State affiliate of the Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party of Illinois is the Illinois affiliate of the Libertarian Party . The current state chair is Bill Redpath. There are nine Libertarian officeholders in Illinois.
Libertarian Party of Illinois mission is: To elect Libertarians to office and move public policy in a libertarian direction.[ 2]
Key tenets of the Libertarian Party platform include the following:[ 3]
Adoption of laissez-faire principles to reduce the state's role in economic government. This would include, among other things, markedly reduced taxation, privatization of Social Security and welfare (for individuals, as well as elimination of "corporate welfare "), markedly reduced regulation of business, rollbacks of labor regulations, and reduction of government interference in foreign trade .
Protection of property rights .
Minimal government bureaucracy. The Libertarian Party states that the government's responsibilities should be limited to the protection of individual rights from the initiation of force and fraud.
Civil libertarianism : Support for the protection of civil liberties , including the right to privacy , freedom of speech , freedom of association , and sexual freedom .
Opposition to laws such as affirmative action and some non-discrimination laws in the private sector.
Support for the unrestricted right to the means of self-defense (such as gun rights , the right to carry mace , pepper spray , or tasers etc.).
Abolition of laws against "victimless crimes " (such as prostitution , seat belt laws , use of controlled substances , fraternization , etc.).
Opposition to regulations on how businesses should run themselves (e.g. smoking bans )
A foreign policy of free trade and non-interventionism .
Support for a fiscally responsible government including a hard currency (commodity-based money supply as opposed to fiat currency ).
Abolition of all forms of taxpayer-funded assistance (welfare , food stamps , public housing , Health care , etc.)
A pro-choice belief that abortion is a personal issue, and should not be part of government.[ 4]
Established party status [ edit ]
As of January 17, 2024, the party has established party status in Cook , McLean , and Tazewell counties.[ 5] [ a]
After the 1994 general election, the Libertarian Party achieved established party status for statewide offices in Illinois. This occurred after its candidates for the then-elected University of Illinois Board of Trustees cumulatively received 5.5% of all votes cast.[ 8] After the party's success in the 1998 election for Ford County Sheriff and other countywide offices, it achieved established party status . Due to its second place showing over the then-dormant Democratic Party in that election, the Libertarians received the minority party's seat on the Board of Review and one of the five seats on the Sheriff's Merit Commission.[ 9] This status was lost by 2002 after the Libertarian Party failed to field any candidates in the 2002 general election.[ 10]
Other than its established party chapters, the Libertarian Party of Illinois also includes:[ 11]
DuPage Libertarians
Bond County Libertarians
Champaign County Libertarian Party
Fox Valley Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party of Chicago
McLean County Libertarian Party
Metro-East Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party of Will County
Southern Illinois Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party of Greater Peoria
Libertarian Party of Lake County
Macoupin County Libertarian Party
Illinois Valley Libertarians
Western Illinois Libertarian Party
Clinton County Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party of Whiteside County
Libertarian Party of Macon County
Kankakee County Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party of Northwestern Illinois
Warren County Libertarian Party
McHenry County Libertarians
Libertarian Party of DeKalb County
DeWitt County Libertarian Party
Elected officeholders [ edit ]
As of January 10, 2024, the United States Libertarian Party lists nine members holding office in Illinois.[ 12]
Brody Anderson , trustee of the River Valley Library District Board of Trustees (Port Byron )
Sasha Cohen , City Clerk of Dekalb [ b]
Justin Gerstner , Village President of Hamel
Chris Laurent , City of Chicago 14th Police District Council
Patrick Liapes , Trustee of the Poplar Creek Library Board (Streamwood ).
Kelly Liebmann , Township Trustee of Greenwood Township
Aisha Pickett , City Treasurer of Harvey
Jonathan Russell , member of the Harrisburg Community Unit School District #3 Board of Education (Harrisburg )
Brandon Wisenburg , Village Trustee of Peoria Heights
Electoral history 1998–2020[ edit ]
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
President
Jo Jorgensen
66,544
1.10%[ 14]
Vice President
Spike Cohen
US Senate
Danny Malouf
75,673
1.27%[ 14]
US House 6
Bill Redpath
7,079
1.75%[ 14]
US House 8
Preston Gabriel Nelson
68,327
26.84%[ 14]
IL House 19
Joseph Schreiner
1,544
3.24%[ 14]
IL House 55
Glenn Olofson
12,000
27.42%[ 14]
IL House 78
Joshua Flynn
8.559
16.67%[ 14]
IL House 80
Clayton Cleveland
9,940
20.19%[ 14]
IL House 88
Kenneth Allison
2,549
4.46%[ 14]
IL House 92
Chad Grimm
9,890
25.49%[ 14]
IL House 103
Brad Bielert
8,452
21.35%[ 14]
IL House 113
Mark Elmore
5,799
13.27%[ 14]
IL House 115
Ian Peak
3,655
8.27%[ 14]
Cook County State's Attorney
Brian Dennehy
147,769
6.71%[ 15]
DeKalb County Board Dist. 5
Sasha Cohen
566
24.07%[ 16]
DeWitt County Circuit Clerk
Nathan Florey
1,194
16.11%[ 17]
Kankakee County Auditor
Kyle Evans
9,477
21.59%[ 18]
Kankakee County Circuit Clerk
Nicole Scott
2,675
5.53%[ 18]
Kankakee County Board Dist. 13
Jacob Collins ✅
677
100% [ 18] [ 19]
Kankakee County Board Dist. 23
Jim Byrne (inc.)
