2012 Libertarian National Convention

50px 2012 Presidential Election
115pxpx Nominees Johnson and Gray
Convention
Date(s)	May 2 - 6, 2012
City	Summerlin, Nevada
Venue	Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino
Chair	Ruth Bennett (WA)
Keynote Speaker	Michael Cloud
Notable Speakers	Theodora "Tonie" Nathan Edward Clark Mary Ruwart R. Lee Wrights
Candidates
Presidential Nominee	Gary Johnson (NM)
Vice Presidential Nominee	James P. Gray (CA)
Voting
Total Delegates	593
Votes Needed for Nomination	297
‹ 2008  ·  2016 ›
v t e

The 2012 United States Libertarian National Convention, in which delegates of the Libertarian Party (LP) chose the party's nominees for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States in 2012 general election, was held May 2-6, 2012 in Summerlin, Nevada at the Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino.^[1][2] Former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson won the presidential nomination on the first ballot.^[3] Retired California state court judge Jim Gray won the vice-presidential nomination, also on the first ballot.^[4] The convention also chose to replace most of the Libertarian National Committee party officers and members-at-large.

Host selection[link]

This was the first presidential nominating convention ever held in the Las Vegas Valley.^[1][2][5] Other cities that bid to host the convention included Dallas, Texas and San Francisco, California.^[5]

Candidates debate[link]

In February 2012, Gary Johnson, Lee Wrights, Bill Still, Carl Person, and Leroy Saunders participated in a debate held by Libertarian Party of Florida and moderated by LPUSA Chair Mark Hinkle.^{[citation needed]} The debate participants were selected by convention delegates in a secret ballot, in which a candidate needed to score 10 percent of the vote or higher to be allowed to take part. Libertarian candidates in the debate called for ending government interference in personal, family and business decisions; much lower government spending; repeal of dangerous and unnecessary regulations; lower taxes; a currency free of government manipulation; free trade; and a peaceful, non-interventionist foreign policy.^[6]

Convention Speakers[link]

Theodora "Tonie" Nathan, the first woman to receive a vote from the Electoral College, announces Gary Johnson as the presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party in 2012

Dr. Mary Ruwart nominates Lee Wrights for President

Those which attended include:^[7]

• Norma Jean Almodovar - Former LAPD cop turned honest call girl, and LP candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California
• David Bergland - 1984 LP presidential nominee
• Judge John Buttrick - Superior Court Judge of Maricopa County, Arizona
• Alicia Garcia Clark - National Libertarian National Committee (LNC) leader from 1981 to 1983
• Ed Clark - 1980 LP presidental nominee
• Michael Cloud - Author, Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion, who stood for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in 2002
• Sharon Harris - President of Advocates for Self-Government
• Carla Howell - Executive Director of the Libertarian Party; 2000 LP nominee for the U.S Senate in Massachusetts, 2002 LP nominee for Governor of Massachusetts
• Manny Klausner - Co-founder of the Reason Foundation, and former editor of Reason magazine
• Nancy Lord - 1992 LP vice-presidential nominee
• Tibor Machan - Professor of philosophy at Auburn University
• Tonie Nathan - 1972 LP vice-presidential nominee, and first woman in U.S. History to receive an electoral vote
• Robert Poole - Co-founder of Reason magazine
• Mary Ruwart - A research scientist and former contender for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination

Presidential delegate count[link]

Libertarian National Committee elections[link]

The 2012 Libertarian National Convention saw a two day election of officers and members-at-large of the Libertarian National Committee officers leading to the defeat of most of the incumbents who were seen as being part of a "top-down faction".^[9][10] The voting for chair saw the first instance where "None of the Above", which was listed as a choice on the party ballot, received more votes than any of the candidates for chair. After a new list of individuals was nominated, Geoff Neale was elected chair. R. Lee Wrights was elected Vice Chair, Ruth Bennett Secretary and Tim Hagan Treasurer. Elected as national committee members-at-large were Bill Redpath, Michael Cloud, Starchild, Arvin Vohra and Wayne Allyn Root.^[11]

See also[link]

• Gary Johnson presidential campaign, 2012
• Libertarian National Convention
• United States presidential nominating convention
• 2008 Libertarian National Convention
• 2012 Democratic National Convention
• 2012 Republican National Convention

References[link]

External links[link]

