The Libertarian Party of Florida is growing. Along with the party’s growth comes the first time the party has a statewide primary ballot, due to two Libertarian candidates running for the United States Senate seat.

  • Candidates Paul Stanton, Augustus Invictus vying for vote
  • Party has roughly 3,000 more registered voters in Florida than in 2014

This primary election, Libertarians across the state will decide who will be the party’s candidate in the Senate race, computer programmer and war veteran Paul Stanton or attorney Augustus Invictus.

Libertarian Party of Florida chairperson Char-Lez Braden said people are joining the Libertarian party because they're tired of the status quo.

“They’re sick and tired of the business as usual that [they]’ve seen all over the country, not just in Washington, but in Tallahassee, and even at the county levels. And they know it doesn’t have to be that way,” said Braden.

The party has around 25,000 registered voters in Florida, up 3,000 from 2014, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
 
Florida Southern College’s Political Science Chair Bruce Anderson doesn’t find the increase in Libertarian voters surprising.

“I think that most of the people that are making this kind of choice are either disaffected Democrats who are not happy with Hillary Clinton and were Bernie Sanders supporters," said Anderson. "Or, and I think that this is the vast majority, are people that backed other candidates in the top of the ticket in the Republican Party and are looking for a way not to back Hillary, but at the same time, to not vote for Donald Trump."

Join us for exclusive coverage of the primary election starting at 5 p.m. on August 30. We will be live all night bringing you up-to-the-minute election results, reaction from local and state candidates, and expert analysis from our political analysts. Our reporters will be live from around the local area and the state throughout the night. We are the only source for extended primary night coverage that gives you the results and provides perspective as to how the results affect you. Mark your calendars to watch us on TV or on the BHTV app August 30.