Libertarian Party of Oklahoma#2018 elections

As of April 2025, the state party's Chair is Jake Spann. Other state officers are Vice Chair Kiefer Perry and Treasurer/Secretary John Hooper.{{cite web|url=https://oklp.org/contact-us/ |title=Leadership – Libertarian Party of Oklahoma |publisher=Oklp.org |access-date=2022-07-10}}

Former state chairs include Will Daugherty, James Beau Thouvenel, Kevin Hobbie, Chad Williams, Erin Adams, Tina Kelly, Steve Long, Seth Wheeler, Clark Duffe, Angelia O'Dell, Jimmy Cook, Steve Galpin, Chris Powell, Richard Prawdzienski, Robert Murphy, D. Frank Robinson, Tom Laurent, Gordon Mobley and Porter Davis.{{citation needed| date=July 2022}}

The campaign of Eugene McCarthy won a ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court to place it's Independent electors on the ballot.{{cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/oklahoma/supreme-court/1976/47243.html|title = McCarthy v. Slater|website=Law.justia.com}}{{better source| reason=Primary source; Case decision with no additional analysis|date=July 2022}} The American Party, Communist Party, and OKLP all sought to have their candidates and electors put on the ballot as well. The Court ruled against the American Party, distinguishing between an Independent candidate and a candidate of a political party that has not met the requirements for recognition in the state of Oklahoma.{{cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/oklahoma/supreme-court/1976/47254.html|title = McClendon v. Slater|website=Law.justia.com}}{{better source| reason=Primary source; Case decision with no additional analysis|date=July 2022}} After ruling against the American Party, the Court saw no need to hear similar cases brought by the Communist Party and the OKLP.{{cite news |date=September 25, 1976 |title=Red, Libertarian Electors Denied Spots On Ballot |publisher=Lawton Morning Press}}{{failed verification|date=July 2022}}

The OKLP challenged revocation of their official recognition, and ability to run candidates under the party label, by the state after the 1980 elections. State law required a party's presidential candidate to receive at least 10% of the vote to maintain ballot access. The 10th Circuit upheld the ruling against the OKLP.{{cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/arutunoff-v-oklahoma-state-election-bd|title=Arutunoff v. Oklahoma State Election Bd, 687 F.2d 1375 |website=Casetext.com|access-date=March 4, 2019}}{{better source| reason=Primary source; Case decision with no additional analysis|date=July 2022}}

With ninety days to gather over 44,000 signatures and hampered by both bad weather and harassment over petitioning on public property, the OKLP fell short gathering only 28,894 names. One day after being denied ballot access, the party filed suit claiming Oklahoma's ballot access laws were unconstitutional.{{cite news |last=Fossett |first=Judy |date=June 1, 1984 |title=Libertarian Party Files Suit After Ballot Drive Falls Short |newspaper=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1984/06/01/libertarian-party-files-suit-after-ballot-drive-falls-short/62801575007/}} The party won by default when the Attorney General's office missed a deadline to file a response during the proceedings after the lead attorney mistakenly believed his deadline was 5 days later.{{cite news |last=Fossett |first=Judy |date=July 17, 1984 |title=Libertarian Party Wins Fight for Spot on 1984 Ballot by State's Default |newspaper=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1984/07/17/libertarian-party-wins-fight-for-spot-on-1984-ballot-by-states-default/62796797007/}} Twenty Libertarian candidates were nominated at a state convention.{{cite news |last=Morgan |first=Andy |date=August 19, 1984 |title=Libertarian Candidates Chosen at Convention |newspaper=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1984/08/19/libertarian-candidates-chosen-at-convention/62793327007/}}

After obtaining ballot status, the party also challenged state laws that guaranteed candidates' ballot order be listed by party in order of number of affiliated members. At the time, Democrats outnumbered Republicans 3-to-1 in the state and always appeared at the top of the ballot.{{cite news |last=Fossett |first=Judy |date=August 25, 1984 |title=Libertarians Sue for Fair Share Of Top-Spot Ballot Placement |publisher=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1984/08/25/libertarians-sue-for-fair-share-of-top-spot-ballot-placement/62792663007/}}

