Rise of the Libertarians -2016

[Citizen James]

I wanted to try and make this at least a little plausible, but this is the what if forum, so some suspension of disbelief is encouraged.

What if future history:

2010 Capitalizing on the divide within the of the GOP between small government libertarian leaning conservatives and culture war social conservatives, the Libertarian party manages to win 30 or so seats in congress, mostly in mountain states with a few pickups in the northeast and west coast.  a half dozen Republicans jump onto the new bandwagon, finding their beliefs more in tune with the new Libertarians than the religious right dominated GOP.

2012 A three way race between Obama, Paul, and Huckabee  results in a Obama electoral landslide, though just a bare majority of the popular vote.  Obama takes advantage of the split to pick up Georgia, Arizona, and Montana.  Paul takes Wyoming, along with second place in some of the mountain and New England states, with a better than expected 21% of the overall vote and strong showings in New York and California.  Libertarians pick up 2 seats, both at the expense of Republicans.

2014 The Libertarians pick up their first senate seat, winning in the often unpredictable Minnesota. A single pickup in the house, and the GOP finally comes up with a gain of a few seats in the house and senate.

2016 - what happens next...

[Antonio the Sixth]

I wanted to try and make this at least a little plausible, but this is the what if forum, so some suspension of disbelief is encouraged.

What if future history:

2010 Capitalizing on the divide within the of the GOP between small government libertarian leaning conservatives and culture war social conservatives, the Libertarian party manages to win 30 or so seats in congress, mostly in mountain states with a few pickups in the northeast and west coast.  a half dozen Republicans jump onto the new bandwagon, finding their beliefs more in tune with the new Libertarians than the religious right dominated GOP.

2012 A three way race between Obama, Paul, and Huckabee  results in a Obama electoral landslide, though just a bare majority of the popular vote.  Obama takes advantage of the split to pick up Georgia, Arizona, and Montana.  Paul takes Wyoming, along with second place in some of the mountain and New England states, with a better than expected 21% of the overall vote and strong showings in New York and California.  Libertarians pick up 2 seats, both at the expense of Republicans.

2014 The Libertarians pick up their first senate seat, winning in the often unpredictable Minnesota. A single pickup in the house, and the GOP finally comes up with a gain of a few seats in the house and senate.

2016 - what happens next...

Totally unprobable but though interesting.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Minnesotans might be unpredictable but I think that Libertarianism isn't exactly their cup of tea.
If they pick up a senate seat in 2014 that would be probably in Montana (if Baucus retires), Wyoming, Idaho or Maine (if Collins retires).

[Smid]

Minnesotans might be unpredictable but I think that Libertarianism isn't exactly their cup of tea.
If they pick up a senate seat in 2014 that would be probably in Montana (if Baucus retires), Wyoming, Idaho or Maine (if Collins retires).

Or it could be a semi-pickup, if Collins crosses the floor to join the Libertarians.