Angela McArdle

McArdle has worked as a paralegal and legal aide for over eleven years. She currently works in litigation and also has a private practice where she provides self-help legal services to low-income clients. The bulk of McArdle's practices focus on real estate and constitutional law.{{cite web |url=https://angelamcardle.com/about/ |title=About McArdle |date=17 May 2016}}{{self-published inline|date=July 2024}}

McArdle received her Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership from Biola University in 2009 and a Paralegal Certificate from UCLA Extension in 2013. She is also trained as a craniosacral therapist through the Upledger Institute.{{self-published inline|date=July 2024}}

McArdle was the Libertarian nominee in the 2017 California's 34th congressional district special election.{{Cite web |last=Pyeatt |first=Jill |date=2017-02-02 |title=California Libertarian Angela McArdle Files To Run For Congress In Special Election |url=http://independentpoliticalreport.com/2017/02/california-libertarian-angela-mcardle-files-to-run-for-congress-in-special-election/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Independent Political Report |language=en-US}} She finished the primary in 17th place out of a field of 22 candidates with 0.8%.{{Cite web |title=Final Official Election Results – Congressional District 34 :: California Secretary of State |url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/prior-elections/special-elections/congressional-district-34-special-election/election-results |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=www.sos.ca.gov}} McArdle ran again for the seat in 2018 and finished in 3rd place in a field of 3 candidates with 8.4%.{{cite web |title=2018 California primary election results |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-primary/sov/2018-complete-sov.pdf |access-date=10 June 2019}}

In 2021 and 2022, McArdle was a candidate for Chair of the Libertarian National Committee.{{Cite web |last=Buchman |first=Joseph |date=2021-11-17 |title=Angela McArdle, AMA (tonight or tomorrow?), Campaign for LNC Chair Update |url=http://independentpoliticalreport.com/2021/11/angela-mcardle-ama-tonight-or-tomorrow-campaign-for-lnc-chair-update/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Independent Political Report |language=en-US}} She was endorsed by the Mises Caucus, of which she was also a board member.{{Cite web |title=You probably know @angela4LNCChair has a plan, a vision, and an insane work ethic. But you might not know that she is an effective leader because she brings out the best in her team. We fully endorse Angela to lead and bring out the best in the many leaders of the LP. #RenoReset |url=https://twitter.com/lpmisescaucus/status/1516209298539520002 |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Twitter |publisher=@lpmisescaucus |language=en}} She was elected to the position at the 2022 Libertarian National Convention on May 28.{{Citation |title=2022 Libertarian National Convention 5.28.2022 | date=28 May 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwGKlRD5YHs |language=en |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=YouTube |publisher=@LibertarianParty}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-29 |title=Mises Caucus Takes Control of Libertarian Party |url=https://reason.com/2022/05/29/mises-caucus-takes-control-of-libertarian-party/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US}}

At Porcfest 2021, an annual libertarian festival held in New Hampshire, Executive Director of the Free State Project, Jeremy Kauffman and McArdle debated which strategy is more effective, the libertarian party strategy or the free state movement strategy.{{cite web |url=https://reason.com/podcast/2021/07/30/is-the-free-state-project-a-better-idea-than-the-libertarian-party/ |title=Is the Free State Project a Better Idea than the Libertarian Party? |date=July 30, 2021 |website=Reason.com/podcast}} Kauffman argued that, "There are more people in this room that are elected members to the NH House of Representatives and former members of the Libertarian Party than there are Libertarian Party members nationwide." McArdle then counter-argued that while she wants to see the Free State Project succeed, it is her contention that the Free State Project could not have existed without the political infrastructure provided by the LP developed over the course of five decades.

File:Libertarian National Convention 2022 - Stephan Kinsella and Angela McArdle.jpg]]

File:Kash Patel, Angela McArdle, Clint Russell & Bret Weinstein (53859036352).jpg, Angela McArdle, Clint Russell, and Bret Weinstein at FreedomFest 2024]]

On December 3, 2022, McArdle became the first known National Chair in the United States who has given birth during her tenure.{{Cite web |title=Libertarian National Chair Gives Birth to a Healthy Baby Boy |date=30 December 2022 |url=https://ballot-access.org/2022/12/30/libertarian-national-chair-gives-birth-to-a-healthy-baby-boy/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |language=en-US |work=Ballot Access News}}

McArdle was openly critical of Joe Exotic's short-lived campaign in the 2024 Libertarian Party presidential primaries.{{cite news |last1=Teh |first1=Cheryl |title=Joe Exotic is running a long-shot 2024 campaign for president, all while serving 21 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-exotic-long-shot-2024-president-bid-make-america-exotic-2023-3?op=1 |access-date=22 March 2023 |work=Business Insider |date=21 March 2023}}