The ballot order law would later be found unconstitutional and in 1996 was replaced with determining ballot order by lottery.{{cite news |url=https://newsok.com/article/2549351/board-to-draw-names-for-ballot-positions/ |title=Board to Draw Names For Ballot Positions |date=August 8, 1996 |newspaper=The Oklahoman |access-date=March 4, 2019}}

Two petitioners were arrested and a third ticketed while gathering signatures at the State Fairgrounds.{{cite news |date=May 14, 1984 |title=Libertarians Arrested in City |newspaper=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1984/05/14/libertarians-arrested-in-city/62803532007/}} Ballot drive chairman D. Frank Robinson challenged the legality of the arrests, resulting in a ruling from Judge David Russell upholding the right to petition on public property.

The Rainbow Coalition, OKLP, and the Populist Party sought to overturn the state's ballot access law, challenging both the petitioning deadline and the signature requirement. The 10th Circuit upheld Judge Stephanie Seymour's decision against the plaintiffs that upheld the ballot access law.{{cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/844/740/79466/|title=Rainbow Coalition of Oklahoma; Floyd Turner, Chairman of the Rainbow Coalition of Oklahoma, Plaintiffs, and libertarian Party of Oklahoma; Charles Burris, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma; Populist Party Ofoklahoma, Inc., an Oklahoma Non-profit Corporation; And bill Chandler, Chairman of the Populist Party of Oklahoma, plaintiffs-appellants, v. the Oklahoma State Election Board; Betty Mcelderry, chairman of the Oklahoma State Election Board; Angelaables, Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma State Election Board Mona Lambird, Member of the Oklahoma State Election Board;and Lee Slater, Secretary of the Oklahoma State Election board, Defendants- Appellees, 844 F.2d 740 (10th Cir. 1988)|website=Justia Law|access-date=March 4, 2019}}{{better source| reason=Primary source; Case decision with no additional analysis|date=July 2022}}

After the OKLP lost official recognition following the 1996 election the state election board changed the affiliation of all registered Libertarian voters to Independent.{{citation needed| date=July 2022}}

During the time since the ruling in Rainbow Coalition v. Oklahoma State Election Board the state's voter rolls had been completely computerized.{{citation needed| date=July 2022}}

Oklahoma Libertarians sought to be able to continue to be registered with their party of choice.{{citation needed| date=July 2022}}

Judge Wayne Alley ruled in favor of the party.{{citation needed| date=July 2022}}

The resulting process was that once a party fails to retain ballot access all those registered with the party are changed to Independent but any voter would be allowed to register with the previously recognized party for up to four years after they lost official status.{{citation needed| date=July 2022}}

In 2003 Ed Henke sought to be a candidate in a special election for state Senate, but was prohibited from filing because of his Libertarian registration.{{cite news |title=Libertarian Party may seek court help to get on election ballot |url=http://www.newson6.com/story/5e367eec2f69d76f62092815/libertarian-party-may-seek-court-help-to-get-on-election-ballot |access-date=10 July 2022 |publisher=News on 6 |date=9 October 2003}}

Oklahoma has a semi-closed primary system in which a political party may choose either to allow only voters registered as affiliated with the party to participate or to also allow Independents as well.

The OKLP wanted the ability to more fully exercise their freedom of association by allowing voters registered with any other party to also participate in their primaries.

