Record-setting Libertarian or "protest" votes in California

I just got this report in my in-box from Ted Brown. Ted is a frequent candidate and a candidate-recruiter for the California LP.

"The protest vote was alive and well on Tuesday -- obviously not in the presidential race, but certainly in the down-ticket races for Congress, State Senate and State Assembly. In fact, we posted some of our best totals in years, including a record breaking percentage for Pam Brown in Assembly District 40.

The average vote percentage for Congress was 4.53%, for State Senate 5.94%, and for State Assembly 6.74%.

Here are the results:

Congress:
3 - Art Tuma - 2.2% (also a P&F candidate in race)
6 - Joel Smolen - 4.2%
7 - Cam McConnell - 2.5% (also a P&F candidate in race)
8 - Phil Berg - 2.2% (also Cindy Sheehan in race)
9 - Jim Eyer - 4.2%
12 - Kevin Peterson - 2.1% (also Green and P&F candidates in race)
14 - Brian Holtz - 4.2% (also a Green candidate in race)
16 - Steve Wells - 4.5%
26 - Ted Brown - 6.8%
27 - Tim Denton - 6.6%
29 - Alan Pyeatt - 4.3%
35 - Herb Peters - 4.2%
38 - Chris Agrella - 18.1% (2 way race, no Republican)
46 - Ernst Gasteiger - 1.4% (also a Green candidate in race)
48 - Don Patterson - 3.6%
49 - Lars Grossmith - 4.0%
50 - Wayne Dunlap - 4.3%
51 - Dan Litwin - 2.9%
52 - Michael Benoit - 4.4%
53 - Ed Teyssier - 3.8%

State Senate:
13 - John Webster - 6.4%
21 - Steve Myers - 7.8%
23 - Colin Goldman - 5.4%
29 - Jill Stone - 6.7%
39 - Jesse Thomas - 3.4%

State Assembly:
6 - Tim Hannan - 6.4%
10 - Janice Bonser - 6.5% (note: balance of power race, only 1000 votes separated D & R and Janice got over 10,000 votes!)
19 - Brian Perry - 3.9%
27 - Mark Hinkle - 8.7%
40 - Pamela Brown - 14.7%
44 - Thomas Logan - 5.8%
51 - Marty Swinney - 4.4%
54 - John Kling - 5.8%
59 - Maureen Keedy - 8.1%
61 - Michael Mendez - 6.5%
73 - Andrew Favor - 5.9%
74 - Paul King - 8.7%
75 - John Murphy - 6.0%
76 - Dan Baehr - 4.3%
77 - Rich Belitz - 5.4%

I am disappointed that we did not have more candidates this year. We only had 40, our lowest since we obtained ballot status in 1980. Our record was 113 in 2000. This would have been a good year for the voters to have the alternative choice. But, c'est la vie. I am pleased that I had my highest vote percentage this time, after 14 candidacies starting in 1980. This will probably be my last race, however. I will be writing an article on this subject for LP publications.

For liberty,
Ted Brown"

Please note that California is a HUGE state, bigger than most countries, and trying to make an impact state-wide is a hugely expensive proposition, especially without media support.

I interpret our good numbers as an indication that all those times reporters tried to "smear" Ron Paul with the libertarian label, they did us more good than harm. Thank you, Dr. Paul!

Every one of those votes is cast by a principled voter who knows what they want: Freedom!