Illinois Libertarians select party slate for state offices

BLOOMINGTON (Heartland Newsfeed) — A year-long campaign season to earn the Libertarian Party of Illinois nod ended Saturday, as more than 120 voting members of the party met at the Parke Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington for their annual convention.

Representing the top of the ticket is Kash Jackson, a retired 20-year Navy veteran, father and activist from Antioch who wants to restore freedom to the state of Illinois. Jackson barely missed out of securing the nomination by four votes in the first round of voting, earning 60 of 126 credentialed members. Challengers Jon Alan Stewart of Deerfield and Matthew C. Scaro of Chicago secured 41 and 24 votes respectively. One member voted for None of the Above (NOTA), which is always an option. Scaro would be eliminated from the nomination race per convention voting rules. 64 votes was the benchmark based on the majority voting rules of 50% plus one vote. Neither Jackson nor Stewart secured the nomination in the second round of voting, after a total of 60 votes apiece out of 123 credentialed members. One member voted for NOTA and two members left the room without voting. 62 votes were required for a majority vote. Jackson would secure the party nomination in the third round of voting, securing 65 votes out of 126 credentialed members. Stewart received 56 votes. Four members voted for NOTA and one member abstained from voting. Stewart made a passionate concession speech and Jackson would make his victory speech soon afterward. 64 votes were required for a majority vote. “My goal is to hold those in power accountable. I want to unite that which has been divided. I want to stitch back together this state with that thread of liberty which our forefathers gave us. I’ll strive to show the country and the world that Illinois is not merely a failed state,” he said.

Joining Jackson at the top of the ticket is Sanj Mohip of Chicago, who received the lieutenant governor nomination in a landslide first-round vote over David Earl Williams III, also from Chicago, 89 votes to 25 out of 122 credentialed members. Eight members voted NOTA. Williams and Mohip would deliver their respective speeches. Mohip stated that he would aim to push the governor’s agenda and “help make Illinois a freer state.” “We need smaller, more efficient government and less regulation. I’d like to see non-violent drug offenders be pardoned for their crimes,” said Mohip. “Libertarianism is a philosophy. It’s about more personal and economic freedom paired with government’s role in protecting those freedoms.” Bubba Harsy of DuQuoin, Steve Dutner of Elgin, Claire Ball of Addison and Mike Leheney of Bourbonnais were all confirmed via voice vote for their respective races for attorney general, secretary of state, state comptroller and state treasurer. For more information on the candidates, you can check them out on the Libertarian Party of Illinois website.