The party won on appeal but the case then went to the Supreme Court where the decision of the 10th Circuit was overturned.{{cite web|url=https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/544/581/|title=Clingman v. Beaver, 544 U.S. 581 (2005)|website=Justia Law|access-date=March 4, 2019}}{{better source| reason=Primary source; Case decision with no additional analysis|date=July 2022}}

Former Libertarian Party national director Paul Jacob worked with Oklahomans in Action to gather signatures on an initiative to put a Taxpayer Bill of Rights measure on the ballot for a statewide vote. In 2007 Jacob and two others were indicted for out-of-state petitioners.[http://www.freepauljacob.com/2007/10/02/statement-of-paul-jacob/ "Statement of Paul Jacob"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022032318/http://www.freepauljacob.com/2007/10/02/statement-of-paul-jacob/ |date=2007-10-22 }}, Free Paul Jacob website, October 2, 2007 A conviction would have carried a maximum fine of $25,000, and the maximum jail sentence of ten years in prison.[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071003_1_A9_hThey33120 "Indictment Lists Three in TABOR Case"], Tulsa World, October 3, 2007 The state statute criminalizing the hiring of out-of-state petitioners was overturned by the 10th Circuit{{cite web|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-10th-circuit/1256616.html|title=FindLaw's United States Tenth Circuit case and opinions.|website=Findlaw|access-date=March 4, 2019}} followed by a denial of Attorney General Drew Edmondson's request for an en banc rehearing at which point the charges were dropped as the statute was unenforceable.{{cite web|url=https://newsok.com/article/3339963/oklahoma-wont-appeal-initiative-petition-ruling/|title=Oklahoma won't appeal initiative petition ruling|date=January 22, 2009|website=NewsOK.com|access-date=March 4, 2019}}

LP presidential nominee Bob Barr, seeking to get on the ballot as an Independent, challenged Oklahoma's 3% petition requirement. Judge David Russell issued a short decision against Barr.{{cite web|url=https://ballot-access.org/2009/04/30/us-district-court-upholds-oklahomas-3-independent-presidential-petition/|title = U.S. District Court Upholds Oklahoma's 3% Independent Presidential Petition | Ballot Access News| date=April 30, 2009 }} Russell has a history of upholding ballot access restrictions.{{cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2008/10/06/oklahoma-court-denies-injunctive-relief-for-barr/|title = Oklahoma Court Denies Injunctive Relief for Barr | Ballot Access News| date=October 6, 2008 }}

After gathering over 57 thousand signatures to meet the requirement of 51,739 to obtain ballot access for the 2012 elections, the OKLP sought a preliminary injunction due to the deadline to submit the petition being moved up to March 1 from May 1. Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti denied the injunction, resulting in the OKLP not being able to place candidates on the ballot in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/Order-Motion-Denied-03_19_2012.pdf |title=Motion denied |date=2012 |website=Ballot-access.org |access-date=2019-10-10}} The March 1 petition deadline for political parties remains in place.

The only alternative party to have ballot access for the 2012 United States presidential election in Oklahoma was the Americans Elect party which was not fielding a candidate. Leadership of the state party organization for Americans Elect, including chair Rex Lawhorn, sought to have Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson placed on the Oklahoma ballot as the Americans Elect candidate. The national party organization opposed the effort and the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled against Lawhorn.{{cite news|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/oklahoma/supreme-court/2012/111026.html|title=Lawhorn v. Ziriak|website=Justia Law|access-date=March 4, 2019}} This resulted in Oklahoma voters being allowed only two choices for president for the third election in a row.

