With 50 candidates filing for the 2018 elections by yesterday’s deadline, the Libertarian Party of North Carolina (LPNC) has assembled one of its strongest slates ever to give North Carolina voters a real choice in county, state, and federal elections. This year’s slate includes the party’s first-ever primary contests for the U.S. House of Representatives, the state legislature, and local sheriff’s offices.

The LPNC’s growing presence on the campaign trail reflects its growing presence in the state. Solid showings in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 gubernatorial races secured the LPNC stable ballot access on an equal footing with the major parties. With registration on the rise, the party has an energized and active pool of talent.

Among the highlights of this year’s candidate turnout:

• Libertarians, who make up fewer than 1 percent of the state’s voters, have fielded candidates for 21 percent of the General Assembly (NCGA).
• Wake County is a focal point of the LPNC slate, with a record 16 candidates -- one for county commissioner and 15 for the NCGA.

Across the state, the LPNC is fielding:

• Six Congressional candidates in five contests
• 21 North Carolina House of Representatives candidates
• 15 North Carolina Senate candidates in 14 contests 
• Four sheriff candidates in two counties
• Four county commissioner candidates

“The people of North Carolina deserve real choices in the voting booth, and we have an amazing group of people who have made the commitment to serve,” said LPNC State Chair Susan Hogarth. “In an environment dominated by political expediency, the growing energy in the LPNC tells us people want something more. Our platform of liberty and reason is the principled alternative to business-as-usual machine politics. Each of our candidates brings a perspective that’s sorely missing.”

A list of 2018 LIbertarian candidates for North Carolina offices is appended below.

Follow the @LPNC on Twitter, like @LPofNC on Facebook, and keep up with news from the party at www.lpnc.org.

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2018 North Carolina Libertarian candidates

US House Of Representatives District 02 Jeff Matemu
*US House Of Representatives District 04 Barbara Howe
*US House Of Representatives District 04 Perry Whitlock
US House Of Representatives District 09 Jeff Scott
US House Of Representatives District 11 Clifton B. Ingram, Jr.
US House Of Representatives District 13 Tom Bailey
NC Senate District 02 Tim Harris
NC Senate District 04 Jesse Shearin
*NC Senate District 08 Randolph W (Randy) Crow
*NC Senate District 08 Anthony H. Mascolo
NC Senate District 09 Ethan Bickley
NC Senate District 14 Richard Haygood
NC Senate District 15 Brian Lewis
NC Senate District 16 Brian Irving
NC Senate District 17 Bruce Basson
NC Senate District 18 Brad Hessel
NC Senate District 20 Jared Erickson
NC Senate District 22 Ray Ubinger
NC Senate District 30 R. Michael Jordan
NC Senate District 43 Mitchell D. Bridges
NC Senate District 49 William Meredith
NC House Of Representatives District 003 T. Lee Horne, Iii
NC House Of Representatives District 011 Travis Groo
NC House Of Representatives District 018 Joseph D. Sharp
NC House Of Representatives District 019 David Perry
NC House Of Representatives District 025 Nick Taylor
NC House Of Representatives District 028 Walt Rabon
NC House Of Representatives District 030 Matthew Wagoner
NC House Of Representatives District 031 Erik Raudsep
NC House Of Representatives District 034 Cap Hayes
NC House Of Representatives District 035 Michael Nelson
NC House Of Representatives District 036 Robyn Haley Pegram
NC House Of Representatives District 037 Guy Meilleur
NC House Of Representatives District 038 Bobby Yates Emory
NC House Of Representatives District 040 David Ulmer
NC House Of Representatives District 041 Liam Leaver
NC House Of Representatives District 049 Jonathan Horst
NC House Of Representatives District 056 Matthew P. Clements
NC House Of Representatives District 065 Houston Barrow

NC House Of Representatives District 067 Michael Finn
NC House Of Representatives District 091 Steve Brenneis
Alleghany County Board Of Commissioners John Goudreau
Cabarrus County Board Of Commissioners Thomas Hill
Perquimans County Board Of Commissioners Alan Lennon
Wake County Board Of Commissioners District 1 Tim Jowers
*Buncombe County Sheriff Tracey Debruhl
*Buncombe County Sheriff Michael Morgan
*Randolph County Sheriff Adam Brooks
*Randolph County Sheriff Eric Hicks

*Primary May 8