David Aitken

David Aitken
Database Manager Libertarian Party of Colorado
2016—May 31, 2025
Chair Libertarian Party of Colorado
1992—1995
Predecessor:	Mary Callan
Successor:	Sandra Johnson
Personal Details
Birth:	1947 Kansas City, Missouri
Death:	May 28, 2026
Education:	Sammamish High School
Military:	U.S. Army (1967–1971)
Occupation:	Retired business software developer and consultant
Residence:	Capitol Hill, Denver, Colorado
Party:	Libertarian Party of Colorado
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David Aitken (1947 – May 28, 2026) was a Libertarian Party activist, candidate, and party officer in Colorado. He served as Chair of the Libertarian Party of Colorado from 1992 to 1995, and as the party's Database Manager from 2016 until May 31, 2025. He was a named plaintiff in landmark federal petition rights litigation that reached the United States Supreme Court.

Biography

Early Life and Military Service

David Aitken was born in 1947 in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended Sammamish High School. He served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1971. After his military service, he pursued a career as a business software developer and consultant.

Libertarian Party

Aitken became active in the Libertarian Party of Colorado in the 1980s and become a life member, serving as Finance Director from 1989 to 1991. He ran for the Colorado State House of Representatives in District 6 in both 1986 and 1988, and for Governor of Colorado in 1990.

He was elected Chair of the Libertarian Party of Colorado in 1992, succeeding Mary Callan. During his tenure as chair, he proposed — and members approved — expanding the party's board of directors from five to nine directors, accomplished by splitting the Finance position into Fundraising and Treasurer, splitting Communications into Publications and Public Relations, and adding Affiliates and Legislative positions. He served as chair until 1995, succeeded by Sandra Johnson. He was also on staff with the national Libertarian Party assisting state parties with the national CRM until shortly before his death.

After his chairmanship, Aitken continued as a candidate and activist. He ran for the Regional Transportation District Board, District A, in 1996, and for Colorado Secretary of State in 2002.

Aitken was a named plaintiff in American Constitutional Law Foundation, Inc. v. Meyer, a challenge to Colorado laws restricting petition circulators. The Tenth Circuit ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in 1997, and the United States Supreme Court affirmed that decision in 1999 in Buckley v. American Constitutional Law Foundation. He was also a named plaintiff in Colorado Right to Life Committee, Inc. v. Davidson before the Tenth Circuit in 2000.

Aitken served on the national Libertarian Party staff at some point during his career. He was also recognized at the 2019 LPCO State Convention for his long-running volunteer contributions to the state party as database manager and staff volunteer.

Beginning in 2016, Aitken served as Database Manager for the Libertarian Party of Colorado, a role he held until May 31, 2025. In this capacity he was instrumental in the party's ballot access operations (see Libertarian Party of Colorado Ballot Access History) and many of its organizational projects. He also meticulously scanned all of the LPCO's historical newsletters on a home scanner prior to the establishment of the Historical Preservation Committee.

In 2024, Aitken ran for the Colorado State Senate in District 31, receiving 14,515 votes (16.1%) against Democratic incumbent Chris Hansen, who won with 75,769 votes (83.9%).

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Personal Life and Death

Aitken's political philosophy was shaped by the economics of Milton Friedman and Thomas Sowell. His core mission was reducing government regulation so that individuals could freely pursue their own goals. In his retirement, he enjoyed living on Capitol Hill in Denver and skiing at Copper Mountain approximately twenty days per year.

David Aitken passed away on May 28, 2026, at the age of 79. The national Libertarian Party sent out an email (info) in his honor. David's relatives had a memorial get-together in his honor (info), and the Libertarian Party of Colorado also held a Celebration of Life (info).

Organizational Positions

Libertarian Party of Colorado

Positions

• Finance Director (1989–1991)
• Chair (1992–1995)
• Database Manager (2016–May 31, 2025)

Committees

• Member, Constitution and Bylaws Committee (2019)

Political Campaigns

Colorado State House of Representatives, District 6, 1986

Aitken ran as the Libertarian candidate for the Colorado State House of Representatives in District 6 in 1986.

Colorado State House of Representatives, District 6, 1988

Aitken again ran as the Libertarian candidate for the Colorado State House of Representatives in District 6 in 1988.

Governor of Colorado, 1990

Aitken ran as the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Colorado in 1990.

RTD Board, District A, 1996

Aitken ran as the Libertarian candidate for the Regional Transportation District Board, District A, in 1996.

Secretary of State of Colorado, 2002

Aitken ran as the Libertarian candidate for Colorado Secretary of State in 2002.

Colorado State Senate, District 31, 2024

Aitken ran as the Libertarian candidate for the Colorado State Senate in District 31. He received 14,515 votes (16.1%) in the general election on November 5, 2024, losing to Democratic incumbent Chris Hansen, who received 75,769 votes (83.9%) out of 90,284 total votes cast.