The OKLP joined several other individuals and organizations in challenging an ordinance enacted by the City of Oklahoma City to restrict panhandling.{{cite web|url=https://www.reddirtreport.com/red-dirt-news/oklahoma-aclu-challenges-oklahoma-city%E2%80%99s-panhandling-ordinance-federal-lawsuit|title=Oklahoma ACLU challenges Oklahoma City's panhandling ordinance with federal lawsuit|date=April 13, 2016|website=Red Dirt Report|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=February 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222041844/https://www.reddirtreport.com/red-dirt-news/oklahoma-aclu-challenges-oklahoma-city%E2%80%99s-panhandling-ordinance-federal-lawsuit|url-status=dead}} OKLP Vice-chair Tina Kelly was involved in the case as it pertained to restricting the ability to engage in political petitioning.{{cite web|url=http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kgou/files/201604/McCraw-v-City-of-OKC-filed-complaint.pdf?_ga=1.106280963.1814075323.1429884318 |title=Complaint |website=mediad.publicbroadcasting.net |access-date=2019-10-10}} The city amended the ordinance to focus on pedestrian safety. In December 2018, Judge Joe L. Heaton upheld the ordinance{{cite web|url=https://newsok.com/article/5618145/free-speech-challenge-to-oklahoma-city-median-safety-ordinance-is-rebuffed/|title=Oklahoma City's 'median-safety' ordinance, originally drafted to restrict panhandling, is constitutional, federal judge says|date=December 19, 2018|website=NewsOK.com|access-date=March 4, 2019}} but on appeal the 10th Circuit found in favor of the plaintiffs.{{Cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca10/19-6008/19-6008-2020-08-31.html|title=McCraw v. City of Oklahoma City, No. 19-6008 (10th Cir. 2020)|website=Law.justia.com|access-date=July 24, 2022}}

The Libertarian Party's nominee appeared on Oklahoma's presidential ballot in the 1980's and 1990's, before losing ballot access after the 2000 election. Since 2016, the Libertarian Party's nominee has appeared on every Oklahoma presidential ballot.

The party had the national party's presidential candidate on the ballot in 1980 (1.2% of the statewide vote was received), 1984 (0.7% of the statewide vote was received), 1988 (0.5% of the statewide vote was received), 1992 (0.3% of the statewide vote was received), 1996 (0.5% of the statewide vote was received), 2000 (0.5% of the statewide vote was received), 2016 (5.8% of the statewide vote received), and 2020 (1.6% of the statewide vote received).

Oklahoma city restaurateur John Vernon 20.22% of the vote for the vice-presidential nomination at the Libertarian National Convention.{{cite web|url=http://www.oklp.org/pastresults.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308103611/http://www.oklp.org/pastresults.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2005-03-08 |title=Results |website=Oklp.org |format=PDF |access-date=2019-10-10}} Running as an Independent, Porter Davis got 36% of the vote for State House in district 88. Davis would later be elected to one term as a state Representative as a Republican in 1982.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/2001327|title=No Surprises Revealed In State House Races|date=3 November 1982|website=Newsok.com}}

The party successfully petitioned for ballot access in the state for the first time and in addition to Ed Clark for president had four candidates for office including Jim Rushing and Frank Robinson who faced each other for the 5th Congressional District nomination as well as Anne Hill and Agnes Wampler, who both sought to become the Tulsa County Clerk in the first Libertarian Party primaries in Oklahoma. Rushing won with 54% of the vote while Hill took over 90%.{{cite news |title=Elections 1980 |newspaper=Daily Oklahoman |location=Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |date=August 28, 1980 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1980_RESULTS.pdf|title=Primary Elections : August 26, 1980 : Democratic Primary Election|website=Ok.gov|access-date=October 27, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125183800/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1980_RESULTS.pdf|url-status=dead}}

After failing to get the required number of signatures for ballot access, the party sued and was ordered on the ballot for 1984. There were no primaries as the court order stipulated that the party nominate by convention.{{cite web|url=https://newsok.com/article/2076529/judge-orders-libertarian-party-candidates-put-on-state-ballot/|title=Judge Orders Libertarian Party Candidates Put on State Ballot|date=31 July 1984|website=Newsok.com}} In addition to David Bergland for president, 16 Libertarians ran for office in the state. Agnes Regier received 2.2% of the vote in a three-way race for a Corporation Commission seat while three state legislature candidates, Alice Cody, Paul Woodward, and Robert Chambers, and County Clerk candidates Vickie Rhodes in Tulsa County and Ralph Schultz in Oklahoma County finished with vote percentages in double digits.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1984_RESULTS.pdf|title=Primary Elections : August 28, 1984 : Democratic Primary Election|website=Ok.gov|access-date=27 October 2018}}

