Libertarian Party of North Dakota

The Libertarian Party of North Dakota ("LPND" in party bylaws) is the North Dakota affiliate of the Libertarian Party.

Libertarian Party of North Dakota
Region:	6
Officers
Chair:	Taylor Bakken
Vice-Chair:	Daniel Walters
Secretary:	Andrew Strand
Treasurer:	Nicholas Bakken
Contact
Website:	Website
Social Media
Facebook:	Facebook

History

During his 1988 presidential campaign, Ron Paul filed in North Dakota's open primary for president that took place on June 14th. It was the only primary in which Paul participated, as he had been nominated at the 1987 national convention. On the ballot along with Republicans George Bush and perennial candidate Mary Jane Rachner along with Democrats Michael Dukakis and Jesse Jackson, Paul received 985 votes(2.25%) including at least one vote in every county, whereas neither Democrat received any votes at all in 29 of the state's 53 counties.

In the 1990s, businessman Marty Rikse was the chairman of the Libertarian Party of North Dakota. Monthly meetings were held in Fargo, North Dakota at a Chinese eatery. A semi-regular state party newsletter was published. Keith Hanson became the chairman in 2002, and David Helfter became the vicechair. Helfter was also the Libertarian Party of Minnesota representative for Minnesota State University Moorhead and the co-founder of an interest group called Friends of Democracy.

In the spring of 2004, David Helfter died suddenly. In 2006, the Libertarian Party of North Dakota collected enough petition signatures from qualified voters to formally organize themselves into a political party.

In 2010, the Libertarian Party of North Dakota sued the State of North Dakota for excluding their legislative candidates from the general election ballot. While the party had submitted enough signatures to organize itself, North Dakota won’t let minor parties place nominees on the November ballot for legislature unless between 10% and 15% of all the voters who turn out in a primary election choose that minor party’s primary ballot.

The North Dakota Supreme Court upheld the law as did the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Libertarian Party of North Dakota has asked the United States Supreme Court in review their case.

Governing Documents

Platform

• Platform Adopted November 22, 2022 (info)

For historical platforms see Index of North Dakota State Party Platforms

Bylaws

• Bylaws Adopted February 26, 2022 (info)

For historical bylaws see Index of North Dakota State Party Bylaws

Leadership

Current

• Adam Heupel, Chair (Elected May 22nd)
• Taylor Bakken, Vice Chair (Elected May 22nd)
• Maggie Kohls, Secretary (Elected Elected January 2020)
• Del Ruff, Treasure (Elected May 22nd)

Former

Chair

• David R Saunders (c. 1975)
• Marty Rikse (1994)
• Keith Hanson (December 3, 2002—July 2005)
• Roland Riemers (c 2011—November 7, 2015)
• Anthony Mangnall (November 7, 2015—?)
• Steven Potter, (January 2018- ?)
• Dalton Brown, (June 2019 - May 22, 2021)

Vice-Chair

• David Helfter (December 3, 2002—March 12, 2004)
• Richard Kopp (June 2004—March 2005)
• Bret Weiland
• Dylan Stuckey, (? - May 22, 2021)

Secretary

• Richard Kopp (December 3, 2002—March 2005)
• Kevin Gilgallon, Secretary (elected January 2018)

Treasurer

• Richard Ames (December 3, 2002—March 2005)
• Joshua Voytek
• Marty Rikse, Interim Treasurer 2021 (Appointed By The Executive Committee)

Newsletter Editor

• Richard Kopp (2002—2003)

Ballot Drive

• North Dakota Ballot Drive

Affiliates

• North Dakota Bakken Libertarian Party
• Bismarck Libertarian Party
• Minot Libertarian Party
• Watford City Libertarian Party

Conventions

• December 3, 2002
• April 3, 2004 - Fargo, North Dakota
• November 7, 2015
• January 2018
• May 22, 2021

Elections

See: Libertarian Party of North Dakota Historical Election Results

Records

• Index of Libertarian Party of North Dakota Records

Size and Influence

Year	Minimum Unique Voters	Minimum Percent Of Voters	Signature Members (Dec)	Signature Members Per Million Population	LNC Total Donors 2004 - Present Or Active Members 1972 - 2003 (Dec)	LNC Donors Per Million Population	State Rank Of Total LNC Donors (Of 51)
2018			247	325	37	48.68	50
2017			240	318	44	58.25	45
2016	70,818	20.24%	265	350	56	73.88	45
2015			231	305	40	52.85	44
2014	15,238	5.97%	217	293	36	48.68	46
2013			203	280	31	42.83	50
2012	13,098	4.02%	186	265	36	51.30	50
2011			157	229	24	35.02	51
2010	8,315	3.45%	150	222	32	47.45	51
2009			146	220	25	37.60	51
2008	1,354	0.42%	139	211	27	41.06	51
2007			128	196	21	32.17	51
2006	2,194	1.00%	124	191	15	23.10	51
2005			109	169	17	26.31	51
2004	4,193	1.33%			32	49.64	51
2003					26	40.70	51
2002					31	48.58	51
2001					40	62.59	51
2000	660	0.23%			43	66.98	51
1999					41	64.70	51
1998					36	56.44	51
1997					20	31.20	51
1996	847	0.31%			31	48.22	51
1995					13	20.26	51
1994					11	17.19	51
1993					7	10.99	51
1992	416	0.13%			9	14.16	51
1991					5	7.88	51
1990					5	7.84	51
1989					2	3.09	51
1988	4,334	1.40%			2	3.05	51
1987
1986
1985
1984	703	0.22%
1983
1982
1981
1980	3,743	1.19%
1979
1978
1977
1976	256	0.08%
1975
1974
1973
1972

External Links

• Old LP North Daktoa Website at Internet Archive

References

This state party article contains time-sensitive information that may no longer be accurate. Please contact the State Chair for updates and move out of date information to this article's appropriate historical section.