The Libertarian Party of Connecticut is a statewide affiliate of the U.S. Libertarian Party. The Connecticut Libertarian Party has the basic aims of furthering individual freedom and opposing the initiation of force against individuals, among other things. It does this by engaging in political, educational, and social activities.
History The party leadership declined to endorse celebrity author Ann Coulter in a run for Congress in 2000, in a bid against Chris Shays for the 4th district. As a result, her congressional campaign did not take place.
In 2018 party members gathered at a yearly festival in a public park in Meriden to collect signatures for ballot access, and were ordered to leave by Mayor Kevin Scarpati. The party an its state chair Dan Reale proceeded to sue Scarpati, and settled out of court for a sum of $37,000.
Sub-affiliates The Libertarian Party of New Haven County The Libertarian Party of Fairfield County The Libertarian Party of Hartford County
Registration and Membership To register as a member of the Libertarian Party with the Connecticut Secretary of the State, an eligible voter must write in "Libertarian" in Box 9 of the state voter registration form. As of November 5, 2018, it was the state's fourth largest party, trailing the Democratic, Republican, and Independent parties.
Year RegisteredVoters 20193116 20182,980 2017 20162,561 2015 20141,780 20131,684 20121,603 2011 20101,295 20091,278 2008987 20071,042 2006840 20051,033 2004789 2003643 2002741 2001704 2000653 1999 1998149 1997 199670 1995 1994 1993 199229
Voters may also register with the state party itself as either an associate member or a full member. An associate member does not pay dues, may not be a member of the State Central Committee or the Judiciary Committee, and does not have voting privileges at party functions, such as its annual convention. A full member enjoys all membership privileges and must pay annual dues of $25. Both associate members and full members must sign the Libertarian pledge, which states "I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force to achieve political, social, or economic goals."
A voter may register with the state Libertarian Party as either a full or associate member while remaining a registered member of another party with the Secretary of the State.
Elected Officials Gordon Haave was the first Libertarian elected to public office in the state of Connecticut. He was elected in a non-partisan election as a Greenwich Representative Town Meeting member in November, 1995. There have been several people who affiliate with the Libertarian Party elected to local offices on other party ballot lines. Most recently, in November, 2013 Joshua Katz was elected on the Republican line to the Westbrook Planning Commission, and Sean Foley was elected on the Democratic line to the Burlington Board of Finance. There have also been several people affiliated with the Libertarian Party who have served in appointed office. Most recently, Robin Lasky was appointed in June 2016 to the Branford Solid Waste Management Commission, and Matthew Radant was appointed in November 2017 to the Plainfield Board of Education.
2018 Candidates The following candidates were on the ballot:
US Senate: Richard Lion
US House 2: Daniel Reale
Governor: Rod Hanscomb
Lieutenant Governor: Jeffrey Thibeault
Comptroller: Paul Passarelli
Secretary of State: Heather Gwynn
Treasurer: Jesse Brohinsky
General Assembly 9: Anthony Armetta
General Assembly 65: Kent Johnson
General Assembly 83: Roger Misbach
General Assembly 91: Gary Walsh
Election results
An asterisk in the percentage column indicates a multi-winner district, rather than a single winner district.
2019 Aaron Lewis was on the ballot as a petitioning candidate for the Libertarian Party. However, he changed his voter registration from Democrat to Libertarian shortly before the election.
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Cromwell – Board of Assessment Appeals Matthew Joseph Long729* 11.1 Hartford – Mayor Aaron Lewis590.6 Meriden – Mayor Roger Misbach5397.4 Meriden – City Council District 1 Richard Cordero14014.0 Meriden – City Council District 4 Ellen Misbach451.9 Norwich – City Council William Russell442* 1.8 Plainfield – First Selectman Daniel Reale1134.1 Plainfield – Board of Finance Scott Charlwood843* 18.2 Plainfield – Board of Education Matthew Radant956* 20.8 Trumbull – Councilman District 3 Brandon Cousins519* 4.2
2018
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage US Senate Richard Lion8,8380.6 US House 2 Daniel Reale3,3051.1 Governor Rod Hanscomb6,0860.4 Lieutenant Governor Jeffrey Thibeault6,0860.4 Comptroller Paul Passarelli13,1651.0 Secretary of State Heather Gwynn10,3610.8 Treasurer Jesse Brohinski15,5141.1 G.A. 9 Anthony Armetta82112.0 G.A. 65 Kent Johnson851.2 G.A. 83 Roger Misbach1171.3 G.A. 91 Gary Walsh6697.9
2017 The candidates for Norwich city council received a cumulative 10.2% of the vote (2,786 votes for Libertarian candidates out of a total of 27,352 votes cast for the office.)
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Darien – Representative Town Meeting Member 2 Vincent Arguimbau251* 9.4 New Milford – Town Council Michael Sennello1,502* 3.1 Norwich – Mayor William (Bill) Russell3386.5 Norwich – City Council Richard Bright504* 1.8 Norwich – City Council Nicholas Casiano397* 1.5 Norwich – City Council Stacylynn Cottle462* 1.7 Norwich – City Council James Fear Sr598* 2.2 Norwich – City Council Janice Loomis464* 1.7 Norwich – City Council Justin Massaro361* 1.3 Plainfield – First Selectman Daniel Reale2117.7 Plainfield – Board of Education Matthew Radant620* 12.7
2016
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage President Gary Johnson48,6763.0 US Senate Richard Lion18,1901.1 US House 2 Daniel Reale4,9491.5 G.A. 9 Richard Lion1,07012.9 G.A. 35 Austin Coco1951.5
2015
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Manchester – Board of Directors Richard Lion392* 0.9
2014
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage US House 2 Daniel Reale2,6021.1 G.A. 9 Richard Lion83014.1
2013 The candidates for Norwich city council received a cumulative 14.0 of the vote (2,868 votes for Libertarian candidates out of a total of 20,442 votes cast for the office).