537
40.99%[ 18]
McLean County Auditor
Kevin Woodard
McLean County Board Dist. 3
Derek Evans
McLean County Board Dist. 5
Jo Anne Litwiller
McLean County Board Dist. 6
David Scarpelli
McLean County Board Dist. 7
Darin George Kaeb
McHenry County Auditor
James Young
McHenry County Coroner
Kelly Liebmann
Montgomery County Board Dist. 2
Jake Leonard
162
5.56%[ 20]
Peoria County Auditor
Joe Rusch
4,701
17.33%[ 21]
Peoria County County Clerk
Ann Agama
4,519
16.45%[ 21]
Peoria County Coroner
K. Eric Schaffer
3,148
11.21%[ 21]
Peoria County Board Dist. 11
Chris Buckely
533
27.10%[ 21]
Peoria County Board Dist. 17
Tom Inman
281
18.86%[ 21]
Tazewell County Auditor
Kaden Nelms
12,140
19.51%[ 22]
Tazewell County Board Chairman
Eric Stahl
13,291
21.27%[ 22]
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
Governor
Kash Jackson
109,518
2.4%
Lieutenant Governor
Sanj Mohip[ 23] [ 24]
Attorney General
Bubba Harsy[ 23] [ 25]
115,941
2.6%
Secretary of State
Steve Dutner[ 23]
114,556
2.5%
Treasurer
Mike Leheney[ 23] [ 26]
155,256
3.5%
Comptroller
Claire Ball[ 23] [ 27]
140,543
3.1%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
President
Gary Johnson
206,351[ 28]
3.8%
Vice President
William Weld
US Senate
Kent McMillen
175,988
3.2%[ 29]
Comptroller
Claire Ball
187,017
3.5%[ 29]
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
US Senate
Sharon Hansen
135,316
3.8%
Governor
Chad Grimm
121,534
3.4%
Lieutenant Governor
A. J. Cummings
Attorney General
Ben Koyl
99,903
2.8%
Secretary of State
Christopher Michel
104,498
2.9%
Comptroller
Julie Fox
170,534
4.8%
Treasurer
Matthew Skopek
146,654
4.2%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
President
Gary Johnson
56,229
1.1%
Vice President
Jim Gray
56,229
1.1%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
US Senate
Mike Labno
87,247
2.4%
Governor
Lex Green
34,681
0.9%
Lieutenant Governor
Ed Rutledge
34,681
0.9%
Attorney General
Bill Malan
54,532
1.5%
Secretary of State
Josh Hanson
115,458
3.1%
Comptroller
Julie Fox
121,068
3.3%
Treasurer
James Pauly
68,803
1.9%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
President
Bob Barr
19,645
0.4%
Vice President
Wayne Root
19,645
0.4%
US Senate
Larry Stafford
50,228
0.9%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
Congress 2
Anthony Williams
5,422
3.3%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
President
Michael Badnarik
32,442
0.6%
Vice President
Richard Campagna
32,442
0.6%
US Senate
Jerry Kohn
69,253
1.4%
Congress 2
Stephanie Sailor
26,990
11.5%
Congress 4
Jake Witmer
4,845
3.9%
Congress 12
Walter Steele
4,794
1.7%
State Rep 11
Jason Briggeman
1,770
4.0%
State Rep 53
Scott Bludorn
3,673
8.2%
State Rep 64
Jim Young
2,022
4.0%
State Rep 85
Austin Hough
7,945
25.1%
State Rep 95
Steve Dubovik
1,317
2.9%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
Governor
Cal Skinner
73,794
2.1%
Lieutenant Governor
Jim Tobin
73,794
2.1%
Secretary of State
Matt Beauchamp
78,830
2.2%
Attorney General
Gary Shilts
87,949
2.5%
Treasurer
Rhys Read
66,593
1.9%
Comptroller
Julie Fox
144,066
4.2%
US Senate
Steven Burgauer
57,382
1.7%
Congress 1
Dorothy Tsatsos
4,741
2.6%
Congress 4
Maggie Kohls
4,328
5.2%
Congress 5
Frank Gonzalez
6,638
4.3%
Congress 7
Martin Pankau
2,436
1.5%
Congress 9
Stephanie Sailor
4,779
2.9%
State Rep 11
John Yackley
3,371
12.8%
State Rep 28
Jerome Kohn
1,241
4.2%
State Rep 41
John Tepley
1,034
2.8%
State Rep 42
Michael Mandel
1,123
3.3%
State Rep 48
Chandler Hadraba
3,440
11.2%
State Rep 52
Matthew Paul Burns
1,190
3.9%
State Rep 64
Jim Young
2,214
7.4%
State Rep 85
Eric Ferguson
4,922
20.3%
State Rep 95
Steve Dubovik
4,191
14.6%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
President
Harry Browne
11,623
0.3%
Vice President
Art Olivier
11,623
0.3%
Congress 4
Stephanie Sailor
11,476
11.3%
Congress 5
Matt Beauchamp
20,728
12.7%
State Rep 34
R. Brian Poynton
1,230
4.0%
State Rep 39
Elizabeth Quaintance
10,103
26.2%
Office
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
Congress 1
Marjorie Kohls
4,046
2.3%
Congress 2
Matt Beauchamp
1,608
1.0%
Congress 4
William Passmore
1,583
2.4%
Congress 6
George Meyers
4,199
2.5%
Congress 7
Dorn Van Cleave
9,984
7.1%
Congress 9
Michael Ray
3,284
2.3%
^ While the Libertarian Party of Illinois lists DeWitt, Kankakee, McHenry, and Peoria counties as being established political parties, the case Joseph J. Tirio v. Libertarian Party of Illinois et. al. indicates that the lack of a 2022 candidate means DeWitt, Kankakee, McHenry, and Peoria counties which did not run candidates in 2022 that won 5%+ of the vote lost their established party.[ 6] Additionally, the Montgomery County primary ballot does not include the Libertarian Party as an option for established party status.[ 7]
^ Sasha Cohen has stated that he is no longer a member of the Libertarian Party.[ 13]
^ "Elected Officials" . Retrieved June 1, 2024 .
