FW: LP Colorado Board Denounces "Liberty Pledge"

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From: Keith Thompson <keith.t...@lp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 3:06:16 PM (UTC+00:00) Monrovia, Reykjavik
To: lnc-public_forward <lnc-publi...@lp.org>
Cc: Entire LNC <entir...@lp.org>
Subject: LP Colorado Board Denounces "Liberty Pledge"

Good morning,

As some may recall, the previous LPCO board (recognized by multiple people in the Party as legitimate) enacted a policy whereby they would soft-endorse old-Party candidates by agreeing to withdraw from certain races. 

I am happy to see the new libertarian LPCO board has nullified and denounced the anti-Libertarian policy of supporting our political opposition.

Our National bylaws clearly define our purposes, and first among them is "functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements." Supporting old-party candidates, be they Democrats, Republicans, or others, clearly violates this core purpose. 

It is good to see affiliates righting themselves after a period of struggle. Hopefully we'll see others coming around as well.

In Liberty,

Keith Thompson

Representative, Region 3 South

Libertarian Party of Colorado Denounces and Nullifies “Liberty Pledge” The recently elected State Board of the Libertarian Party of Colorado has formally denounced and nullified the so-called “Liberty Pledge,” following a vote taken during its Monday evening meeting. During the 2024 election cycle, the Liberty Pledge was used by the previous Libertarian Party leadership as a mechanism to support Republican candidates who were claimed to hold “libertarian-leaning” views. In several races, the Libertarian Party leadership showed support for Republican candidates who signed the Liberty Pledge. The current State Board determined that the Liberty Pledge conflicts with the Libertarian Party of Colorado’s bylaws, which were adopted by party members. Those bylaws explicitly state that the Party and its Board may endorse only Libertarian Party nominees for partisan public office. According to Chair Keith Laube, the underlying assumption of the Liberty Pledge—that Libertarian voters would automatically support Republican candidates in the absence of a Libertarian option—is fundamentally flawed. “Many Libertarian voters choose not to vote in races where there is no Libertarian candidate,” said Laube. “When they do vote, they are more likely to support another minor party candidate than a Republican. Libertarians should not be denied a Libertarian choice by their own leadership.” Laube further emphasized that Libertarians are not aligned with either major political party. “The notion that Libertarians are Republicans is simply not true,” he said. “Libertarians are strong defenders of personal liberty and equal rights for all adults. The Libertarian Party has long supported the LGBTQ community, immigrants, and marriage equality—positions that the Republican Party has historically opposed.” He added, “Libertarians believe in non-intervention abroad, staying out of unnecessary wars, and maintaining a government that is accountable to its citizens. The current Republican administration’s actions—including deploying ICE and masked military police into communities and intimidating schools—are unacceptable to Libertarians.” The Libertarian Party of Colorado reaffirmed its commitment to running and supporting Libertarian candidates and providing voters with a genuine alternative to the two-party system.

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From: Andrew Watkins <andrew....@lp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 4:35:07 PM (UTC+00:00) Monrovia, Reykjavik
To: Keith Thompson <keith.t...@lp.org>; lnc-public_forward <lnc-publi...@lp.org>
Cc: Entire LNC <entir...@lp.org>
Subject: Re: LP Colorado Board Denounces "Liberty Pledge"

I’m so relieved that we are exercising our right to praise and condemn things. That's what's important. Forget actually doing anything of value.

Andrew Watkins

At Large | Libertarian National Committee

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From: Keith Thompson <keith.t...@lp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 10:06:16 AM

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From: Keith Thompson <keith.t...@lp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 5:07:46 PM (UTC+00:00) Monrovia, Reykjavik
To: Andrew Watkins <andrew....@lp.org>; lnc-public_forward <lnc-publi...@lp.org>

Cc: Entire LNC <entir...@lp.org>
Subject: Re: LP Colorado Board Denounces "Liberty Pledge"

This is of value. This is about returning to our shared core principles and the purpose for which this Party was founded.

Some LNC members this term have suggested that we shouldn't run candidates against so-called "Liberty Republicans." One was wearing a MAGA hat during the previous in-person meeting while making arguments against seeking ballot access.

One of our affiliates in the last Presidential cycle outright endorsed President Trump.

Others conspired to undermine the Party's Libertarian Presidential nominee. 

The joint fundraising committee, which many of you supported and in which some of you participated, existed to help RFK Jr. raise money in excess of what he otherwise could have, so that he could, in turn, aid in Trump's reelection. 

Even the former National LP Chair admitted she was supporting President Trump's re-election. 

Some in Party leadership did their best to help President Trump get re-elected, and we're all now paying the price for that betrayal.

The new LPCO board is acknowledging the mistakes of their former leadership - that is something to celebrate. 

We need that if we're to take the Party in a better direction, if we're to offer meaningful change and not, ourselves, fall to the mentality of endorsing the lesser (or greater) evil.

The Libertarian Party exists to be a political entity separate and distinct from all other political movements.

Making deals with the old parties to not run candidates, or Lord forbid, outright endorsing them, is at fundamental conflict with this key purpose.

Celebrating a return to this baseline, core purpose is of value. 

Unmaking the corruption of last year's betrayals is of value.

Proudly saying the Libertarian Party should support Libertarian candidates is of value.

The Libertarian Party should be a beacon of hope, a bedrock of principle - not a worthless collection of sellouts hoping to suck up to one old party or the other. 

It's good to see the Party of principle returning to principle.

Keith Thompson

Region 3 South Rep

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From: Andrew Watkins <andrew....@lp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 10:35 AM

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From: Austin Martin <austin...@lp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 6:06:42 PM (UTC+00:00) Monrovia, Reykjavik
To: Keith Thompson <keith.t...@lp.org>; Andrew Watkins <andrew....@lp.org>; lnc-public_forward <lnc-publi...@lp.org>

Cc: Entire LNC <entir...@lp.org>
Subject: Re: LP Colorado Board Denounces "Liberty Pledge"

Dear colleagues, 

I plan on saying more about this. 

Tactical retardation is not a virtue signal. 

Without a majority, we cannot forego making deals. 

Grow up, kids. 

Join the fight and support the removal of Antifa from the LP by donating at the link below:

Lp.org/martindonor 

Ua may ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono

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From: Keith Thompson <keith.t...@lp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 7:07:46 AM