List of Liberty-minded Candidates for US Congress

[Crotale]

That can be a problem, because there are many differing opinions on what defines a liberty-minded candidate and what does not. One only needs to take a look at Rand is criticized at times on this forum to see that some folks have a certain standard they hold everyone up to. If we go down a road of absolutism we will be no more effective than the LP or CP folks are.

That's the reason I like the RLC because they have some standard principles that all their members agree to, but the means by which those goals are accomplished can be different.

Perhaps it would be best to just post their position on each issue and allow people to decide for themselves?

 

[tbone717]

Perhaps it would be best to just post their position on each issue and allow people to decide for themselves?

Agreed, but even that is difficult. Probably best to have people nominated by forum members, RLC list, other groups that we support and let people make up their own minds based on the states. Viability would help too, hate to see folks dump cash into a candidate that is an extreme longshot when the race next door is winable.

 

[1836]

A key question in all this is, "can someone be a liberty candidate and yet have some disagreements on foreign policy?" I would tend to say "yes" with reservations, for example, I would expect a liberty candidate to demand a declaration of war, to stand up for civil liberties, etc. But if someone disagreed on American presence abroad but were right on everything else, for the sake of getting our domestic house in order, they might be worth supporting.

Jeff Flake is a great example. He'd be awesome to have in the Senate. A Washington Post analysis from last year showed him disagreeing with the majority in the House like 25% of the time. More than almost anyone but Amash and Ron Paul, actually. He is a liberty candidate who also charms Republican mainstream folks, and he disagrees with us on foreign policy in some significant ways. But I would rather have him in the Senate than any of his opponents.

 

[tbone717]

A key question in all this is, "can someone be a liberty candidate and yet have some disagreements on foreign policy?" I would tend to say "yes" with reservations, for example, I would expect a liberty candidate to demand a declaration of war, to stand up for civil liberties, etc. But if someone disagreed on American presence abroad but were right on everything else, for the sake of getting our domestic house in order, they might be worth supporting.

Jeff Flake is a great example. He'd be awesome to have in the Senate. A Washington Post analysis from last year showed him disagreeing with the majority in the House like 25% of the time. More than almost anyone but Amash and Ron Paul, actually. He is a liberty candidate who also charms Republican mainstream folks, and he disagrees with us on foreign policy in some significant ways. But I would rather have him in the Senate than any of his opponents.

My feelings exactly. He voted for the Patriot Act originally, but then in later years worked with Paul I believe to strip it of some of its provisions.

 

[Paul Or Nothing II]

+1

I think this one of the best threads on here, great work, we need to have the "Pincers Strategy" from bottom up as well as top down so yes, Congress, Senate, local state legislatures, this is how we OWN the system, others own it with money, we own it with feet on the ground & dedication, money will come too as the number of liberty-people increases

 

[matt0611]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I added the ones you've recommended.

 

[matt0611]

Perhaps it would be best to just post their position on each issue and allow people to decide for themselves?

Yep, that's why I posted their websites for people to look through themselves.

Every one can make their own judgement to which one deserves your support.

Even if I did personally vet every candidate thoroughly people would probably still disagree with me on who we should support.

 

[jolynna]

Indiana Senate:

Mourdock vs Lugar on the issues: http://www.richardmourdock.com/lugar-vs-mourdock

Plus Lugar voted for NDAA. I have an e-mail from Mourdock saying he would have voted against NDAA.

 

[matt0611]

Indiana Senate:

Mourdock vs Lugar on the issues: http://www.richardmourdock.com/lugar-vs-mourdock

Plus Lugar voted for NDAA. I have an e-mail from Mourdock saying he would have voted against NDAA.

I have him in my original post, but thanks!

I like Mourdock, he seems a very sharp and a big step up compared to Lugar. Here's an interview he did with Peter Schiff not too long ago:

 

[Crotale]

I have gone through the platform of all the candidates and given a score out of ten based on how true the candidate is to a "Ron Paul Republican". The higher the mark, the closer the candidate's policy proposals to Ron Paul's. That is my knowledge of Ron Paul's views from reading Revolution: A Manifesto, End the Fed, Liberty Defined and A Foreign Policy of Freedom. I haven't read The Case for Gold, however, I know Ron Paul supports the gold standard and I am well-read in the Austrian perspective.

I am not taking candidates' personal views on abortion into account (provided the candidate supports the states' rights to decide as in the constitution), as this is a conentious issue for libertarians and isn't the be all and end all. I have ignored by own views (I'm ancap myself) in making this list, I'm only judging it against Ron Paul's stance on the issues. I don't know anything about the candidates' backgrounds, track record or character. The rating is soley based on the positions listed on their campaign site.

[US House
----------------------------------
California

Gary Clift (R) CA-3

8/10

John Dennis (R) CA-8

9.5/10

Jenny Worman (R) CA-28

6/10

Christopher David (R) CA-33

7/10

Colorado

Tisha Casida (I) CO-3

9.5/10

Florida

Calen Fretts (L) FL-1

8/10

Indiana

Kristi Risk (R) IN-8

7/10

Kentucky

Thomas Massie (R) KY-4

7/10

Maryland

Peter James (R) MD-6

7/10

Gus Alzona (R) MD-8

7/10

Michigan

Justin Amash (R-incumbent) MI-3

Website isn't working.

