The Libertarian Party of Washington (LPWA) is the Washington state affiliate of the Libertarian Party. Founded in 1972, the party advocates individual liberty, limited government, and free markets.
The party's stated purposes include endorsing Libertarian candidates in Washington, coordinating regional organizations, selecting delegates to national Libertarian conventions, and supporting ballot access for the national party's presidential ticket.
Principles and policy positions The party's statement of principles emphasizes individual autonomy, freedom of speech, private property, and voluntary exchange, and opposes the initiation of force. Its membership requirements include endorsing a statement rejecting the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.
According to its published platform summary, the party supports school choice, criminal justice reform concerning victimless conduct, market-based healthcare, and environmental protection through property rights, voluntary action, and market incentives.
History of the Libertarian Party in Washington State
Founding The Libertarian Party of Washington was founded in 1972. H. W. "Skip" Barron's biography in Washington's 1974 voters' pamphlet identified him as the party's founder and state chairman.
Legal advocacy The party challenged Washington's requirements for minor-party access to the ballot in Libertarian Party of Washington v. Munro. The lawsuit concerned procedures requiring minor-party candidates to announce their candidacies earlier than major-party candidates, as well as differences in the rules for filling vacancies on party tickets. In July 1994, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the challenged procedures.
In 2005, the party joined the Washington Republican and Democratic parties in litigation challenging Initiative 872, which established the state's top-two primary system. The parties argued that allowing candidates to identify a party preference without that party's endorsement infringed their freedom of association. In Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party, the United States Supreme Court rejected the facial constitutional challenge in March 2008.
The party also participated in litigation concerning same-sex marriage. Together with the Log Cabin Republicans of Washington, it submitted an amicus brief in Andersen v. King County supporting marriage rights for same-sex couples. The Washington Supreme Court upheld the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage in 2006.
Organizational changes At its May 31, 2014 convention, the party replaced its executive committee and elected C. Michael Pickens as chairman, Chris Strong as vice chairman, Sean Treasure as treasurer, and Steven Nielson as secretary. The reorganization replaced five at-large representatives with seven regional representatives and changed leadership terms from two years to one. Regional representatives were assigned responsibility for establishing county organizations within their respective regions.
Recent developments In April 2024, the party held its annual convention at the Woman's Club of Spokane. Reporting on the convention, The Inlander described a decline in dues-paying membership to approximately 180, compared with approximately 400 in 2020, according to outgoing chair Anna Duque.
Before the March 2026 convention in Ruston, proposals were introduced to dissolve the party and revise its organizational purpose. According to the party's April newsletter, the dissolution motion failed, delegates adopted an amended purpose statement, and Pickens returned as chairman. The adopted changes permitted community and educational activities outside electoral politics while retaining support for ballot access for the national party's presidential ticket.
Later in 2026, the party described its membership as growing and promoted recruitment through its website, volunteer programs, and local affiliates. Its October newsletter invited members to help organize committees for membership recruitment, convention planning, candidate support, and bylaws review.
In March 2026, the party revived its monthly newsletter, The Washington Libertarian, following a hiatus. Monthly issues continued through October, with coverage of party business, local events, public policy, and commentary from members. The publication was made available through the party's website in PDF format, with later issues also offered as online articles. The party recruited volunteers to contribute writing, photography, artwork, editing, and local reports.
The party used its social media accounts to publicize events and distribute updates, alongside its website and newsletter. Its online outreach also included a Discord community and a Reddit forum, r/LPWA, announced in July 2026 for discussion of Washington issues, local activities, and opportunities to participate.
Youth outreach included a dedicated website page for Young Libertarians of Washington, linking to the group's Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts.
Local activities during 2026 included recurring county meetups, public forums, and social gatherings. The October newsletter listed meetings in Skagit, Kitsap, Thurston, Spokane, Clark, and Pierce counties, and reported on a camping trip and events with former Libertarian presidential nominee Chase Oliver in Burien and Mountlake Terrace.
Election History
1972 elections The Libertarian Party of Washington was founded in 1972. In that year's general election, the national Libertarian presidential ticket of John Hospers and Tonie Nathan received 1,537 votes (0.10%) in Washington. David Odden received 154 votes (0.51%) for House position 1 in the 36th legislative district.
1974 elections Richard R. Dyment received 697 votes (3.21%) for House position 1 in the 36th legislative district, finishing behind incumbent Helen Sommers and Republican Edward Lubin. Contemporary reporting in Reason also identified Skip Barron as a Libertarian legislative candidate and reported that he received approximately 12% of the vote.
1976 elections Richard K. Kenney received 19,373 votes (1.30%) for the U.S. Senate, while Maurice W. Willey received 4,133 votes (0.27%) for governor. Libertarian congressional candidates included Alan M. Gottlieb, who received 4,230 votes (1.88%) in the 1st district, and D. E. Bear Sandahl, who received 1,959 votes (0.94%) in the 5th district. The presidential ticket of Roger MacBride and David Bergland received 5,042 votes (0.32%) in Washington.
1977 elections Richard K. Kenney was listed as a Libertarian congressional candidate in Washington in 1977.
