Oklahoma Libertarian Party

Oklahoma Libertarian Party
General Information
Chartered:	April 1972
Region:	7
Officers
Chair:	Tina Kelly
Vice-Chair:	Bailey Betts
Secretary:	Christina Wright
Treasurer:	Ron Phillips
Contact
Address:	620 Reynolds Road Edmond, Oklahoma 73013
Website:	Website
Social Media
Facebook:	Facebook
Twitter:	Twitter

Oklahoma Caucus

At one of the national conventions in the 70's the Oklahoma delegation announced on more than one occasion during the proceedings that they were going to go caucus, a phrase which in reality meant they were going to go to a second location and smoke marijuana. This rapidly became known as the Oklahoma Caucus which then evolved into a regular, if informal, event at national conventions where various esteemed Libertarians of the Sooner State would lead discussion of LP history and issues with all who cared to attend. The Oklahoma Caucus was last held as recently as 2002, hosted that year by Robert Murphy.

Primaries

The OKLP has been very active in seeking to use the state's primary system to draw attention to the party. When achieving ballot access for the first time in 1980, the party had primaries for the 5th Congressional District, won by Jim Rushing over Frank Robinson, and for Tulsa County Clerk. Oklahoma had a closed primary system until 1987 when a semi-closed system was adopted, allowing parties to include registered Independents if they so chose. Agnes Regier defeated Mike Clem in 1996 for the U.S. Senate nomination with well over two-thirds of the votes coming from Independents. In 2000 three Libertarians faced each other for the nomination for Corporation Commission, with Whitney Boutin and Roger Bloxham advancing to a runoff. However, Boutin withdrew in order to allow Bloxham to become the nominee, a move that saved the state over $200,000 and generated positive press attention. When the OKLP again achieved ballot access in 2016 Dax Ewbanks and Robert Murphy faced off for the U.S. Senate nomination. Murphy went so far as to endorse Ewbanks, but both Independent and Libertarian voters were largely unfamiliar with the two candidates and Murphy won with 59%. The party is on the ballot for a gubernatorial election for the first time in 2018. Three candidates are seeking the gubernatorial election in what appears to be the first genuinely contested primary for the OKLP.

Tattooing

Oklahoma remains the only state in the Union which has a ban on tattooing. In the recent years, the OKLP have been major proponents of the various bills in the house and senate which would decriminalize tattooing; however, an ultra-conservative legislature have always struck the bills down. In 2004, the Oklahoma Senate passed SB 806 30-15 which would decriminalize tattooing; however, the sister HB 1519 foundered in the house due to the Republican leader not allowing it to be heard. The OKLP continues to push for the full legalization of tattooing. Opponents claim that by legalizing tattooing, it will spread diseases such as HIV which causes AIDS; however, the OKLP asserts the libertarian ideal of bringing tattooing into the free market. By bringing it into the free market, just like illegal drugs, reputable businesses will compete to provide a low-cost, healthy, and secure product and service. The law was changed by the state legislature but is extremely restrictive and has been issued legal challenges by tattoo artists.

Tobacco Tax

The OKLP vehemently oppose the state's recent trend of intruding on the individual's right to smoke tobacco. The OKLP protested, lobbied, and got the message out about the crippling effects of an increased tax on tobacco; however, the 49th Legislature ratified HB 2660 which dramatically hiked the tax up on tobacco products.

Ballot Access

The largest hurdle for the OKLP is access to the ballot. Richard Winger of Ballot Access News, who is the nation's foremost expert on 3rd party politics agrees that Oklahoma has the strictest laws in the nation with regard to access to the ballot for 3rd parties. Oklahoma' Democrat and Republican parties essentially have a state run monopoly. The state is decided evenly along partisan districts and the two parties rarely offer each other any competition in the elections. In 2006 more than half of the Oklahoma State House seats went unchallenged.

In 2004 there were only two choices for President in Oklahoma, Senator John Kerry or President George W. Bush. In the same year Afghanistan had 18!! Not only is Oklahoma the hardest state to get on the ballot in America, but in countries that most people would think would be much more restrictive. The last election in Iraq, they fielded over 350 Presidential candidates! America is spreading Democracy around the world while forgetting to protect Democracy at home.

In 2004 the LP of OK filed a lawsuit, claiming the ballot access laws were unconstitutional. The lawsuit was appealed to the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, who refused to hear their case in February of 2007.

Paul Jacob faced charges related to ballot access efforts in Oklahoma. The events surrounding this were chronicled at freepauljacob.com.

Up to date information on Oklahoma ballot access can be found here.

Past Officials and Staff

Larry Brittain , treasurer (c. 2008)
Jimmy Cook, chair, vice chair (c. 2009)
Steve Galpin, chair
Robert Murphy, chair
Angelia O'Dell, chair (c. 2009)
Chris Powell, chair
D. Frank Robinson, founding chair
David Splinter, vice chair
Robert Stock, secretary
Matt Sweet, chair (c. 1994)
Mike Todd, chair (c. 1995)
Tom Laurent, chair (1973), secretary (1980)
Porter Davis, chair (1976)
Loren L. Baker, chair (1978)

Elections

See: Libertarian Party of Oklahoma Historical Election Results

Size and Influence

Year	Minimum Unique Voters	Registered Voters (Oct/Nov)	Signature Members (Dec)	LNC Total Donors 2004 - 2016 Or Active Members 1972 - 2003 (Dec)
2016	83,481	3,599	1,169	187
2015			1,038	89
2014	9,125		1,023	90
2013			989	109
2012	7,112		960	109
2011			907	100
2010	48,723		888	113
2009			855	108
2008	1,161		810	126
2007			(Nov) 763	(Nov) 105
2006			724	71
2005			659	106
2004	3,138	689		(Aug) 153
2003				128
2002	63,093	286		153
2001				190
2000	23,253	703		226
1999				194
1998				185
1997				122
1996	14,595	141		128
1995				72
1994				59
1993				46
1992	4,486			63
1991				53
1990				36
1989				35
1988	6,261			42
1987
1986
1985
1984	27,048	444
1983
1982
1981
1980	13,828	875
1979
1978	255
1977
1976	2,867
1975
1974
1973
1972

External Links

• The OKLP Website
• The OKLP Facebook Page
• recent article about OKLP