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Libertarians Submit Signatures for Senate and Governor

Room for one more?

Sen. Bob Casey’s and Gov. Tom Wolf’s reelection bids are well underway against challengers Lou Barletta and Scott Wagner. The two campaigns have traded jabs for the past several months and will only pick up as we get closer to November. Now a third candidate is ready to enter the fray in both races.

Dale Kerns, Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, has announced that its campaign has filed approximately 11,000 signatures. Ken Krawchuk, Libertarian candidate for Gov. has also filed more than 10,000 signatures.  

For Kerns, this is his first go-round for the U.S. Senate.

Krawchuk? His third bid for the Governors seat. He ran in 2002 and received 1.14% of the vote and ran in 1998 and tallied 1.11%.

The minimum required signatures needed to get on the November ballot is 5,000 by August 1. Anyone who wants to challenge their signatures has until August 8.

Both Libertarian candidates filed more than twice the amount needed to get on the ballot.

In 2016, Toomey brought in 48.8% of the vote with McGinty collecting 47.3%. The Libertarian candidate, Edward Clifford, brought in over 235,000 votes making his total 3.9%. Trump tallied 48.2% of the vote in Pennsylvania with Clinton taking 47.5%, and the Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson delivering 2.4%.   

Kerns’ stances on the issues include opposing tariffs, “which are just a tax on consumers”, passing a balanced budget, “no-compromise” on the 2nd amendment, auditing the Federal Reserve, fighting the opioid epidemic with a “Addiction is Not a Crime” bill, abolishing the Department of Education, bringing back “War Powers” to Congress, and abolishing property taxes.

Krawchuk wants to veto all tax increases, aggressively use the line item veto, phase out the personal income tax, abolish property taxes, “end the state monopoly on education,” eliminate parole for violent criminals, pardon all non-violent drug offenders, “defuse” the abortion debate, decriminalize marijuana, defend the right to keep and bear arms, support “all varieties” of marriage, and reform the “costly welfare state.”

Kerns, a construction worker, also pledged if elected he will sign the Americans for tax Reform Pledge and not vote for any tax increase, won’t take a pension, won’t take the healthcare, will not run for another term, and will implement a “citizens committee to advise on policies and oversee government”.  

Krawchuk most recently ran in 2012 as the Libertarian candidate for State Representative in the 153rd District of Abington and Rockledge.

It is the first campaign cycle under ballot access measures adopted in February. Third-party candidates and independents this year are required to submit 5,000 signatures. Previously the required number changed every year: 2 percent of the top vote-getter in the previous election. The disparity has long been a source of frustration, and several individuals and parties sued the state in 2012. PA agreed to relax the threshold as part of a federal lawsuit settlement.

The number is still higher than is required for Democrats or Republicans.

“We were required to file by law a minimum of 5,000 signatures by law, Bob Casey and Lou Barletta only were required to file 2,000,” Kerns said. “Our 11,000 signatures with at least 1 signature in every county shows our commitment to campaign all across Pennsylvania and the relentless pursuit of our volunteers.”

Krawchuk stressed the need of electing a Libertarian to a statewide office while focusing on two specific themes.

“This is a great day for the taxpayers of Pennsylvania,” he said. “With the cost of government rising at an average of three times the rate of inflation for over 50 years, it’s long past time for a Libertarian Governor.  And with all the needless deaths that are happening across the state—whether from the opioid crisis, or at the hands of the police, or just regular people who fall through the safety net— compassion calls out for a Libertarian Governor.  Taken together, that’s why the theme of this campaign is Death and Taxes.  My goal as Governor is to reduce both dramatically.”

Updated with comment from Krawchuk’s campaign.

11 Responses

  1. If anything in politics the more “challengers” to an incumbent the better it is for the incumbent. Since, it appears Libertarians seems to draw more Republican votes this is good for Wolf and not so good for Wagner. It seems Scott Wagner’s candidacy is coming off the rails.

    1. Wagner will hopefully go the way of Ivan Itkin, laughed off the stage and never heard from again.

      1. Ivan Itkin wasn’t a horrible person whereas Wagner is. I agree – hopefully a 15 point loss will end Wagner’s political career.

  2. This is refreshing. I am glad to see you reporting on Libertarians. We need a variety of reporting instead of the watered down 2 party stuff we are custom to viewing.

      1. What about any of their policy positions would make you call them “nitwits”? It just seems very demeaning and elitest. It seems like both of their policy positions seem very positive for the people of Pennsylvania. If anything have a viable 3rd party in the race will at least hold the other parties feet to the fire. I have no doubt that both of these men would hold true to their promises and not just be the typical corrupt R or D. Maybe next time you look into things before being so dismissive of peoples views

    1. Not only the Libs, but the Greens will coming in with both, plus a Lt Gov. Awesome for PA to have choices, to keep the corporate parties on their toes, at least a little.

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