Libertarians Standing Tall As Largest Third-Party In New Jersey

If you think the deck is stacked fairly when it comes to party politics in the Garden State, think again, according to the New Jersey Libertarian Party (NJLP).

It may seem anachronistic, but until as recently as 2001, New Jersey voters weren’t allowed to register with third-parties. To this day, third-parties are still prohibited from holding primaries or occupying the first two columns on the general election ballot. And as of May 2018, there were only two officially recognized political parties in the Garden State: the Democrats and Republicans.

But the times are changing… and people are ready for a new option, the NJLP says.

Earlier this week, the NJLP announced that it reached a major milestone, becoming the first third-party in state history to reach 10,000 registered voters. According to state election data, as of July 31, the Libertarians have 10,174 registered voters in New Jersey. The party is strongest in Bergen County (960 voters), Middlesex County (852) and Monmouth County (830).

There were 2,346,178 unaffiliated voters registered statewide. Other party totals include:

• Democratic Party – 2,187,928
• Republican Party – 1,272,306
• New Jersey Conservative Party – 8,447
• Constitution Party – 8,288
• Green Party – 6,619
• Socialist Party of New Jersey - 3,629
• Natural Law Party - 3,287
• Reform Party of New Jersey – 1,000

According to Ballotpedia, here’s what a political party in New Jersey must do to be officially recognized by the state and allowed to nominate candidates in primary elections:

“In order to qualify as a certified political party in New Jersey, candidates having the same designation in a general election for all members of the New Jersey General Assembly must receive 10 percent of the total number of votes cast in the state.”

Former NJLP Chair Patrick McKnight told Patch that the 10,000-voter milestone was important because it shows that voters are losing faith in the two-party system.

“New Jersey citizens want lower taxes, an end to corporate bailouts, and greater protection of civil liberties,” McKnight said. “We are the only political party in the state representing these interests.”

According to McKnight:

“Many voters are so frustrated with the corruption in New Jersey politics they're leaving the state. We are working hard to address the real problems confronting our communities so our families can have a better, more prosperous future. We're all volunteers and we don't receive any corporate donations. We're working tirelessly for the liberty of all people, regardless of race, class, gender, or religion. We want freedom for all people simply because they're human beings.”

The NJLP candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018, Murray Sabrin, said that another top priority of the party is to “stop the endless wars that are putting our soldiers in harm ways in countries that are not a threat to the American people.”

"People are looking for an alternative to the Republicans and the Democrats, who are both responsible for out of control federal spending, massive budget deficits, endless wars and massive spying on U.S. citizens,” Sabrin previously told Patch. “They are tired of the corruption of career politicians and Wall Street insiders. People are frustrated because they correctly understand the government is working against them, instead of protecting their rights."

• See related article: NJ Senate Candidates Name Their Favorite Drink… And Answer 2 More Important Questions

Maria Bell, the current chair of the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Northern Region, summed up the party’s evolution in a June blog post:

“I think we are all in agreement that New Jersey has changed markedly in the last ten years. As an immigration gateway, our state sees a regular dynamic shift that makes defining who and what New Jersey is difficult. Our personal stories and memories may no longer be relevant. As a transplant to NJ, I can identify with the goals and challenges of an immigrant from an even more alien landscape. I was looking for progressive work options as do many others that come here. Physical safety, inflationary protection and political freedom were not significant concepts on my own note but are common among the reasons given as to why America is attractive. Finding a place to call home, a ‘comfort zone,’ has led to ethnic pockets within our communities. The downside to this grouping is isolation – discovering the diversity of American life is undercut.

“The political ramifications of this social closure must be considered in how our party markets itself. The approach must be flexible to find communal perspectives but also reflect how we are different. The promises of our Constitution are not well understood and many immigrants come from places where their federal documents espouse a much different worldview. Socialism, corruption, tribal structures, and more form at least part of the thought framework as one adapts to life here.

“The challenge facing the Libertarian Party is how to convince such a person not to wish for the ideal version of what was left behind but to desire real freedom, those ideas of our Constitution that discuss self-determination. Language and easy political promises of safety and social security are our obstacles when we speak of self-reliance and personal responsibility. Everyone likes to feel empowered but looking away from a central authority for those choices often means introducing foreign ideas.

“I feel our best approach is to cultivate and maintain a continuous mainstream media presence. Addressing issues important to a community grouping, and tying the answer back to our party’s model, will provide common ground for discussion. The goal is to create awareness that Libertarianism is a true option in New Jersey – that there is a philosophical core, fellowship and political alternatives worthy of pursuit.”

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Photo: New Jersey Libertarian Party, used with permission