The Libertarian Party has nominated 38-year-old Atlanta gay man Chase Oliver as its presidential candidate, according to media reports.
According to his official bio, Oliver began his political activism opposing the War in Iraq under then-President George W. Bush, and he discovered the Libertarian Party when he stopped by a booth at the Atlanta Pride Festival in 2010.
In 2020, he ran for Congress in Georgia’s 5th district to complete the term of the late civil-rights icon John Lewis. In 2022, he ran for U.S. Senate, debating incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker’s empty podium.
In a post-nomination interview with CNN, Oliver—who describes himself as “armed and gay,” per The Guardian—said he believes earning 2% of the vote nationally in November’s general election is an attainable goal.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump tried to court the party this past weekend during its convention. However, attendees roundly booed him. Oliver criticized Trump’s appearance at the Libertarian convention. At a news conference following Trump’s remarks, Oliver called it a “mistake” to have Trump speak. “You are not a libertarian, Donald Trump,” he said. “You’re a war criminal and you deserve to be shamed by everyone in this hall.”
Libertarians also rejected Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate who is the son of the late former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy earned a warmer reception than Trump after saying he would pardon Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistleblower now exiled in Russia, and drop espionage charges against Julian Assange. However, he was eliminated in the first round of voting on May 26 after winning just 19 votes—2% of the total.
CNN noted Oliver’s victory at the convention also marked a defeat for the Mises Caucus—an increasingly visible group of right-leaning Libertarians.
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