In February 2023, McArdle spoke at the Rage Against the War Machine Rally, co-hosted with the People's Party, where she called on a cut to all aid to Ukraine, and for Ukraine to surrender all of its Russian-occupied territories.{{cite web |title=Libertarian Leak: Extremist Ties, Anti-LGBTQ+ Remarks, GOP Collaboration |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2023/08/31/libertarian-leak-extremist-ties-anti-lgbtq-remarks-gop-collaboration |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |access-date=6 March 2024 |date=31 August 2023}} In June, McArdle also wrote an op-ed for Newsweek arguing that Russian forces were not committing a genocide in Ukraine.{{cite web |last1=McArdle |first1=Angela |title=No, Russia Is Not Committing Genocide in Ukraine {{!}} Opinion |url=https://www.newsweek.com/russia-not-committing-genocide-ukraine-opinion-1807046 |website=Newsweek |date=June 21, 2023| access-date=March 6, 2024}}

McArdle notably endorsed Libertarian nominee Chase Oliver in the 2024 United States presidential election as a vehicle for Donald Trump's victory.{{cite web |last=Fowler |first=Stephen |title=As voters suffer presidential election deja vu, Chase Oliver wants to be another option |website=NPR |date=2024-06-21 |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/06/21/nx-s1-4987678/chase-oliver-libertarian-president-trump-mises-caucus | access-date=2024-09-28 |quote=That includes Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle, who has said explicitly she endorses Chase Oliver as a vehicle for Trump’s victory.}}{{cite web |last=Doherty |first=Brian |title=The Libertarian Party vs. Chase Oliver |website=Reason.com |date=2024-07-11 |url=https://reason.com/2024/07/11/the-libertarian-party-vs-chase-oliver/ |access-date=2024-09-28}} She said that Oliver would take more votes from the Democratic nominee, and that it would be challenging to get libertarians and right of center independents to vote for him, so it would make the most sense to make Oliver a spoiler candidate for the Democrats.{{cite web |last=Coaston |first=Jane |title=What Chase Oliver, the 2024 Libertarian Candidate, Believes |website=The New York Times |date=2024-06-17 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/chase-oliver-trump-biden.html |access-date=2024-09-28}}

{{Undue weight|section|date=September 2024}}

{{Unreliable sources|section|date=September 2024}}

In mid-July 2024, McArdle entered a heated dispute with Caryn Ann Harlos, the National Secretary of the Libertarian Party, due to McArdle approving a "joint fundraiser" with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign.{{cite web |last1=Phillies |first1=George |title=Harlos Appeal Received by LP Judicial Committee |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2024/07/17/harlos-appeal-received-by-lp-judicial-committee/ |website=Third Party Watch |access-date=3 August 2024 |date=17 July 2024}} Harlos argued that the vote to approve the joint fundraiser did not pass the threshold specified in LP bylaws, and that by forcing it through regardless McArdle violated even more bylaws and exceeded her power as chairwoman. Harlos then petitioned the Libertarian Party's judicial committee, with the signatures of 188 of the 2024 delegates, arguing that McArdle violated bylaws Articles 2,{{efn|The Party is organized to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of Principles by:

1. functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements;

2. electing Libertarians to public office to move public policy in a libertarian direction;

3. chartering affiliate parties throughout the United States and promoting their growth and activities;

4. nominating candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States, and supporting

Party and affiliate party candidates for political office; and

5. entering into public information activities.{{cite web |title=Bylaws and Convention Rules |url=https://www.lp.org/bylaws-and-convention-rules/ |website=lp.org |access-date=3 August 2024}}}} 3.1,{{efn|The Statement of Principles affirms that philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded, by which it shall be sustained, and through which liberty shall prevail. The enduring importance of the Statement of Principles requires that it may be amended only by a vote of 7/8 of all registered delegates at a regular convention.}} 14.1,{{efn|Nominations of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States may be made only at the regular convention immediately preceding a Presidential election.}} 14.3,{{efn|In the event of the death, resignation, disqualification, or suspension of the nomination of the Party's nominee for President, the Vice-Presidential nominee shall become the Presidential nominee. Two-thirds of the entire membership of the National Committee may, at a meeting, fill a Vice-Presidential vacancy, and, if necessary, a simultaneous Presidential vacancy.}} and 14.4.{{efn|The National Committee shall respect the vote of the delegates at nominating conventions and provide full support for the Party’s nominee for President and nominee for Vice-President as long as their campaigns are conducted in accordance with the platform of the Party.}} Harlos additionally argued that efforts by the Colorado Libertarian Party to name RFK Jr. as their nominee instead of the nominated Libertarian candidate, Chase Oliver, as proof McArdle is working with the RFK campaign against the libertarian party's own candidate. Todd Hagopian, the former party treasurer, also filed an amicus brief in support of Harlos arguing that McArdle's cooperation with the RFK campaign is sabotaging Chase Oliver's campaign.{{cite web |last1=Phillies |first1=George |title=Hagopian Files Amicus Brief in Support of Harlos |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2024/07/17/hagopian-files-amicus-brief-in-support-of-harlos/ |website=Third Party Watch |access-date=3 August 2024 |date=17 July 2024}} Hagopian also argued that McArdle illegally made the meeting to approve the RFK fundraiser as an "emergency" meeting to bypass receiving the required number of votes of libertarian delegates.

