LIBERTARIAN PARTY of UTAH

The Libertarian Party of Utah

2026-05-25T16:15:56-04:00

Do you ...
Want to be left alone by the government to pursue a peaceful, productive lifestyle? Want to stop being forced to pay for government programs that you disagree with, like Welfare and un-Constitutional wars? Want to be a part of a political party that refuses to compromise the principle of "The Golden Rule"?

If your answer is "YES" then, welcome home. The Libertarian Party of Utah is where you belong!

We are the only political party that respects your rights as a unique and competent individual. Our aims are simple:

:: Preserve The Founding Father's Libertarian Heritage
:: Live Free and Responsibly
:: Respect and Care for Every Peaceful and Productive Individual

Help us keep the torch of liberty lit in Utah! Please contribute (donations of time and funds are both welcome) to our cause.
Please support the ORIGINAL campaign for liberty in Utah: The Libertarian Party of Utah!

!!Current Libertarian Candidates!!

Libertarian Party Membership Application
Join today!

LPUtah Platform
The Platform of the Libertarian Party of Utah

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Utah legislative redistricting

2011-05-06T00:27:59-04:00

As a committee of the Utah legislature meets to decide how to redraw legislative districts for the legislature and the State's 4 congressional districts, our former Chair, Rbb Latham testified with an idea for a more fair voting system. Larger districts which elect more than one representative would give minority parties more of a chance to obtains some representation. The majority Republicans did not find the idea to their liking. For more on the proposal, backed by many Libertarians, see the article in the Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51750699-90/districts-committee-democrats-utah.html.csp
For real change in the way things are done, get involved in the Libertarians Party, the only real alternative to the same old mess.

Loss of a great Libertarian

2011-03-25T13:44:06-04:00

I received a call this week that a long time supporter of the Libertarian Party, Pat Hunt, had passed away at age 90. There is a photo of Mrs. Hunt on my website at www.andrewmccullough.org, next to a large sign she had made herself to support me in a campaign for Utah Attorney General. She was active in the party through her 80's, and will be missed.

Since she was a dedicated supporter, we decided, in lieu of flowers, to ask our supporters to join us in donating to the Utah Libertarian Party, in her name, to continue and expand our efforts to bring freedom to Utah. Use the PayPal account on this page, or send in your contribution to the party PO Box. We have passed the $100 mark in the first couple of hours, and we hope to raise a meaningful sum of money to pay tribute to Pat and to help our candidates compete. We will be sending a note to her family to let them know of our tribute.

And don't forget that dues of $20 for the year are due by April 15, if you want to participate in our party convention in May.

Get involved

2011-03-21T02:33:02-04:00

At this time of year, I remind you that helping to build the Libertarian Party is as easy as finding the contribution box in the upper right corner of your Utah Income Tax form and inserting the letter "L" there. That gives us a $2.00 contibution, and does not increase your tax nor decrease your refund. And then tell a friend.

It is also important to remind you that our party cponvention will be on May 14. See the Calendar on this site for details. In order to particiapte fully in the convention, and to vote on officers and other matters of party business, you must pay your dues of $20 to the State party by April 15. Instructions for doing so are also on this site. If paying by mail, the postmark must be on or before the 15th. You may also pay by PayPal or bring the dues by the party office at 6885 S. State St. in Midvale. We get no money from the National party, and it is our job to keep the party on the ballot and to run candidates, so we need your support. Please get involved.

Many of you know that the Utah legislature passed a bill at the end of the session which makes it much harder for people to get information on what the government is doing. It has gotten national attention, and even legislators who voted for it have begun to think that it went too far. People from all parts of the poltical spectrum have banded together to petition for a referundum so the people can vote on this law before it goes into effect. It takes 100,000 signatures to get the referendum on the ballot, and it needs to be done quickly. We urge you to sign the petition and to go to www.saveGRAMA.org for more information. Help keep our government from keeping us in the dark.

If you value freedom, the Libertarian Party is the only political organization which consistently works to protect it. do something today to help.

Party Maintains Ballot Access for 2012

2010-11-22T17:46:07-05:00

The official Utah State canvass of votes was released today, November 22, 2010, showing that the Libertarian Party maintained ballot access for 2012 by 60 votes. Thanks to all those who helped pull this off. We now maintain the right to tax checkoff money from Utah Income Tax; and we do not have to petition to get our candidates on the next election ballot. I am please and relieved, though of course I am disappointed that it was so close.

We need more of you to get involved and stay involved so that we may do better in 2012, when several statewide races will be held. Please consider paying your dues, making another contribution, or volunteering to help with party work. We are looking for a State Secretary, who is responsible for communicating with our members and supporters, and with the elections office. He or she should be computer literate. Let me know if you are interested.

The two "major paries" do not represent the people adequately; and our party can and should be a force for change in the structure and direction of government. Help us be heard.

And thanks again for those who put us over the line. Yay!

