Libertarian Party of North Dakota

Libertarian Party of North Dakota
Region:	6
Officers
Chair:	Keith Hanson
Vice-Chair:	David Helfter
Contact
Website:	Website
Social Media

The Libertarian Party of North Dakota is the North Dakota affiliate of the Libertarian Party.

History

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.

Leadership

Former

Chair

• Marty Rikse (1990s)
• Keith Hanson (2002—July 2005)

Vice Chair

• David Helfter (2002—March 12, 2004)

Elections

See: Libertarian Party of North Dakota Historical Election Results

Size and Influence

Year	Minimum Unique Voters	Signature Members (Dec)	LNC Total Donors 2004 - 2016 Or Active Members 1972 - 2003 (Dec)
2016	70,818	265	56
2015		231	40
2014	15,238	217	36
2013		203	31
2012	13,098	186	36
2011		157	24
2010	8,315	150	32
2009		146	25
2008	1,354	139	27
2007		(Nov) 128	(Nov) 21
2006	2,194	124	15
2005		109	17
2004	4,193		(Aug) 32
2003			26
2002			31
2001			40
2000	660		43
1999			41
1998			36
1997			20
1996	847		31
1995			13
1994			11
1993			7
1992	416		9
1991			5
1990			5
1989			2
1988	4,334		2
1987
1986
1985
1984	703
1983
1982
1981
1980	3,743
1979
1978
1977
1976	256
1975
1974
1973
1972

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.

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