• Libertarian National 2012 Convention, official site

v t e Libertarian Party Chairpersons of the LNC Hallett Crane Bergland Clark Grant VerHagen Turney Walter Gingell Dasbach Bergland Lark Neale Dixon Redpath Hinkle Neale Presidential tickets Hospers/Nathan MacBride/Bergland Clark/Koch Bergland/Lewis Paul/Marrou Marrou/Lord Browne/Jorgensen Browne/Olivier Badnarik/Campagna Barr/Root Johnson/Gray Parties by state and territory State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Territory District of Columbia Conventions 1972 (Denver) 1974 (Dallas) 1975 (New York City) 1977 (San Francisco) 1979 (Los Angeles) 1981 (Denver) 1983 (New York City) 1985 (Phoenix) 1987 (Seattle) 1989 (Philadelphia) 1991 (Chicago) 1993 (Salt Lake City) 1996 (Washington) 1998 (Washington) 2000 (Anaheim) 2002 (Indianapolis) 2004 (Atlanta) 2006 (Portland) 2008 (Denver) 2010 (St. Louis) 2012 (Las Vegas) Affiliated organizations College Libertarians Libertarian National Committee Libertarian Reform Caucus LPRadicals Outright Libertarians Related articles Committee to Form a Libertarian Party Dallas Accord Electoral history History Libertarian pledge Libertarianism Portal

The Libertarian National Convention is held every two years by the United States Libertarian Party to choose members of the Libertarian National Committee, and to conduct other party business. In presidential election years, the convention delegates enact a platform and nominate the Libertarian presidential and vice-presidential candidates who then face the nominees of other parties in the November general election.

While most delegates to the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention are tied to particular candidates, delegates to the Libertarian National Convention are free to choose, as was previously the case for the larger parties. Accordingly, Libertarian National Conventions place less emphasis on festivities and spinning the press, though some of each may be found. The complete convention is televised by C-SPAN with additional broadcast television coverage of the presidential nominating process. Perhaps the most interesting difference between Libertarian National Conventions and those of the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States is that the Libertarian Party has not and refuses to accept taxpayer money to pay for its convention.^{[citation needed]} This is in keeping with Libertarian principles that taxation is coerced (i.e. not voluntary) and, therefore, theft; it is considered an "ethical violation" for a good Libertarian who adheres to the Non-Aggression Principle to knowingly commit theft.^{[citation needed]} None of the above is always an option on all ballots.

Past conventions[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

1972[link]

The first Libertarian National Convention was held in 1972 in Denver, Colorado. John Hospers and Theodora Nathan were nominated presidential and vice presidential candidates respectively. They received the first electoral vote won by a woman, cast by Roger MacBride.

1974[link]

The 1974 Libertarian National Convention adopted the Dallas Accord which sought to accommodate supporters of both anarcho-capitalism and minarchism.^[1][2][3]

1980[link]

The 1980 convention nominated Ed Clark for president and billionaire David H. Koch for vice president.

1983[link]

David Bergland was selected as the 1984 presidential nominee at the 1983 national convention.^[4]

1987[link]

The 1987 Libertarian national convention was held the first weekend in September in Seattle, Washington. At the convention, the party was split between conservative and liberal factions.^[5] Ron Paul, representing the former, was nominated as the Libertarian Party's 1988 presidential candidate on the first ballot with 196 of the 368 votes cast. His closest opponent, Native American activist Russell Means, received 120 votes.^[6] Andre Marrou was selected as Paul's running mate as the candidate for Vice President without any opposition.^[6]

1991[link]

The 1991 Libertarian National Convention was held the last weekend in August, and nominated Andre Marrou as the party's 1992 candidate for president.^[7][8]

1996[link]

The 1996 Libertarian National Convention was held the first weekend of July in Washington D.C. and nominated Harry Browne as its presidential candidate.^[9]

2000[link]

The 2000 Libertarian National Convention was held in Anaheim, California, from June 30 to July 4. Harry Browne was again chosen as the party's presidential candidate, becoming the first Libertarian Party candidate to run twice for President of the United States.^[10]

2002[link]

The 2002 Libertarian National Convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from July 3 to 7.^[11]

2004[link]

The 2004 Libertarian National Convention was held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia Memorial Day weekend, May 27 to May 31. Michael Badnarik was chosen as the party's presidential candidate, beating out Gary Nolan and Aaron Russo on the third ballot; Richard Campagna was chosen as the party's vice-presidential candidate over Tamara Millay, and Michael Dixon was elected chair of the Libertarian National Committee.

2006[link]

The 2006 Libertarian National Convention was held at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower in Portland, Oregon, July 1–2.^[12] Delegates chose (in a "retain or delete" vote process) to eliminate about three quarters of the specific planks in the party's platform^[13] and to essentially overturn the Dallas Accord by inserting statements in the platform recognizing the legitimacy of government's role in protecting rights. This turn of events was referred to as the "Portland Massacre."^[14]

Speakers included: