2008 Libertarian Party presidential primaries

2008 Libertarian Party presidential primaries

February 5, 2008
Non-binding preferential vote
Candidate Christine Smith Steve Kubby Wayne Allyn Root Home state Colorado[1] California Nevada Contests won 1 0 0 Popular vote 4,241 3,072 2,730 Percentage 22.4% 16.2% 14.4%   Candidate Bob Jackson George Phillies Uncommitted Home state Massachusetts n/a Contests won 0 0 1 Popular vote 1,486 1,015 967 Percentage 7.9% 5.4% 5.1%
First place by popular vote   Christine Smith (1)   Uncommitted (1)   No contest
Previous Libertarian nominee Michael Badnarik Libertarian nominee Bob Barr

The 2008 Libertarian Party presidential primaries allowed voters to indicate non-binding preferences for the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate. These differed from the Republican or Democratic presidential primaries and caucuses in that they did not appoint delegates to represent a candidate at the party's convention to select the party's nominee for the United States presidential election. The party's nominee for the 2008 presidential election was chosen directly by registered delegates at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention, which ran from May 22 to 26, 2008. The delegates nominated former congressman Bob Barr (who did not run in the primaries) for president and media personality Wayne Allyn Root for vice president.

Two primaries were held, one in Missouri and one in California.[2] A total of 18,915 votes were cast in these primaries.

Candidates

See also: United States third party and independent presidential candidates, 2008 § Libertarian Party

Candidate		Profession	Campaign	On primary ballot		Popular vote
				CA	MO
Christine Smith		Writer[1]				4,241
Steve Kubby		Libertarian activist, 1998 California gubernatorial nominee				3,072
Wayne Allyn Root		Businessman, media personality, author, TV producer				2,730
Bob Jackson		Engineer[3]				1,486
George Phillies		College professor[4]				1,015
Barry Hess		2002 and 2006 Libertarian nominee for Arizona governor[5]				891
Mike Jingozian		Businessman				853
Daniel Imperato		Businessman				848
Dave Hollist		Activist				819
Robert Milnes		Joirnalist				721
John Finan		Activist				706
Alden Link		Company manager				565
Alternate ballot options:
Uncommitted		N/A				967

Primaries and caucuses

National totals

Candidate	Votes	%	First-place primary/caucus finishes
Christine Smith	4,241	22.42%	1
Steve Kubby	3,072	16.24%	—
Wayne Allen Root	2,730	14.43%	—
Bob Jackson	1,486	7.86%	—
George Phillies	1,015	5.37%	—
Barry Hess	891	4.71%	—
Uncommitted/uninstructed	885	4.68%	1
Mike Jingozian	853	4.51%	—
Daniel Imperato	848	4.48%	—
Dave Hollist	819	4.33%	—
Robert Milnes	721	3.81%	—
John Finan	706	3.73%	—
Alden Link	565	2.99%	—
Leon L. Ray	1	0.00%	—

California primary

Type: Semi-Closed

In the California primary on February 5, the Libertarian Party had a state-run primary held alongside those for the Republicans, Democrats, the Green Party, the American Independent Party and the Peace and Freedom Party.[6]

California Libertarian presidential primary, February 5, 2008[6][7] Candidate Votes Percentage Christine Smith 4,241 25.2 Steve Kubby 2,876 17.1 Wayne Allyn Root 2,360 14.0 Bob Jackson 1,486 8.9 Barry Hess 891 5.3 George Phillies 852 5.1 Mike Jingozian 774 4.6 Robert Milnes 721 4.3 Daniel Imperato 707 4.1 John Finan 706 4.1 Dave Hollist 678 4.0 Alden Link 565 3.3 Leon L. Ray (write-in) 1 nil Total 16,858 100

Missouri primary

In the Missouri primary on February 5, the Libertarian Party had a state-run primary held alongside the Republican and Democratic primaries.[8]

Missouri Libertarian presidential primary, February 5, 2008[8][7] Candidate Votes Percentage Uncommitted 967 47.0 Wayne Allyn Root 370 18.0 Steve Kubby 196 9.5 George Phillies 163 7.9 Dave Hollist 141 6.9 Daniel Imperato 141 6.9 Mike Jingozian 79 3.8 Total 2,057 100

2008 National Convention

Main article: 2008 Libertarian National Convention

See also

Presidential primaries

• 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries
• 2008 Green Party presidential primaries
• 2008 Republican Party presidential primaries

National Conventions

• 2008 Constitution Party National Convention
• 2008 Libertarian National Convention
• 2008 Green National Convention
• 2008 Democratic National Convention
• 2008 Republican National Convention

References

1. "Everything goes when libertarian Christine Smith gets into politics". Westword. June 17, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
2. "Major Third Party 2008 Presidential Primaries". www.thegreenpapers.com. The Green Papers. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
3. "Wikinews interviews U.S. Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Jackson". Wikinews. February 13, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
4. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
5. "Barry Hess". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
6. "Statement of Vote" (PDF). elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
7. "Federal Elections 2008 Election Results for the U.S. President, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). www.fec.gov. Federal Elections Commission. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
8. "All Results Official Election Returns State of Missouri Presidential Preference Primary Presidential Preference Primary Tuesday, February 05, 2008 As announced by the Board of State Canvassers on Friday, March 07, 2008" (PDF). www.sos.mo.gov. Missouri Secretary of State. March 7, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2021.