John Hospers, first Libertarian presidential candidate, dead at 93

[tpfkaw]

John Hospers, who was the first Libertarian Party presidential candidate, died on June 12 at the age of 93.  Though he only received 3,674 votes, representing an obscure party and only on the ballot in 2 states, the electoral vote that he received from Roger MacBride meant that the Libertarian Party gained national exposure and fame, allowing it to gain ballot status in 32 states and receive nearly 50 times as many votes in 1976, with MacBride as their candidate.  Democrats can thus thank Hospers (and MacBride) for many elections that have since been tilted in their favor by the presence of a Libertarian Party candidate.

Hospers' electoral vote is still the only one received by an openly gay man, and the one received by his running mate, Tonie Nathan, was the first to ever be received by a woman on a presidential ticket.  I admit that I am not such a big fan of Hospers - he later left the Libertarians to rejoin the Republicans, and became a bit of a war hawk and an eco-nut, but it is still sad to see the end of a little piece of libertarian history.  Rest in peace.

[Phony Moderate]

RIP John Hospers.

[Lambsbread]

RIP John Hospers.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The last third party candidate to receive an electoral vote (discounting faithless electors votes for Reagan in 1976, Bentsen in 1988 and Edwards in 2004).

RIP.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

That's certainly unfortunate. RIP John Hospers.

The last third party candidate to receive an electoral vote (discounting faithless electors votes for Reagan in 1976, Bentsen in 1988 and Edwards in 2004).

RIP.

Well, Hospers' electoral vote was from a faithless elector, too. Still, the last third party candidate to recieve the vote of a faithless elector, and the last third party recipient of an electoral vote of any kind.

[UpcomingYouthvoter]

RIP John Hospers.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

That's certainly unfortunate. RIP John Hospers.

The last third party candidate to receive an electoral vote (discounting faithless electors votes for Reagan in 1976, Bentsen in 1988 and Edwards in 2004).

RIP.

Well, Hospers' electoral vote was from a faithless elector, too. Still, the last third party candidate to recieve the vote of a faithless elector, and the last third party recipient of an electoral vote of any kind.

That what I meant , as the last third party candidate to actually win electoral vote was George Wallace.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

RIP, pioneer.

[King]

RIP. Hospers would probably too liberal for today's "libertarians."

[Mechaman]

I didn't know he was gay, interesting.

RIP

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

John Hospers, who was the first Libertarian Party presidential candidate, died on June 12 at the age of 93.  Though he only received 3,674 votes, representing an obscure party and only on the ballot in 2 states

Actually he received 8,715 votes.

And yes, Mecha, he was the first, and so far, the only openly gay candidate to receive an electoral vote.