticket continued to flounder financially and began to reduce its campaign operations. The last attempt to switch out the Oliver ticket gained no traction thanks to Angela McArdle’s efforts to protect the campaign and its ballot access across the country.
August 2024: Joint Fundraising Committee Expands, Kennedy Drops Out, Creates MAHA, and Endorses Trump
By August, the Joint Fundraising Committee had expanded its reach, significantly boosting the party’s financial position. In a stunning turn, Kennedy dropped out of the race, created the MAHA coalition, and endorsed Trump, a move that sent shockwaves throughout the political landscape. This article will explore the reasons behind Kennedy’s decision and the ripple effects that followed, both for the Libertarians and for the broader political scene.
September-November 2024: MAHA Coalition Expands and Trump Support Grows, Trump Wins the Election
With Kennedy’s endorsement, the MAHA coalition rapidly expanded, attracting a range of independents, disaffected Democrats and disillusioned voters from all sides. Trump’s support grew, particularly in key battleground states. The MAHA coalition’s strategic efforts helped Trump secure the election, despite a rocky campaign and a divided electorate. This article will examine how the coalition’s influence directly impacted the election outcome and solidified Trump’s victory.
December 2024: Review of the Oliver Campaign’s Expected Low Vote Total and Historical Fundraising Failures
As predicted, Chase Oliver’s campaign received a dismal vote total, but what was even more striking was the historically low fundraising total, one of the lowest in the history of the Libertarian Party when adjusted for inflation. This article will analyze what went wrong with the Oliver campaign, why fundraising failed, and the missed opportunities for the party to capitalize on growing discontent with the two major parties.
January 2025 and Beyond: Trump Honors His Convention Promises to Libertarians and the Second Coup Against Angela McArdle
The series will conclude with a look at 2025, where Trump honored his promises to Libertarians in exchange for their support, including the commutation of Ross Ulbricht’s sentence and appointing a Libertarian to the cabinet. But this period also saw a second coup against Angela McArdle, as internal factions continued to challenge her leadership. How McArdle responded to these new challenges and what they meant for the party’s future will be the final chapter of this series.
Stay tuned for the full multi-part series!
Each article will dive deeper into the events that shaped 2024 and provide an insider’s view of how the Libertarian Party navigated one of its most tumultuous and consequential years in its history. You won’t want to miss this in-depth exploration that changed everything for the Libertarian Party and for the future of American politics.