Candidate profiles

2010-10-31T12:00:17-04:00

Welcome to those who are on this site to learn about our candidates. Many of them have their own websites, and the links are here on this home page. We ask for your support in our efforts to build out party.

For those who would like short candidate profiles, many Libertarian candidates are also featured on this week's Salt Lake Weekly webpage article on "third party" candidates. Please pass this on to your friends.

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/blog-4489-elections-2010-third-party-candidates.html

Thanks again to those who help spread our message of smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Election Day is coming

2010-09-29T00:25:21-04:00

This year there is a major election, and we are hard at work supporting our candidates in several major races. Our candidates need your support as well. We need people to put up signs, hang door hangers, pass out flyers, make phone calls, go to Meet the Candidate events; and of course, we need contributions. Please find a candidate to support on our list on this site and do something to help that candidate expand his or her campaign.

The biggest problem for Libertarians is that voters do not know we are there. Anything that can be done to expand public awareness will help the cause. Talk to your friends, make sure they are registered to vote, and let people know what we stand for.

Republicans say they are the party of smaller government; but then they tell us how to live our private lives. They give in to fear,and support government intrusions into our privacy. Democrats think that government programs are the answer to all questions; and they pile up massive spending that we cannot afford.

We are the real alternative, supporting real personal freedom, smaller government and lower taxes. If you are fed up with the one-party system that has ruled Utah for so long, and which includes people like Senator Buttars and Co., help us fight for change.

You have nothing to lose but your chains!

State Convention 2010

2010-04-24T23:20:56-04:00

Our annual state convention was held on April 24, 2010, and several candidates for public office were nominated. We will shortly have our candidate list, including links to their websites, up on the Home Page. We also have a new treasurer, and will shortly have a new secretary. Their names and links will also soon be up under "organization". Check back soon. for those who came and participated, and especially those who are running for office, we thank you for your support and confidence. In several races, Libertarian candidates assure the voters that there is a choice, where only one "major party" has fielded a candidate. In all races, our candidates make the choice a real one, rather than just a race between two people who are "just the same". Our candidates all support more freedom, smaller government and lower taxes, and that sets us apart from those who think only the government has an answer for all questions.

Annual Libertarian Party of Utah Convention on April 24, and Dues Notice

2010-03-02T23:20:46-05:00

Our annual State Convention will be held at the Salt Lake City Library, at 200 East and 400 South, on Saturday, April 24 at 2:30 PM. Party candidates will be ratified for public offices around the State. Come and meet your candidates. Other party business will also be conducted. Only dues paying members of the State Party will be allowed to vote for Party business; but all those who have signed our Party Pledge against the use of force to achieve political goals, can vote for candidates for public office. Dues must be paid, or the pledge signed, by March 25, one month in advance. Dues may be paid through our PayPal account. Dues and pledges may be sent by mail to the PO Box listed on this site -- see "Organization". All dues payments and pledges postmarked by March 25 will be counted. Dues are $20, and just $5.00 for students. Dues and pledges are good for one year from the date paid, so if you paid last year, yours may still be good. This does not include membership in the National Libertarian Party. For more information on joining the national party, see www.lp.org

We would like to see all those interested in the Libertarian Party at the convention.We may be having a group lunch before the meeting. See the "Calendar" for update on the place, but it will be in the area of the library.

The party has been growing, as many people are disenchanted with the two "major" parties. Come and find out about the alternatives.

PayPal Account is working

2009-12-02T21:43:42-05:00

After much time and effort, our Party PayPal account is working. This is an easy and quick way to pay your dues of $20 per year (good for one year from the date of payment) or to make a contribution to the effort to run effective Libertarian candidates for public office.

Also check out our expanded Links page. Watch for additional links soon.

Membership and dues

2009-09-05T16:34:41-04:00

Membership & Dues

Over the last several months, the Utah Libertarian Party has added hundreds of names to our e-mail list and our Facebook site. This is important, as it helps us expand the number of people who know about our party, and are interested in voting for us. As we get closer to next year’s election season, however, it is more important that ever to increase our membership base. For those of you who are not familiar with the membership situation, I will hopefully make it simpler than it seems.

For many years, someone who wanted to officially join the Libertarian Party paid dues at the national level, of $25.00. This entitled them to membership in both the national and state parties. Dues collected by the national party were shared with the local parties. For a few years, in the late 1900's and early 2000's, the party tried to abolish membership dues, and base its income on donations. It didn’t work, and the party went back to a membership dues format a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately for state parties, the dues paid to the national party are no longer shared. Those dues support the national office, and pay for a newspaper which is now published 6 times a year (formerly monthly). I would hope that many of you are national members, but national membership is really a separate matter from membership in the Libertarian Party of Utah.