Harlos would then move to put the fundraiser on hold until the Judicial Committee reaches a verdict, with McArdle quickly blocking the motion, stating that Harlos was "dilatory and out of order."{{cite web |last1=Phillies |first1=George |title=McArdle Blocks Harlos Motion |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2024/07/16/mcardle-blocks-harlos-motion/ |website=Third Party Watch |access-date=3 August 2024 |date=16 July 2024}} Harlos responded saying that her motion wasn't dilatory, since it would only hold the fundraiser's approval if the vote passes, to which McArdle again called Harlos as "dilatory and unprofessional" and asked her to rescind her judicial case and her motion to delay. On July 20 the LNC executive met for a vote on blocking the fundraiser with the Executive Committee voted 6 in favor and 11 against, meaning that the joint fundraiser would go through, although, due to the speedy nature of the called vote, many of the voting members did not read the contents of the proposed fundraiser.{{cite web |last1=Phillies |first1=George |title=LNC Motion Against Funding RFK Fails |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2024/07/20/lnc-motion-against-funding-rfk-fails/ |website=Third Party Watch |access-date=6 August 2024 |date=20 July 2024}} Later that day, RFK Jr. announced on twitter that his campaign has signed the joint fundraiser, and that it was now in effect.{{cite web |last1=Phillies |first1=George |title=Kennedy Claims RFK-LP Joint Fundraising Deal Signed. |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2024/07/20/kennedy-claims-rfk-lp-joint-fundraising-deal-signed/ |website=Third Party Watch |access-date=6 August 2024 |date=20 July 2024}} On July 27, Harlos sued the Colorado affiliate, and their chairwoman Hannah Goodman, for their support of RFK Jr. in response McArdle called an emergency session of the Executive Committee on July 30.{{cite web |last1=Phillies |first1=George |title=Special ExComm Meeting Because Harlos Sues LP Colorado |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2024/07/27/special-excomm-meeting-because-harlos-sues-lp-colorado/ |website=Third Party Watch |access-date=6 August 2024 |date=27 July 2024}} This meeting opened with McArdle attempting to transition the meeting to an executive session, so that McArdle would have more power over votes, in a 3-3 tie this motion failed.{{cite web |last1=Phillies |first1=George |title=LNC ExComm Liveblog 7/30/2024 |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2024/07/30/lnc-excomm-liveblog-7-30-2024/ |website=Third Party Watch |access-date=6 August 2024 |date=30 July 2024}} McArdle began by arguing that the LNC cannot indemnify Harlos due to her lawsuit and for acting outside "your bylaws-mandated duties" due to being in conflict with the LNC as such she should be removed from her position. In response Harlos stated she was not in conflict with the LNC, only the Colorado affiliate, and as such the executive committee had no means to remove her and as such no motion to remove was put forward.

On July 31 Harlos' appeal to the judicial committee took place reviewing if McArdle violated the aforementioned by-laws.{{cite web |last1=Phillies |first1=George |title=LNC Judicial Committee Hearing 7/31/2024 |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2024/07/31/lnc-judicial-committee-hearing-7-31-2024/ |website=Third Party Watch |access-date=6 August 2024 |date=31 July 2024}} During which committee chairman, Blay Tarnoff, ruled that article 2 was "a preparation, not a strict bylaw", however, also stated that the joint fundraiser was improper and asked why the LNC rushed to vote through a motion they had never seen, to which McArdle responded "We were in a hurry." Tarnoff closed the meeting by stating that the LNC should withdraw from the agreement.