The Libertarian and Populist parties along with the Rainbow Coalition sought to have Oklahoma's restrictive ballot access law overturned, but the 10th Circuit ruled against them.{{cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/rainbow-coalition-v-okla-state-election-bd|title=Rainbow Coalition v. Okla. State Election Bd, 844 F.2d 740 – Casetext|website=Casetext.com}} Nevertheless, the LP was able to gather enough signatures to get on the ballot, with Ron Paul personally submitting the petition.{{cite news |title=Petitions filed by Libertarian ballot hopeful |newspaper=Daily Oklahoman |location=Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |date=15 July 1988 }} Paul received 6,261 votes, more than twice the total of Lenora Fulani of the New Alliance Party who was the other alternative presidential candidate on the ballot in Oklahoma.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1988_RESULTS.pdf|title=Primary Election : March 8, 1988 : Democratic Primary Election|website=Ok.gov|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=January 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110193901/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1988_RESULTS.pdf|url-status=dead}}

In pursuit of 50-state access, the LP was able to gather enough signatures to get Andre Marrou on the ballot. He finished fourth behind George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1992_RESULTS.pdf|title=Special Election : October 15, 1991|website=Ok.gov|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709200258/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1992_RESULTS.pdf|url-status=dead}}

After getting Andre Marrou on the ballot in 1992 as an independent, the party again successfully petitioned to run candidates in 1996. Agnes Regier defeated Michael Clem in a primary for the US Senate nomination{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1996_Primary_Summary_Results.pdf|title=Oklahoma State Election Board : Primary Election Results : August 27, 1996|website=Ok.gov|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=January 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109171346/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1996_Primary_Summary_Results.pdf|url-status=dead}} and earned 1.2% of the vote in the general election, finishing fourth in a five-person race.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1996_General_Summary_Results.pdf|title=Oklahoma State Election Board : Primary Election Results: November 5, 1996|website=Ok.gov|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=January 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109171348/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/1996_General_Summary_Results.pdf|url-status=dead}}

Successfully petitioning for ballot access again, fourteen Libertarians ran for office in the state alongside presidential candidate Harry Browne. Richard Prawdzienksi, Roger Bloxham and Whitney Boutin faced off in a primary for a seat on the Corporation Commission, resulting in Bloxham and Boutin heading to a runoff.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/2000_Primary_Summary_Results.pdf|title=Oklahoma State Election Board : Primary Election Results : August 22, 2000|website=Ok.gov|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=January 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109171338/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/2000_Primary_Summary_Results.pdf|url-status=dead}} Despite finishing in first place with almost 42%, Boutin dropped out of the race allowing Bloxham to be nominated. This saved the state over $200,000 for the cost of the runoff election.{{cite web|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/libertarian-drops-out-of-run-off-race/article_c4a11943-1234-551e-8d7a-6c6720c05fdb.html|title=Libertarian drops out of run-off race|author=Russell Ray|website=Tulsaworld.com|date=August 26, 2000 }} Bloxham would finish with 1.8% of the vote in the general election. The party ran candidates in all six Congressional races, besting the Democrats who only contested five. State House candidates Steve Galpin and Chris Powell both received double-digit percentages in their races.

In 2014 the signature requirement to get a party on the ballot was changed from 5% of the vote for president or governor was lowered from 5% to 3%.{{cite web|url=http://okvoterchoice.org/tag/hb2181/|title=HB2181 – Oklahomans For Ballot Access Reform|website=Okvoterchoice.org|date=May 14, 2015 }} On March 21, 2016, the Oklahoma Election Board declared the Libertarian Party to have turned in enough petition signatures to attain ballot status.{{cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2016/03/21/oklahoma-says-libertarian-party-is-now-a-qualified-party/|title=Oklahoma Libertarian Party Is Now a Qualified Party – Ballot Access News|website=Ballot-access.org|date=March 21, 2016 }} In another legislative victory, on May 5 Governor Mary Fallin signed legislation reducing the number of votes necessary for a party to retain ballot access from 10% of the presidential or gubernatorial vote to 2.5%.{{cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2016/05/05/oklahoma-ballot-access-bill-signed-into-law/|title=Oklahoma Ballot Access Bill Signed into Law – Ballot Access News|website=Ballot-access.org|date=May 5, 2016 }} LP presidential candidate Gary Johnson polled as high as 13% in the state.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/50-state-poll/ |title=New poll shows how Trump-Clinton matchup is redrawing the electoral map - Washington Post |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909102511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/50-state-poll/ |archive-date=September 9, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

