Liveblog: 2026 Libertarian National Convention May 21-25

Notes: Livestream from convention:

George Phillies of Third Party Watch is also liveblogging.

I’ll be providing updates from Grand Rapids on this Substack post throughout the weekend. Check back for details.

Saturday 5/23
9:55

Chair Debate has started

Jim Ostrowski wants party unity.

Jeremey Kaufmann says the party is controlled by leftist freaks.

Evan McMahon says we only have 6,000 active members in the national party and bringing in less than a million dollars (a year). Wants to change that.

Wes Benedict talk about his success in Texas and as former Executive Director of the LP.

Rob Yates gives an inspiring speech and when he mentions ICE killing people int he streets is interuptec by Jeremy Kaufmann and Yates jabs back something along the lines of “I’m surprised they let you out of your state” apparently refererring to Kaufmann’s recent arrest.

Kaufmann was booed and from the crowd and used the F slur which has interupted the entire debate and turned it into a circus.

Friday 5/22

3:35 - Bylaws proposal to move to ranked choice voting fails.

3:20 - Jeremy Kauffman, Chair of the New Hamphsire party is loudly booed by the convention body when asking question about the chair debate requirements.

We are now dicussing proposed bylaws changes.

3:00 -Creditenials has been accepted. Treasurer Bill Redpath has advised the LNC audit committee report is available. Linked here.

2:45-We are back to business Ammon Bundy speech. A Texas delegate inadvertently was kept off and the body added back. Delegation is now voting on D.C. Delegation and adding an alternate from Arkansas as a delegate for Oklahoma.

12:00 We are adjourned for lunch until 2:00

11:45 - Credentials fight has been heated which is often common at these conventions.

11:00- The party has setup a livestream.

The convention has started. Pat Ford gave an introduction and Chair Nekhila is now speaking about his accomplishments and the state of the party.

Also, I'm running for judicial committee and you can sign my petition at the Arkansas table to get me considered.

Thursday 5/21

7:38 a.m. - We cut the trip in half and will be leaving from Illinois to Grand Rapids this morning.

Ran into Kevin Litten last night at the reception. Kevin is responsible for me being involved in the Libertarian Party during his 2006 run for Iowa Governor.