Chase Oliver won the Libertarian Party presidential nomination after seven rounds of voting at the party’s convention in Washington, DC. The 38-year-old, who has previously run for Congress in Georgia, focused his pitch on making Libertarian values more appealing to a broader audience. In an interview with CNN, Oliver expressed confidence in his ability to earn 2% of the vote nationally in the upcoming general election, citing his past electoral performance. He plans to compete with President Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., by speaking to as many people as possible and disrupting the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans.
Oliver criticized Trump’s appearance at the Libertarian convention, calling him a “war criminal” and voicing his disapproval of the former president speaking at the event. He has advocated for simplifying the pathway to citizenship for immigrants, expanding work visas, and ending US involvement in foreign wars. Oliver also supports decriminalizing abortion procedures while promoting alternatives to abortion. His victory at the convention marked a defeat for the Mises Caucus, a right-leaning group within the party that has gained influence in recent years. Oliver aims to unify the party around common principles and values.
During the nomination process, Oliver secured the nomination after striking a deal with Mike ter Maat, who endorsed him as his vice presidential candidate. Despite facing competition from other candidates like Michael Rectenwald, Oliver eventually won with 60% of the vote, showcasing his ability to appeal to a wide range of voters. He emphasized his commitment to earning support from all 50 states and increasing the number of registered Libertarians, even if winning the White House may not be possible. Rectenwald criticized Oliver’s nomination as a move towards “wokeness,” which he viewed as an authoritarian ideology that focuses on protecting specific identity categories.
Oliver, who is openly gay, joined the Libertarian Party after encountering them at the Atlanta Pride Festival in 2010. He has previous electoral experience, having run in the special election for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District and for Senate against Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker. Oliver’s campaign platform includes advocating for libertarian values, promoting unity within the party, and increasing the party’s visibility and ballot access. He believes that his nomination signifies a shift towards broader appeal and potential success in the upcoming election, as he aims to disrupt the traditional two-party system and offer a new vision for American politics.