In addition to Johnson, there were seventeen Libertarian candidates for state or federal office in Oklahoma in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/2016Listbook.pdf|title=Oklahoma : Candidates for State Elective Office 2016|website=Ok.gov|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630024853/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/2016Listbook.pdf|url-status=dead}} Robert Murphy defeated Dax Ewbank for the U.S. Senate nomination in the only statewide primary for any party on June 28.{{cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2016/05/03/libertarian-party-is-only-oklahoma-party-to-have-a-statewide-primary-on-june-28/|title=Libertarian Party is Only Oklahoma Party to have a Statewide Primary on June 28 – Ballot Access News|website=Ballot-access.org|date=May 3, 2016 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/ok_results_seb.html#LIBUSSEN|title=State Election Results, General Election, November 6, 2018|website=Ok.gov|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-date=August 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830210149/https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/ok_results_seb.html#LIBUSSEN|url-status=dead}}

The Johnson/Weld ticket received 83,481 votes in Oklahoma, 5.8% of the total, far surpassing previous results for LP presidential candidates and maintaining ballot access for the party for 2018. Robert T. Murphy finished third in a field of five in the U.S. Senate race with 3%. Zachary Knight garnered 6.1% running for CD5 and in CD4 4.3% voted for Sevier White. Of the two Libertarian candidates for state Senate, Frank Grove got over 35% in District 35 while Richard Prawdzienski was favored by 4.5% in District 41. In the state House the OKLP fielded nine candidates, including Steve Long, Gene Bell, Christina Wright, Tamara Morton, Erin Adams, Zac Davis and Dr. Shannon Grimes as well as Elle Collins, who took over 7% of the vote in District 87 which was won by Collin Walke with a plurality of 48%, and Clarke Duffe, who was supported by 23.5% of the voters in district 39.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/ok_results_seb.html|title=State Election Results, General Election, November 6, 2018|website=Ok.gov|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-date=August 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830210149/https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/ok_results_seb.html|url-status=dead}}

The sole LP candidate for a county office in the state was Chris Powell who sought to become the Oklahoma County Clerk. Facing GOP nominee David B. Hooten, Powell received 89,019 votes, 36.4% of the total.

File:OKLP Chair Chris Powell.jpg

On the ballot for a gubernatorial election for the first time, the OKLP had three individuals seek the nomination for the state's highest executive office. In the primary on June 26, former state chair Chris Powell received 49%, just 40 votes away from winning the nomination outright. Rex Lawhorn received 31%. The third candidate, zookeeper Joe Exotic, finished with 19%.{{cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2018/06/26/all-three-oklahoma-qualified-parties-will-need-a-runoff-primary-on-august-28/|title=All Three Oklahoma Qualified Parties Will Need a Runoff Primary on August 28 – Ballot Access News|website=Ballot-access.org|date=June 26, 2018 }}

With no candidate achieving a majority, the race went to a runoff between Lawhorn and Powell on August 28, which Powell won with 59%.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/20180828_seb.html|title=State Election Results, Runoff Primary Election, August 28, 2018|website=Ok.gov|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=January 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125150703/https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/20180828_seb.html|url-status=dead}} This was the first Libertarian primary runoff election in the nation.