1978 elections John H. Addison ran as the Libertarian candidate in Washington's 1st congressional district. He received 3,545 votes, finishing behind Republican incumbent Joel Pritchard and Democrat Janice Niemi.
1980 elections The Libertarian presidential ticket of Ed Clark and David Koch received 29,213 votes in Washington. In congressional races, Maurice Willey received 8,229 votes in the 1st district and William L. McCord received 9,047 votes in the 2nd district. Neither congressional candidate was elected.
1982 elections Libertarian legislative candidates included H. W. (Skip) Barron, who received 1,160 votes (3.48%) for the State Senate in the 36th district; Phyllis R. Clark, who received 1,027 votes (5.05%) for House position 1 in the 29th district; and John Trinnes, who received 526 votes (2.73%) for House position 2 in the same district. None won their contests.
1984 elections The Libertarian presidential ticket headed by David Bergland received 8,844 votes (0.47%) in Washington. Dan Blachly received 2,953 votes (1.57%) in the 6th congressional district, finishing third behind incumbent Norm Dicks and Republican Michael H. Lonergan.
1986 elections Karen Allard received 787 votes for House position 1 in the 26th legislative district. Democrat Ron Meyers won with 15,016 votes, ahead of Republican Cathy Shaffer's 13,479 votes.
1988 elections The Libertarian presidential ticket headed by Ron Paul received 17,240 votes (0.92%) in Washington.
1990 elections William L. McCord received 15,165 votes (8.25%) in the 2nd congressional district, finishing third behind incumbent Democrat Al Swift and Republican Doug Smith.
1992 elections The Libertarian presidential ticket headed by Andre Marrou received 7,533 votes (0.33%) in Washington. Jim Horrigan received 4,075 votes (1.71%) in the 6th congressional district, finishing behind incumbent Norm Dicks, Republican Lauri J. Phillips, and independent Tom Donnelly.
1994 elections John Gearhart received 6,386 votes (21.24%) for House position 1 in the 9th legislative district. Republican incumbent Larry Sheahan won with 23,676 votes (78.76%).
1995 elections Art Rathjen contested the special election for the State Senate in the 43rd legislative district. Contemporary reporting put his share at approximately 10%. The same report identified Jim Campton as a Libertarian candidate for the Federal Way City Council and reported that he received approximately 22% of the vote.
1996 elections Arthur (Art) Rathjen received 39,277 votes (1.84%) for lieutenant governor, and Richard Shepard received 58,672 votes (2.75%) for attorney general. Neither was elected. The presidential ticket of Harry Browne and Jo Jorgensen received 12,522 votes (0.56%) in Washington.
1997 elections John Gearhart was elected to the Palouse City Council in an uncontested nonpartisan race. A contemporary Libertarian publication identified his election as one of the party's local victories.
1998 elections Mike Harrington ran for House position 1 in the 8th legislative district. A compilation of official primary returns submitted in federal court recorded 2,105 primary votes (13.04%) for Harrington, identifying him as a Libertarian.
1999 elections Ballot Access News reported five Libertarian victories in nonpartisan local races in Washington: Mark Taff and Eva Hart for the Colville City Council, Mike Hihn for a water commissioner position in King County, and Heidi Duty and Morgan Duty for cemetery board positions in Spokane.
2000 elections Jeff Jared received 64,734 votes (2.63%) for the U.S. Senate, and the presidential ticket of Harry Browne and Art Olivier received 13,135 votes (0.53%) in Washington. Libertarians also contested eight state executive offices. Ruth E. Bennett received 179,567 votes (7.81%) for lieutenant governor, Steve Layman received 125,985 (5.40%) for commissioner of public lands, and Chris Caputo received 123,058 (5.47%) for auditor. +2000 state executive general-election resultsCandidateOfficeVotesVote shareSteve W. LePageGovernor47,8191.94%Ruth E. BennettLieutenant governor179,5677.81%J. Bradley GibsonSecretary of state94,2024.13%Tim PermanTreasurer96,9104.27%Richard ShepardAttorney general90,9413.94%Steve LaymanCommissioner of public lands125,9855.40%Mike HihnInsurance commissioner92,1854.19%Chris CaputoAuditor123,0585.47%
2001 elections Michael Enquist and Thomas Kinnebrew ran as Libertarians in legislative special elections. Enquist received 516 votes (1.59%) for House position 2 in the 21st district, and Kinnebrew received 779 votes (2.76%) for House position 2 in the 38th district. In Snohomish County Council races, Frank V. Ball Sr. received 1,006 votes (2.96%) in district 1, and Don Polson received 1,085 votes (3.32%) in district 5. None was elected.
2002 elections Seven Libertarian candidates appeared in Washington's congressional general elections. Rob Chase received 10,379 votes (5.13%) in the 5th district, and Bruce Guthrie received 4,326 votes (2.14%) in the 2nd district. None of the seven won a seat. +2002 congressional general-election resultsDistrictCandidateVotesVote share1Mark B. Wilson6,2513.05%2Bruce Guthrie4,3262.14%5Rob Chase10,3795.13%6John A. Bennett8,7444.45%7Stan Lippmann8,4474.00%8Mark A. Taff5,7712.84%9J. Mills4,7592.91%