Libertarian Party of Washington
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Libertarian Party of Washington
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| Chairperson | David Traynor |
| Senate leader | None |
| House leader | None |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Ideology | Libertarianism |
| National affiliation | Libertarian Party (United States) |
| Colors | a shade of Blue; Yellow |
| Website | |
| www.lpwa.org | |
The Libertarian Party of Washington is the state affiliate of the national Libertarian Party in Washington, and the third largest political party in Washington State.
The Libertarian Party functions as a socially accepting, fiscally responsible party. There is an official party legislative platform advocating for proportional electors, removing vacant seat appointment by political parties, open district elections for legislature, supporting school choice, privatizing the ferry system and the portions of the state highways, eliminating speed laws and speed traps, Supporting Tribal Sovereignty, private investment in water and natural resources, tax reduction and reform, and advocating industrial hemp investments. The party advocates constitutionally restricted government, significant cuts to taxation, protection of natural rights, and operates under a non-aggression pact.
Libertarians align across the political spectrum, preferring "Libertarian Left" or "Libertarian Right", but generally advocate against statism or authoritarian government practices. Libertarian political affiliation is best understood by the Nolan chart, rather than the standard left/right paradigm.
In 2000, the Libertarian Party attained major party status in Washington after the success of Libertarian candidates in statewide races, many of whom received the required 5% of the total statewide vote. The party ran 43 candidates for state legislative seats, 12 of whom received 20% or more of the total votes in their race, 8 candidates for Congress, one candidate for US Senate, and Harry Brown/Art Olivier for President/Vice-President.
By the 2004 election all statewide Libertarian candidates failed to reach 5% of the statewide vote. Ruth Bennett, in the race for Governor, finished the third recount with 63,464 (2.3%) of the statewide total. The party ran 3 Congressional candidates and one US Senate candidate, none of whom received higher than 2.5% of the total votes in their respective races. Twenty-five state legislative candidates ran under the Libertarian banner, with one receiving above 10% total votes, and with an average result below 4%.
In 2006, the Libertarian Party nominated Bruce Guthrie for US Senate, who mortgaged his home to raise $1.2 million in order to qualify for the Seattle debates. The Seattle PI stated the Guthrie won the debate 'just by being there', as he had the opportunity to share his platform with a wide audience, a feat not many third party candidates get to achieve. Guthrie finished the race with 29,331 total votes, representing 1.4% of the statewide total. No state legislative positions were contested by the Libertarian Party as a demoralizing result of the Blanket Primary law passed through the legislature by the two major parties, and supported by the voters as Initiative 872 with 59% approval. This effectively ended the success of a strong third party in Washington State.
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