Powell received 40,833 votes in the general election, 3.4% of the total.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/20181106_seb.html|title=State Election Results, General Election, November 6, 2018|website=Ok.gov|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=November 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120095415/https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/20181106_seb.html|url-status=dead}} This was the highest percentage for any of the 23 Libertarian gubernatorial candidates on the ballot on Nov. 6th.{{cite web|url=https://www.lp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-election-results-governor.pdf |title=Results |date=2018 |website=Lp.org |access-date=2019-10-10}}

Other Libertarian candidates were Dr. John Yeutter for Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector, Richard Castaldo for US House Dist. 2, seven candidates for Oklahoma House of Representatives: Lee Miller (HD68), Kelli Krebs (HD75), Gene Bell (HD78), William Cagle (HD 84), Stephen Paulsen (HD85), and Paul Brewbaker (HD 95), as well as Marcus Hall who ran for the office of County Commissioner in Canadian County, Dist. #1{{cite web|url=https://libertyunfiltered.wordpress.com/2018/07/05/oklahomas-libertarian-candidates/|title=Oklahoma's Libertarian Candidates|date=5 July 2018|website=Libertyunfiltered.wordpress.com}}{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Marcus_Hall|title=Marcus Hall|website=Ballotpedia.org}} and Rachel L. Bussett who was in a non-partisan contest seeking to become an Associate District Judge for Canadian County.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/ok_filing_2018.html#ASSOCDJ|title=Candidate Filings, 2018|website=Ok.gov|access-date=September 27, 2018|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125230443/https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/ok_filing_2018.html#ASSOCDJ|url-status=dead}}

Yeutter received over 270 thousand votes (24.8%) in his race, the highest total for any alternative party candidate ever in Oklahoma. Both Yeutter and Powell achieved greater than 2.5%, so the OKLP retained ballot access through at least 2022. Hall had the highest percentage in a partisan race with 27.49% and Bussett came very close to winning nonpartisan judicial office with 47.8%.

Two Libertarians, Todd Hagopian and Brandon Swearengin, sought election to school boards in the first part of the year. Hagopian finished third for seeking a spot on the Bixby school board on Feb. 11th.{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Bixby_Public_Schools,_Oklahoma,_elections_(2020)|title=Bixby Public Schools, Oklahoma, elections (2020)|website=Ballotpedia }} Swearengin's race against an oil executive was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic from April 7 to June 30. Swearengin earned 45.4% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Union_Public_Schools,_Oklahoma,_elections_(2020)|title=Union Public Schools, Oklahoma, elections (2020)|website=Ballotpedia.org|access-date=July 24, 2022}}

For the state and federal elections in the fall, Hagopian stepped up to run for Corporation Commission to face an otherwise unopposed incumbent. Robert Murphy was a candidate for U S Senate. Sevier White and Richie Costaldo ran for Congress in districts 4 and 1, respectively. Greg Sadler was in a two-way contest for state Senate in district 17. A. J. Bailey sought election to the state House in district 101.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/2020Listbook.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019172547/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/2020Listbook.pdf |url-status=dead }} And Bud Jeffrey challenged the incumbent for Pottawatomie County Court Clerk.[https://www.miamiok.com/news/20200411/election-filings-day-3-two-win-unopposed-others-gear-up-for-runoffs] {{dead link|date=July 2022}} Voters in the portion of Pottawatomie County within state Senate District 17 will have three two-candidate races featuring a Libertarian versus a Republican,{{Cite web |url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/electionlist.htm#63 |title=Archived copy |access-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910200217/https://www.ok.gov/elections/support/electionlist.htm#63 |url-status=dead }} and a total of five Libertarians on their local ballots to vote for.

Hagopian received over 345 thousand votes (23.9%) in his race, the highest vote total for any alternative party candidate ever in Oklahoma. Hagopian achieved greater than 2.5%, so the OKLP retained ballot access through at least 2024. Hagopian had the highest percentage in a partisan race with 23.9%.

