PRESS RELEASE – for immediate issue- -2016
Presidential candidate Gary Johnson has polled consistently around 10% in Michigan, and the other sixty-plus Libertarians on the ballot November 8 are hoping for a strong coattail effect to promote local and statewide candidates. Major party status in future primaries is also possible if Johnson garners 5% of the popular vote here.
With candidates in 13 of the 14 Congressional districts, Michigan Libertarians solidify their status as the third largest party in the country. Voters continue to abandon the older parties, who nominated the most disliked presidential candidates in memory. The rejection of the dysfunctional two-party system is exemplified by former Republican state representative and successful businessman Lorence Wenke, the Libertarian candidate in the 6th district.
Formed in 1971, the Libertarian party has fielded a presidential candidate in every election since. The Michigan affiliate formed in 1973, and the party’s presidential nominee is on the ballot in all fifty states again for the fifth time – the first since 2000 due to restrictive ballot access laws.
If their top candidate reaches the 5% threshold in Michigan, the Libertarian Party will be eligible to run candidates in primary elections. Reaching 5% nationwide will also give their presidential candidate access to public funding in the next general election. These are good reasons for people to vote their conscience and support third parties without worrying about “wasting your vote” – which is a completely debunked canard concocted by the two major parties.
The Libertarian Party of Michigan’s chair, Bill Gelineau notes that “polls have shown people are very disappointed with the way our government is being run on the state and national level. The same tired rhetoric and poor results from both major parties have driven more people to identify themselves as independent. We hope voters will see Libertarians as good alternatives, with common sense solutions to government problems.”
#########
CONTACT: Bill Gelineau – (616) 723-2776
LPM chair, 888.FREE.NOW (888.573.3669)
https://michiganlp.org/candidate-listing-2016/