Kerry Bentivolio (R) MI-11

7.5/10

Missouri

Jason Greene (R) MO-5

8.5/10

Bob Parker (R) MO-8

7/10

New York

Dan O'Connor (D) NY-12

8/10

North Carolina

Dan Eichenbaum (R) NC-11

Couldn't access website.

North Dakota

Kevin Cramer (R)

0/10. Supports (and endorsed) Rick Santorum over Ron Paul.

Eric Olson (L)

Issues not up on website yet.

Ohio

Richard Ehrbar (L) OH-3

Website not live yet.

Bill Yarbrough (R) OH-12

9/10

Oregon

Art Robinson (R) OR-4

8.5/10

Pennsylvania

Mike Koffenberger (L) PA-4

7.5/10

Evan Feinberg (R) PA-18

8/10. Endorsed by Rand Paul.

Texas

Patrick Hisel (L) TX-12

10/10

George Harper (R) TX-14

9.5/10

Sheriff Richard Mack (R) TX-21

9/10

Steve Susman (L) TX-22

Can't locate his platform on his website.

Wes Riddle (R) TX-25

7/10

Bill Tofte (R) TX-34

8.5/10

Michael Cole (L) TX-36

8/10

Utah

Jacqueline Smith (R) UT-1

8.5/10

Mia Love (R) UT-4

5/10. Background research throws up a lot of questions.

Virginia

Karen Kwiatowski (R) VA-6

10/10. Absolute perfection.

Ken Vaughn (R) VA-11

6.5/10

Washington

Bob Sauerwein (R) WA-6

Site offline.

I'll do Senate candidates some other time, it's taken hours to vet all the congressional candidates so far.

 

[Crotale]

Stand out candidate is Karen Kwiatowski. She is perfect. Neat website too.

Steer WELL CLEAR of Kevin Cramer, he endorsed Frothy over Ron Paul. His platform is not something liberty-minded people should get behind.

Matt, do you want to update the OP with my ratings?

 

[Crotale]

By the way, that vetting process took me bloody ages so I expect lots of +rep for my trouble.

 

[LostNFoundNTx]

Sheriff Richard Mack is running against Lamar Smith in TX-21, primary proponent of SOPA. I'd be voting for him if I wasn't stuck in TX-20 just west of it.

 

[harikaried]

I have gone through the platform of all the candidates and given a score out of ten based on how true the candidate is to a "Ron Paul Republican". The higher the mark, the closer the candidate's policy proposals to Ron Paul's. That is my knowledge of Ron Paul's views from reading Revolution: A Manifesto, End the Fed, Liberty Defined and A Foreign Policy of Freedom. I haven't read The Case for Gold, however, I know Ron Paul supports the gold standard and I am well-read in the Austrian perspective.

Curious, do candidates start at 10 or 0 or it's just an overall estimate? Could you break down a candidate, say John Dennis and how he didn't get 10? Or additionally point out what's needed for a perfect 10?

 

[Crotale]

Curious, do candidates start at 10 or 0 or it's just an overall estimate? Could you break down a candidate, say John Dennis and how he didn't get 10? Or additionally point out what's needed for a perfect 10?

It's an overall assessment. If they propose something that contradicts with Ron Paul's views their score goes down. Likewise, if their platform is lacking a fundemental issue for liberty, they lose marks. For instance, if I can't find any mention of auditing the fed, a constitutional foreign policy and lower taxes/balanced budgets, then they won't score as high.

As for John Dennis, he was perfect in pretty much all areas, apart from I couldn't find too much about civil liberties (e.g. legalising drugs, opposing the TSA, repealing NDAA, repealing all gun control legislation. He's one of the best though, without a doubt.

 

[jeremiahj13]

Mark Neumann of Wisconsin Supports the Afghanistan/Anti-Terror wars.

 

[BuddyRey]

Don't we have anyone to run for Sue Myrick's House seat here in NC-9? She's an electoral power house, but she's decided not to seek reelection. It's a perfect opportunity!

 

[Wooden Indian]

+rep for both of you. I was just suggesting somethng like this yesterday. GREAT JOB!!

 

[tbone717]

Don't we have anyone to run for Sue Myrick's House seat here in NC-9? She's an electoral power house, but she's decided not to seek reelection. It's a perfect opportunity!

There are a ton running in the primary. Copy and pasted from ballotpedia

Dan Barry: Mayor pro tem of Weddington[20]
Andy Dulin: Charlotte councilman[21]
Jim Pendergraph: Former sheriff, ICE Executive Director of State and Local Coordination [22]
Robert Pittenger: Former state senator[23]
Michael Steinberg, North Carolina: Businessman[24]
Michael Shaffer: Real estate broker
Jon Gauthier [25]
Edwin Peacock: former councilman[26]
Ric Killian: State Rep. [27]
Ken Leonczyk: Christian pastor and evangelist[28]

 

[matt0611]

Mark Neumann of Wisconsin Supports the Afghanistan/Anti-Terror wars.

Well, I think Rand endorsed him. Almost no one is going to be perfect unfortunately :/

Getting a good candidate for the senate that can actually win is a lot harder than a representative.