Why the Libertarian Movement in New Hampshire has the ability to #EndTheDuopoly

For years, New Hampshire has been known politically for its "libertarian streak".  Some attribute it to the Free State Project, a project to get 20,000 libertarians to move to New Hampshire and work to limit government to do nothing more than protect one's rights to their life, liberty, and property.  Some peg it on the yankee culture of minding one's own business.  Some chalk it up to the state motto "Live Free or Die".  Whatever it is, it has led to some interesting political trends.  Everything from previous Democratic administrations repealing all knife laws and resisting the Real ID federal mandate, to Republican administrations repealing the requirement for a concealed carry license for firearms.  All of these political feats accomplished with bipartisan legislative support. 

And behind all of these accomplishments were also a significant number of libertarian political activists.  These activists are greatly responsible for moving the needle of the political discussion on all these issues away from authoritarianism.  The libertarian political movement in New Hampshire has truly made a measurable impact on not only the public policy of the state but also the general culture of liberty and self-reliance which has always been present.  So why is it that the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has not been able to gain a foothold and become the political face of many of the policy campaigns of libertarian activists? 

The last time the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire was prevalent in the state was in the mid 1990's when a handful of legislators were elected the the House of Representatives after Miriam Luce achieved ballot access with nearly 4% of the vote in the race for Governor.  Shortly after this period the Republicans and Democrats in the House voted to increase the threshold for a party's ballot access from 3% to 4% in the races for Governor and U.S. Senate.  In subsequent elections the Libertarians were unable to achieve the 4% threshold.  This action of raising the threshold for ballot access had the effect of driving libertarian activism out of the mainstream political spotlight but not out of the discussion altogether. 

In the early 2000's the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance was founded to advocate and lobby for libertarian policy in the legislative arena.  They started releasing a legislative voting guide called the "Gold Standard" which informed legislators of the "libertarian position" on certain bills.  Additionally, activists began to get involved in legislative races; running as Republicans and Democrats and winning seats to ensure a small but permanent minority voice for libertarian ideas in the House of Representatives.  Due to the political success of the NHLA in swaying certain votes, the LPNH was largely abandoned as a vehicle for political change. 

However, in 2016 the Libertarian candidate for Governor received over 4% of the vote, once again qualifying the party for ballot access.  Shortly thereafter I, as an elected Republican, switched parties and became an open Libertarian.  For the first time since the year 2000 there was a Libertarian member of the New Hampshire House.  Later that year in May and June Rep. Stallcop, a former Democrat from Keene, and Rep. Phinney, a former Republican from Rochester, changed their voter registrations and became open Libertarians.  All of a sudden for the first time in nearly two decades there was a Libertarian Caucus in the New Hampshire House. 

Now naturally there are questions as to the likelihood of our re-election as  Libertarians.  All of us switched knowing that the deck of election laws is heavily stacked against us.  However, for the first time in decades we and our fellow candidates will not have to worry about the onerous fight for ballot access.  In 2018, New Hampshire Libertarians have a truly unique opportunity to drive a wedge between the Republicans and Democrats and break up their long standing duopolistic control of the political and legislative process. 

We have an opportunity to show voters that the ideas and policy we support are already in their political lexicon.  What we must do to capitalize on this opportunity is make sure our message is principled, radical, reasonable, and consistent.  We need to make the same robust arguments that have been posited by Libertarians for decades but focus on explaining "why" and "how" our principled solutions are the best answer to a given problem.  We need to sell the ideas of radical human freedom and liberty.  We must show people a different political path; one that emphasizes personal responsibility, voluntary action, self-ownership, property rights, and free markets.  If Libertarians in New Hampshire succeed in selling their ideas in 2018, they will become a permanent thorn in the side of the Republican and Democratic administrations; nudging the policy needle even more than they have previously. 

It will be the beginning of the end of the duopoly, but we can't do it alone. We need your support to help us level the playing fields and broadcast the Libertarian message to all who will listen. 

If you live in New Hampshire please consider joining or donating to the LPNH at http://www.lpnh.org/join or donating to any Libertarian candidates who inspire you.