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Manchester – Board of Directors Richard Lion465* 1.0 Norwich – Mayor William Russell3868.5 Norwich – City Council Julia Anne Gorham669* 3.3 Norwich – City Council Axel Rodriguez614* 3.0 Norwich – City Council Cyndia Shook603* 3.0 Norwich – City Council Michael Holman537* 2.6 Norwich – City Council Chandler Alfred Jr.445* 2.2
2012
After receiving the largest vote total in Connecticut Libertarian Party history, Paul Passarelli became the party's first US Senate candidate to retain ballot access for that office despite the towns of Middlefield and Washington failing to report any votes for his candidacy to the Secretary of the State. The town of Seymour also inadvertently failed to report any votes for both Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Gary Johnson and Independent Party candidate Rocky Anderson on its amended returns to the Secretary of the State after including the correct totals of 72 votes for Johnson and 37 votes for Anderson on its initial returns. The towns of East Windsor and Preston also inadvertently failed to report any votes for a combined 14 Working Families and Independent Party candidates. The unfortunate cluster of errors was not noticed until after the Statement of Vote was officially certified and changes cannot be made to the Statement of Vote after that time.
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage President Gary Johnson12,5800.8 US Senate Paul Passarelli25,0451.7 US House 2 Daniel Reale3,5111.2 State Senate 20 Marc Guttman6651.7
2010
In 2010 John Szewczyk became the first and only Libertarian Party candidate to appear on the ballot as a cross endorsed candidate for a state or federal office. He was cross endorsed by the Republican, Independent, and Connecticut for Lieberman Parties.
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Secretary of the State Ken Mosher8,6310.8 Comptroller Joshua Katz10,3281.0 State Senate 20 Marc Guttman6992.2 G.A. 100 John Szewczyk1001.0
2008 Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage US House 4 Michael Carrano2,0490.7 State Senate 20 Marc Guttman7001.6
2006 Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage US House 4 Philip Maymin3,0581.5 Secretary of the State Ken Mosher13,0431.3 Treasurer Steve Edelman15,3541.5 Comptroller Richard Connelly23,6882.3 G.A. 5 Richard Lion773.8 G.A. 82 Arline Dunlop4927.4
2005 Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Meriden – Mayor Arline Dunlop1,73217.3
2004 Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage President Michael Badnarik3,3670.2 US Senate Leonard Rasch9,1880.6 State Senate 24 John McGowan2970.6 G.A. 5 Richard Lion952.6 G.A. 33 Vincent Marotta1521.8 G.A. 78 Linda Rasch3154.6 G.A. 82 Arline Dunlop4566.8
2003 Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Hartford – Mayor Richard Lion5645.6 Meriden – Mayor Arline Dunlop4213.4 Windham – Mayor Lori Jeffers2196.1
2002 Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage US House 5 Walter Gengarelly1,5030.7 Secretary of the State Darlene Nicholas13,9221.5 Treasurer Ken Mosher12,4491.3 Comptroller Leonard Rasch12,6511.4 G.A. 33 Vincent Marotta1252.2 G.A. 82 Arline Dunlop1582.4
2001 Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Hartford – Mayor Richard Lion2602.3 Meriden – Mayor Arline Dunlop2401.7 Windham – Mayor Lori Jeffers2165.8
2000
Michael Costanza's 26.1% of the vote in General Assembly District 43 set the Connecticut Libertarian Party record for the highest vote percentage for a state or federal candidate. His 40.2% of the vote in the North Stonington portion of the two town district bested both his Republican and Democratic opponents.
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage President Harry Browne3,4840.2 US Senate Wildey Moore8,7730.7 US House 4 Daniel Gislao2,0341.0 State Senate 22 Carl Vassar2620.7 State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli4601.4 State Senate 32 Richard Antico2,2917.2 G.A. 11 Richard Connelly891.5 G.A. 33 Vincent Marotta3345.9 G.A. 39 Donald Nicholas3078.7 G.A. 43 Michael Costanza2,83226.1 G.A. 44 Sandra Cote3576.4 G.A. 46 William Russell630.9 G.A. 49 William Rood89615.9 G.A. 66 George Eggert3793.4 G.A. 67 Robert Kinney1791.9 G.A. 84 Arline Dunlop911.8 G.A. 98 Ned Vare4345.0 G.A. 100 James Madison860.8
1999 Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage Bethlehem – Mayor George Eggert14710.5 Meriden – Mayor Arline Dunlop6836.5 Oxford – Mayor John Joy1805.9 Windham – Mayor Ken Mosher1695.4
1998
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage US Senate Wildey Moore5,1960.5 US House 4 Marshall Harrison1,4491.1 Governor Ned Vare5,6370.5 Lieutenant Governor Robert Loomis5,6370.5 Attorney General Richard Pober7,5370.8 Secretary of the State Ken Mosher9,9201.1 Treasurer Louis Garofalo11,3751.3 Comptroller Steven Edelman9,2071.0 State Senate 22 Carl Vassar1750.7 State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli7214.9 State Senate 32 Dan Fitzgerald4321.4 G.A. 11 Richard Connelly581.3 G.A. 39 Darlene Nicholas541.9 G.A. 66 George Eggert70610.3
1996
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage President Harry Browne5,7880.4 US House 4 Edward Tonkin2,8151.4 US House 5 Walter Thiessen1,3910.7 State Senate 22 Carl Vassar6962.1 State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli7052.2 State Senate 32 Wildey Moore7241.8 G.A. 60 Richard Loomis3595.4 G.A. 66 George Eggert1,33212.6
Finances