The Libertarian Party of Georgia, preaching “limited government” and “social tolerance,” has been an irritant to both major parties for decades by siphoning votes away from both Republican and Democratic candidates.
In recent years their candidates for statewide constitutional offices have pulled around 4 percent of the vote. However, in close contests, they could force a runoff when no general election candidate receives a majority.
Knowing their potential to “tip” elections one way or another, the state’s largest “political body” (the state doesn’t officially recognize the Libertarians as a “party’) qualified a slate of candidates this week for various offices this year.
They include:
United States Senate (Partisan General): Shane Hazel (for the seat held by Republican David Perdue.)
United States Senate (Non-Partisan Special): Brian Slowinski (for the seat held by Republican Kelly Loeffler.)
Georgia Public Service Commission District 1: Elizabeth Melton (for the seat held by republican Jason Shaw.)
Georgia Public Service Commission District 4: Nathan Wilson (for the seat held by Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald.) United States House of Representatives District 13: Martin Cowen (for the seat held by Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.)
