List of National Conventions
The Libertarian National Convention is held every two years by the United States Libertarian Party to choose members of the Libertarian National Committee, and to conduct other party business. In presidential election years, the convention delegates enact a platform and nominate the Libertarian presidential and vice-presidential candidates who then face the nominees of other parties in the November general election.
While most delegates to the Democratic National Convention and Republican National Convention are tied to particular candidates, delegates to the Libertarian National Convention are free to choose, as was previously the case for the larger parties. Accordingly, Libertarian National Conventions place less emphasis on festivities and spinning the press, though some of each may be found. The complete convention is televised by C-SPAN with additional broadcast television coverage of the presidential nominating process.
Convention delegates are allocated to the State Libertarian Parties according to the number of national members they have and the number of votes received for the Libertarian Presidential candidate in that state in the prior presidential election.
The first Libertarian National Convention was held in 1972 in Denver, Colorado. John Hospers and Theodora Nathan were nominated presidential and vice presidential candidates respectively. They received the first electoral vote won by a woman, cast by Roger MacBride.
The 2004 Libertarian National Convention was held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia Memorial Day weekend, May 27 to May 31. Michael Badnarik was chosen as the party's presidential candidate, beating out Gary Nolan and Aaron Russo on the third ballot; Richard Campagna was chosen as the party's vice-presidential candidate.
Convention History
- 1972 Denver, CO -- see also Mickey, Me and the LP, a personal account of the convention.
- 1973 Strongsville, OH
- 1974 Dallas, TX
- 1975 NYC
- 1976 Washington, DC
- 1977 San Francisco, CA
- 1978 Boston, MA
- 1979 Los Angeles, CA
- 1980 Alternative '80 Los Angeles
- 1981 Denver, CO
- 1983 NYC
- 1985 Phoenix, AZ
- 1987 Seattle, WA
- 1989 Philadelphia, PA
- 1991 Chicago, IL
- 1993 Salt Lake City, UT
- 1996 Wash, DC
- 1998 Wash, DC
- 2000 Anaheim, CA
- 2002 Indianapolis, IN
- 2004 Atlanta, GA
- 2006 Portland, OR
- 2008 Denver. CO
- 2010 St Louis, MO
- 2012 Las Vegas, NV
- 2014 Columbus, OH
- 2016 Orlando, FL