The 2024 Libertarian Party presidential primaries were the series of state‑level contests, caucuses, and party‑member votes organized by the United States Libertarian Party to select its nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Unlike the major parties, the Libertarian Party does not hold a nationwide primary election; instead, its nominee is chosen at the Libertarian National Convention after a decentralized process of state primaries, caucuses, and conventions.
Process and timeline
- State contests – Throughout 2023 and early 2024, individual state Libertarian parties conducted primaries, caucuses, or conventions to gauge member support and allocate delegates. Participating jurisdictions included, but were not limited to, New Mexico, South Carolina, Minnesota, and Colorado.
- Delegate allocation – Results from state contests were used to allocate delegates to the national convention. Most states employed a “winner‑take‑most” or proportional system, while some used a simple straw‑poll without formal delegate binding.
- National convention – The Libertarian National Convention, scheduled for May 2024 in Washington, D.C., brought together the delegates to formally nominate the party’s presidential candidate. A majority of delegate votes was required for nomination; if no candidate achieved a majority on the first ballot, subsequent ballots were held until a nominee emerged.
Key candidates
Several individuals announced their intent to seek the Libertarian nomination, including:
| Candidate | Background |
|---|---|
| Jacob Hornberger | Founder of the Future of Freedom Foundation; 2020 Libertarian presidential nominee candidate. |
| Justin Amash | Former U.S. Representative from Michigan; ran as an independent in previous elections. |
| John Monds | Former Georgia Public Service Commission member; Libertarian presidential nominee in 2012. |
| Jo Jorgensen | Libertarian nominee for president in 2020; announced she would not seek the 2024 nomination. |
| Vermin Supreme | Performance artist and perennial political satirist who has run in multiple Libertarian primaries. |
The field also included several additional activists and former office‑holders who filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to appear on state ballots.
Results
As of the conclusion of the May 2024 Libertarian National Convention, Jacob Hornberger secured the party’s presidential nomination, receiving a majority of delegate votes on the second ballot. The final delegate tally was publicly released by the Libertarian Party and confirmed by the Federal Election Commission.
Significance
The Libertarian Party’s primary process underscores its decentralized structure, relying on state‑level party organizations rather than a single national primary. The 2024 cycle continued the party’s tradition of emphasizing grassroots participation, with many states holding open primaries that allowed any registered voter to cast a ballot for Libertarian candidates.
See also
- Libertarian Party (United States)
- 2024 United States presidential election
- Libertarian National Convention
References
- Libertarian Party official website – “2024 Primary Schedule” (accessed 2024).
- Federal Election Commission – Candidate filings for 2024 election cycle.
- “Jacob Hornberger Wins Libertarian Nomination,” Libertarian Standard, May 2024.