In August 2018 David Greer was appointed to fill a vacancy on the nonpartisan City Council of Dougherty, Oklahoma, becoming the first Libertarian to hold elective office in the state.{{cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2019/01/02/libertarian-appointed-to-city-council-of-dougherty-oklahoma/|title=Libertarian Appointed to City Council of Dougherty, Oklahoma – Ballot Access News|website=ballot-access.org|date=January 2, 2019 |access-date=March 4, 2019}} He was re-elected unopposed in May, 2020.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

On April 2, 2019, Chad Williams was elected to the Choctaw City Council and Josh Clark was elected to Dale School Board in nonpartisan elections, becoming the first Libertarians to win elections to office in Oklahoma.{{cite web|author=Posted on |url=http://ballot-access.org/2019/04/03/two-oklahoma-libertarians-elected-to-non-partisan-office/ |title=Two Oklahoma Libertarians Elected to Non-Partisan Office | Ballot Access News |website=Ballot-access.org |date=2019-04-03 |access-date=2019-10-10}}

In a special election to fill an unexpired term, Chris Powell was elected on Nov. 12, 2019 to the Bethany City Council, defeating two other candidates by receiving 63% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20191112|title=OK Election Results|website=Results.okelections.us|access-date=July 24, 2022}} Powell was named Vice-Mayor beginning July 1, 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/CityBethanyOK/videos/council-meeting-6-2-2020/3235762706455514/|title=City of Bethany - Council Meeting 6-2-2020 | Facebook | By City of Bethany | City Council Meeting Bethany, OK June 2, 2020|access-date=July 24, 2022|website=Facebook.com}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}} and re-elected to full term with 76% of the vote on Feb. 9, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20210209|title=OK Election Results|website=Results.okelections.us|access-date=July 24, 2022}}

On April 6, 2021, Troy Brooks won election to the Alva City Council with 52.6% of the vote in a nonpartisan election.{{Cite web|url=https://ballot-access.org/2021/04/09/libertarian-party-member-elected-to-city-council-of-alva-oklahoma/|title=Libertarian Party Member Elected to City Council of Alva, Oklahoma |website=Ballot-access.org|date=April 9, 2021 |access-date=July 24, 2022}}

Anthony Garcia was appointed to fill the remaining term of a retiring board member of Francis Tuttle Technology Center on April 12, 2021.{{cite web | url-access=limited |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/73486502497/10159362865157498 |archive-date = 2022-04-30| url = https://www.facebook.com/francistuttle/posts/10159362865157498 |title = Francis Tuttle Technology Center on Facebook |website=Facebook}}{{cbignore}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}} He was unopposed for election to a full term.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oklahomacounty.org/Portals/0/DNNGalleryPro/uploads/2021/12/10/SchoolandMunicipalCandidateFilingsDecember2021_0001_0001.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211164331/https://www.oklahomacounty.org/Portals/0/DNNGalleryPro/uploads/2021/12/10/SchoolandMunicipalCandidateFilingsDecember2021_0001_0001.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Dillon Feazel was unopposed for a seat on the Altus City Council, being sworn in on April 12, 2021. In May he changed his voter registration party affiliation to Libertarian.{{cite news |last=Hilley |first=Kevin |date=February 10, 2021 |title=Two new city council members elected, one retains seat – Womack, Rester and Filer win; 388 votes cast |newspaper=Altus Times}}

In April 2025, Roger Dale Merrill became the first Libertarian to hold mayoral office in Oklahoma after his election as the mayor of Beggs.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=Four Libertarian Party Candidates Win Competitive Elections for Public Offices in Oklahoma {{!}} |url=https://ballot-access.org/2025/04/02/four-libertarian-party-candidates-win-competitive-elections-for-public-offices-in-oklahoma/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |language=en-US}}

• Green Party of Oklahoma
• Oklahoma Democratic Party
• Oklahoma Republican Party
• Politics of Oklahoma
• Two-party system
• Third parties

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.oklp.org/ Oklahoma Libertarian Party]

{{Libertarian Party (United States)}}

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Category:Political parties in Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Category:Political parties established in 1972

Category:1972 establishments in Oklahoma