The Libertarian Party of Utah is the organization that actually maintains our ballot spot, and finds and assists candidates for public office. We must get roughly 2% of the statewide vote for one of our candidates, in even numbered years, to maintain an automatic place on the ballot. The automatic place on the ballot also allows us to collect $2.00 donations directly from Utah State Income Tax Forms. While this is an important source of funds for us, it does not generate enough money to run the party or to actively support candidates. Therefore, we have a separate dues structure for members of the Utah Libertarian Party. Dues are $20.00 a year, or $5.00 for students. Our newsletters and access to our website are open to everyone who wishes to be kept current; but party membership is important if you want to really be involved. Party membership is necessary to vote on party officers, the party platform, and other party business. We ask that everyone interested in the Libertarian Party consider paying their dues. Information on how to do that can be found on our website at lputah.org. If you are a first time member, we ask that you fill out the membership form and sign the pledge. If you are renewing, we will not insist on you making out a new application. The pledge associated with membership is meant to remind everyone that we do not seek to spread our political philosophy by force. The very nature of Libertarianism is that people are free to choose as they may please.

The U.S. Constitution provides that someone can vote in both a general election and a primary election without paying a “poll tax” or membership dues. Therefore, our membership application has a separate spot for those who would like to vote for candidates for public office, at our conventions held in even numbered years, without paying dues. We have, in the past, referred to these peoples as “pledge signing members”. At the next convention, there will be a proposal to eliminate the confusion, by eliminating the classification of “pledge signing member”. Those signing the pledge and indicating they want to vote on our candidates for public office (whether they will appear on the ballot or not) may still do so. They are not, strictly speaking, members of the party. To us, it is very important that those who support the party become members, as that really is our chief source of money, and it identifies those who are willing to commit to being Libertarians.

A small party like ours has traditionally been unable to do much to support candidates for office. We are working hard, however, to increase our ability to make monetary contributions to candidates, as well as to give them volunteer and organizational support. If you consider yourself a Libertarian, and if you want to help the party grow and be heard, we need you to pay your dues and become an official member. Please consider doing so today, or give one of the party officers a call to get your questions answered, before committing. Thank you so much for your support. Without you, we can do nothing.

Fourth of July Blog

2009-07-04T17:57:24-04:00

See it on this page under "recent postings". No, I don't know why the Chair's blog is so well hidden; and we are trying to fix that. But now you know where to look.

Our annual party convention

2009-05-21T00:02:31-04:00

Our Libertarian Party of Utah annual convention was held at the Salt Lake downtown library on Saturday, May 16, from 11 AM to 1 PM. New officers were elected for the two year period until May, 2011. Next year, at about the same time, we will have our nominating convention, at which candidates for public office, including U.S. Senate and (probably) Utah Governor (special election) will be nominated. The following officers were re-elected: Andrew McCullough, Chair; Dylan McDonnell, Vice Chair; and Joe Buchman, Secretary. Welcome to our new Treasurer, Gene Bell, from Brigham City.

There is lots to do to help our party grow over the next year, before the next political campaign heats up. The campaign looks bigger than we expected, with the addition of the race for Governor; but this will give us an added chance to remain on the ballot be getting 2% of the statewide vote. Give some thought to what you can do to help us out next year.

And keep an eye on our calendar. The party has tended to be very quiet in past non-election years; but we have decided not to do that this year. Join us at Pride, at the summer baseball event, and at our regular social events in Salt Lake and Provo; and watch for new events in additional counties.

Big brother is watching us, whether in the guise of Democrats or Republicans. The State and nation need a real alternative, and we intend to work to give it to them.

State Convention on May 16; and Dues Notice

2009-04-11T15:17:22-04:00

Our annual State Convention will be held at the Salt Lake City Library, at 200 East and 400 South, on Saturday, May 16 at 11:00 AM. Officers of the Party will be elected for the next two years. Only dues paying members of the State Party will be allowed to vote for Party Officers. Dues must be paid by April 16, one month in advance. We do have a PayPal account, but we have had reports that this is not working well. So, the best way to pay is by mail to the PO Box listed on this site -- see "Organization". All dues payments postmarked by April 16 will be counted. Dues are $20, and are just $5.00 for students. Dues are good for one year from the date paid, so if you paid last year, yours may still be good. This does not include membership in the National Libertarian Party. For more information on joining the national party, see www.lp.org

We would like to see all those interested in the Libertarian Party at the convention, whether or not you can vote for officers. We will be having a group lunch afterward, at 1:00 PM. See the "Calendar" for update on the place, but it will be in the area of the library.

The party has been growing, as many people are disenchanted with the two "major" parties. Come and find out about the alternatives. And remember that there is a social in Provo on April 16 (where dues will be accepted) and in Salt Lake City on April 23. See calendar for details.

A growing party

2009-02-27T16:45:43-05:00

Last night, February 27, we had a great crowd of about 20 people at our Salt Lake social event. Several were from outside Salt Lake County. If you are interested in helping to host a group in another county, please let us know. We would also like to work on putting together formal party organizations in other counties. Let us know what you are willing to do. Help us grow even more. And rather than reprint it all here, please see my latest blog at www.andrewmccullough.blogspot.com