California Libertarian primary, 2016

Libertarian Party presidential primaries, 2016

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Preferential poll
Candidate Gary Johnson Uncommitted Home state New Mexico n/a Contests won 5 1 Popular vote 22,642 3,209 Percentage 59.6% 8.4%   Candidate John McAfee Austin Petersen Home state Tennessee Missouri Contests won 0 0 Popular vote 3,391 3,066 Percentage 8.9% 8.1%
First place by first-instance vote   Gary Johnson (5)   Uncommitted (1)   No contest (45)
First place finishes by convention roll call   Gary Johnson (36)   Austin Petersen (8)   No vote (1)   John McAfee (3)   Tie (4)

The 2016 Libertarian Party presidential primaries and caucuses allowed electors to indicate non-binding preferences for the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate. These differed from the Republican or Democratic presidential primaries and caucuses in that they did not appoint delegates to represent a candidate at the party's convention to select the party's nominee for the United States presidential election. The party's nominee for the 2016 presidential election was chosen directly by registered delegates at the 2016 Libertarian National Convention, which ran from May 26 to 30, 2016. The delegates nominated former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld.

Four primaries and one caucus were held. Missouri and North Carolina held primaries on March 15, as an alternative ballot to other primaries such as those of the Republicans and Democrats. Gary Johnson, who had won the party's nomination in the 2012 presidential election, won North Carolina with 42%, while in Missouri a plurality of uncommitted voters led local candidate Austin Petersen 40% to 29%. An Oregon primary was run on May 27 during the national convention, while the California primary was held on June 7 after the party's convention. The only caucus was in Minnesota on March 1, where 75% of the electors selected Gary Johnson.