^ "Mission" . lpillinois.com .
^ National Platform of the Libertarian Party Archived May 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee. Retrieved on July 25, 2006
^ "Platform" . July 11, 2018.
^ Leonard, Jake (July 20, 2023). "47 days until Petitioning Begins For 2024 Primaries" . Libertarian Party of Illinois. Retrieved January 15, 2024 .
^ Redpath, Bill (November 28, 2023). "Illinois State Court Judge Rules 5% of the Vote for Ballot Access Retention is for Two Years, Not Four" . Ballot Access News . Retrieved January 15, 2024 .
^ Leitheiser, Sandy (Clerk & Recorder) (September 2, 2023). "Guidelines for Vote by Mail" (PDF) . Hillsboro, Illinois : Montgomery County, Illinois. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024 .
^ "Anything Goes in Endorsements for City Elections". The State Journal-Register . December 22, 1994. p. 7 – via NewsBank .
^ Stahly, Jim (June 3, 1999). "Libertarians Make History in Ford County". The Pantagraph . p. A1 – via NewsBank .
^ "Election 2002". The Pantagraph . November 7, 2002. p. A1 – via NewsBank .
^ Illinois Local Chapters Archived 2010-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Elected Officials" . United States Libertarian Party. May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023 .
^ Horstead, Megann (December 12, 2022). "Oft absent DeKalb City Clerk arrived Monday to accept 2023 election papers. City staff turned him away. Now he's suing" . Daily Chronicle . Shaw Media . Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2024 . The clerk has said he no longer is part of the Libertarian party, and self-describes as an anarchist, according to his social media page.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Sandvoss, Steve, ed. (December 4, 2020). Official Canvass of the 2020 Illinois General Election . Springfield, Illinois : Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 25, 2023 .
^ "Cook County and The City of Chicago General Election November 3, 2020 Combined Summary" (PDF) . Cook County Clerk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2020 .
^ "Cumulative Report of DeKalb County 2020 General Election" (PDF) . DeKalb County Clerk. November 3, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2023 .
^ "Statement of Votes Cast DeWitt County, Illinois November 3, 2020" . DeWitt County Clerk. November 3, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2023 .
^ a b c d "Cumulative Report of Kankakee County 2020 General Election" . Kankakee County Clerk. November 3, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2023 .
^ Winger, Richard (November 22, 2020). "Libertarian Party Won Four Partisan Races Earlier This Month" . Ballot Access News . Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2022 .
^ "Cumulative Report of Montgomery County 2020 General Election" (PDF) . Montgomery County Clerk. November 3, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2023 .
^ a b c d e "Cumulative Report of Peoria County 2020 General Election" . Peoria County Clerk. November 3, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2023 .
^ a b "Statement of Votes Cast Tazewell County, Illinois November 3, 2020" (PDF) . Tazewell County Clerk. November 3, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2023 .
^ a b c d e "Candidates of the Libertarian Party of Illinois" . Archived from the original on 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-05 .
^ "Home | Sanj Mohip for Illinois Lt. Governor" . Archived from the original on 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-05 .
^ "Vote Bubba Harsy | Change We Can Trust" . Archived from the original on 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-04-05 .
^ "Mike Leheney for Illinois Treasurer" . www.facebook.com .
^ "Claire Ball - Libertarian CPA for Illinois Comptroller" . Archived from the original on 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-05 .
^ Leip, David (November 16, 2016). "2016 Presidential General Election Results" . Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections . Massachusetts . Retrieved November 17, 2016 .
^ a b "Final 2016 LP candidate vote results" . January 12, 2017.