Wisconsin Libertarians gather in Northwoods

MADISON – The Democrats were sent into the wilderness after the November elections.

The Libertarians can relate. They’ve been there since their founding in 1971.

But that’s changing because of demographics, according to Nicholas Sarwark, the chairman of the national party who will be in northern Wisconsin this weekend for the state party’s annual convention.

“The Democrats and Republicans are just shrinking and dying,” he said in an interview.

“My top goal for 2018 is to have every disgruntled voter who is tired of both parties lying to them…have an option on the ballot.”

Ideas that Libertarians have long embraced — such as allowing same-sex marriage and legalizing marijuana — now enjoy mainstream support, he said.

The party’s presidential nominee, Gary Johnson, received more support than any Libertarian presidential candidate before him. That said, Johnson still took only a little more than 3% of the vote.

“It’s getting better, but it’s slow,” said Sarwark, adding it may take 20 years to elect a Libertarian as president.

The Wisconsin Libertarian Party convention began Friday and runs through Sunday at Treehaven Education and Conference Center in Tomahawk.