On October 1 Harlos filed a lawsuit seeking to remove McArdle from office for alleged misconduct in her duties as Chair, including inviting another political party's presidential candidate to hold a rally at the Libertarian Party's own presidential nominating convention. supporting candidates of a competing party; using party resources for non-party events without internal accounting; and self-dealing.{{Cite web |last=Doherty |first=Brian |date=2024-10-10 |title=Libertarian Party secretary files lawsuit to remove party chair Angela McArdle |url=https://reason.com/2024/10/10/libertarian-party-secretary-files-lawsuit-to-remove-party-chair-angela-mcardle/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US}}

On January 23, 2025 four LNC members moved to form a committee "to investigate allegations of misconduct by our Chair".{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Bost Moves for Committee to Investigate McArdle – Third Party Watch |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2025/01/23/bost-moves-for-committee-to-investigate-mcardle/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |language=en-US}} The following day, McArdle announced her intention to resign as LNC Chair, citing new opportunities in the Second Trump Administration, likely under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the Department of Health and Human Services.{{Cite web |last=Doherty |first=Brian |date=2025-02-04 |title=Libertarian Party gets new national chair after Angela McArdle's surprise resignation |url=https://reason.com/2025/02/04/libertarian-party-gets-new-national-chair-after-angela-mcardles-surprise-resignation/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Winger |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Winger |date=2025-01-25 |title=Libertarian National Chair Announces Intent to Resign Soon |url=https://ballot-access.org/2025/01/25/libertarian-national-chair-announces-intent-to-resign-soon/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Ballot Access News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-25 |title=Libertarian National Committee Chair Resigns, Citing New Opportunities |url=https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2025/01/libertarian-national-committee-chair-resigns-citing-new-opportunities/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Independent Political Report |language=en-US}} She continued as Chair until her successor was elected in a special election on February 2.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-02 |title=Steven Nekhaila Elected Chair of the Libertarian National Committee {{!}} |url=https://ballot-access.org/2025/02/02/steven-nekhaila-elected-chair-of-the-libertarian-national-committee/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |language=en-US}} On June 9, the Investigatory Committee submitted its final report to the LNC.{{Cite web |last=Secretary |date=2025-06-02 |title=Notice of Special LNC E-Meeting to Hear and Consider Investigatory Committee Report, June 9, 2025 at 8:00pm Eastern |url=https://lp.org/notice-of-special-lnc-e-meeting-to-hear-and-consider-investigatory-committee-report-june-9-2025-at-800pm-eastern/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Libertarian Party |language=en-US}}

On June 2, 2025, McArdle announced that she had stepped in as the new Chair of the Mises Caucus.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-08 |title=McArdle Becomes Mises Chair – Third Party Watch |url=https://thirdpartywatch.com/2025/06/06/mcardle-becomes-mises-chair/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |language=en-US}}https://x.com/LPMisesCaucus/status/1929689650819748052

{{Election box begin no change|title=California's 34th congressional district special primary, 2017}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Jimmy Gomez|votes=10,728|percentage=25.5}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Robert Lee Ahn|votes=9,415|percentage=22.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Maria Cabildo|votes=4,259|percentage=10.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Sara Hernandez|votes=2,358|percentage=5.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Arturo Carmona|votes=2,205|percentage=5.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Wendy Carrillo|votes=2,195|percentage=5.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Green Party (United States)|candidate=Kenneth Mejia|votes=1,964|percentage=4.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Yolie Flores|votes=1,368|percentage=3.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=William Morrison|votes=1,360|percentage=3.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Tracy Van Houten|votes=1,042|percentage=2.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Alejandra Campoverdi|votes=1,001|percentage=2.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Vanessa Aramayo|votes=853|percentage=2.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Sandra Mendoza|votes=674|percentage=1.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Steven Mac|votes=663|percentage=1.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Raymond Meza|votes=509|percentage=1.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=No party preference|candidate=Mark Edward Padilla|votes=427|percentage=1.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ricardo De La Fuente|votes=331|percentage=0.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Angela McArdle|votes=319|percentage=0.7}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Adrienne Nicole Edwards|votes=182|percentage=0.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Richard Joseph Sullivan|votes=155|percentage=0.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Armando Sotomayor|votes=118|percentage=0.3}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Tenaya Wallace|votes=103|percentage=0.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Melissa "Sharkie" Garza|votes=79|percentage=0.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Michelle Walker (write-in)|votes=0|percentage=nil}}

{{Election box total no change||votes=42,308|percentage=100}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box open primary begin no change|title={{ushr|California|34}} election, 2018}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Jimmy Gomez (incumbent)|votes=54661|percentage=78.7}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Green Party of the United States|candidate=Kenneth Mejia|votes=8987|percentage=12.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Angela Elise McArdle|votes=5804|percentage=8.4}}

{{Election box end}}

{{notelist}}

{{Libertarian Party (United States)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McArdle, Angela}}

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