Chase Oliver
Personal details
Born
Chase Russell Oliver

(1985-08-16) August 16, 1985 (age 38)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyLibertarian (2010–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (2003–2009)
Independent (2009–2010)
WebsiteCampaign website

Chase Russell Oliver (born August 16, 1985) is an American political activist, sales account executive, and HR representative.[1] Oliver was the Libertarian Party nominee for the 2022 United States Senate election in Georgia and the 2020 Georgia's 5th congressional district special election. He is a candidate for the Libertarian presidential nomination in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.[2]

In the 2022 Georgia special United States Senate election, Oliver received over 2% of the popular vote, possibly acting as a spoiler candidate and forcing the Georgia senate race into a run-off.[3]

Early life

Oliver was born on August 16, 1985, in Nashville, Tennessee.[4] He worked in the restaurant business for 13 years prior to his involvement in political activism.[5]

Activism

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On September 5, 2023, Oliver spoke at the Columbia, South Carolina City Council meeting in opposition to regulatory hurdles that prevent people from feeding the homeless. He advocated for the Columbia City Council, and other city councils across the country, to address regulatory barriers to feeding and supporting homeless Americans.[6][7]

On May 15, 2023, Oliver spoke at the Atlanta City Council meeting to oppose Cop City. During his speech, Oliver highlighted the growing distrust between people and governments and their police forces. Oliver spoke out against the over-militarization of police and qualified immunity. He also advocated for the Atlanta City Council to improve existing training facilities instead of clear-cutting forests that had previously been designated by the City Council as public open space.[8][9]

Political career

Oliver was previously a Democrat and had supported Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election but later left the Democratic Party due to his own anti-war views, which he felt were not being adequately represented by the party. Oliver joined the Libertarian Party in 2010 after meeting several members of the party at an Atlanta Pride Festival.[10][11]

2020 U.S. House campaign

Oliver first ran for public office in 2020, as the Libertarian nominee for the 2020 Georgia's 5th congressional district special election to replace John Lewis, who had died from pancreatic cancer earlier that year. He won 2% of the vote and was eliminated during the blanket primary.[12]

2022 U.S. Senate campaign

After becoming the Libertarian nominee for the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Georgia, Oliver faced off against the incumbent Democratic Raphael Warnock and Republican Party challenger Herschel Walker.[1][13] On October 16, 2022, he attended a debate hosted by Georgia Public Broadcasting and debated against Warnock, as well as an empty podium representing Walker, who had declined to attend the debate.[14]

On election day, Oliver received over 2% of the popular vote, possibly acting as a spoiler candidate and forcing the Georgia senate race into a run-off.[3] In the runoff election, he declined to endorse either Warnock or Walker, but offered to host a internet forum between the two candidates.[15] Rolling Stone called him the most influential Libertarian of the year.[10]

2024 presidential campaign

Chase Oliver 2024 presidential campaign
Campaign2024 Libertarian Party presidential primaries
2024 United States presidential election
CandidateChase Oliver
AffiliationLibertarian Party
AnnouncedApril 4, 2023
ReceiptsUS$24,164
Website
https://www.votechaseoliver.com/

On December 2, 2022, Oliver announced his formation of an exploratory committee to inquire into a possible run for the Libertarian presidential nomination in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.[16] He formally declared his candidacy on April 4, 2023.[17][18]

Oliver campaigned extensively in Iowa during the summer of 2023.[19][20] The Gazette described him as a "pro-gun, pro-police reform, pro-choice Libertarian" who is "armed and gay."[21] On August 19, 2023, he spoke at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox, becoming the first-ever third-party presidential candidate to speak at the event.[22][11]

The Christian Science Monitor described Oliver as a potential "opening in the middle" that may deliver a reprieve to "voters unhappy with both major-party front-runners" looking for representation from a younger generation.[23]

Oliver filed to run in Oklahoma's "first Libertarian presidential primary election since the party was formally recognized in 2016". Alongside fellow Libertarian primary candidate Jacob Hornberger, Oliver achieved ballot access by collecting signatures from voters in each Congressional district.[24][25]

In January 2024, Oliver and fellow Libertarian presidential primary candidate Lars Mapstead successfully worked together to secure major party status and ballot access for the Libertarian Party of Maine.[26] Afterwards, Oliver went to Iowa in order to campaign ahead of the 2024 Iowa Libertarian presidential caucuses.[27][28] He won the Iowa Caucus with 42.7% of the vote.[29]

Political positions

Abortion

Oliver self-identifies as pro-choice, although he is opposed to taxpayer funding of abortions.[30] He believes that abortion should be legal nationwide, and he has said he would support legislation to make it so.[31]

Climate change

Oliver supports a free market solution to climate change. He contends that if businesses are left alone, they will be incentivized to develop technologies that will eventually replace current carbon-based fuels.[32]

Electoral reform

Oliver is a strong supporter of ranked-choice voting in the United States, which he has said would have prevented the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Georgia from going to a run-off by allowing voters to rank their preferred candidates when they voted the first time. He has also stated that ranked-choice voting would save millions of taxpayer dollars by allowing run-offs to be instant, while ensuring that winning candidates always get above 50% of the vote.[15]

Gun rights

During a 2022 debate with Warnock, Oliver expressed his support for gun rights, stating: "Armed gays are harder to oppress, and they're harder to bash."[32]

War on drugs

Oliver advocates for ending the war on drugs, and supports the legalization of marijuana.[33][34]

Police reform

Oliver supports ending qualified immunity for law enforcement at the federal level.[21]

Immigration

Oliver supports an "Ellis Island-style immigration" system, stating: "If you're coming here to work and be peaceful, it's not my business."[20]

Education

Oliver supports abolishing the United States Department of Education, and advocates "for more choice in the education marketplace on a state-by-state basis".[2]

Homelessness

Oliver supports removing regulatory barriers that prevent people and organizations from feeding people experiencing homelessness.[7]

Third-parties

Oliver was a contributing author in the September 23, 2023 article "Do Third Parties Help or Harm Democracy?", published on Divided We Fall. In the article, Oliver discusses the strategic position the Libertarian Party holds for the 2024 election season, third-party ballot access, and how the Libertarian Party platform parallels important issues of other third-party platforms, namely the Green Party of the United States and Forward Party (United States), such as ranked choice voting, immigration, cannabis legalization, and LGBTQ+ rights.[35]

Personal life

Oliver is single and openly gay. He resides in the suburbs of Atlanta.[11][1][36] He said he has a "deep faith in the gospel."[37]

Electoral history

Georgia's 5th congressional district special election, September 29, 2020[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kwanza Hall 11,104 31.75%
Democratic Robert Michael Franklin Jr. 9,987 28.55%
Democratic Mable Thomas 6,692 19.13%
Democratic Keisha Waites 4,255 12.17%
Democratic Barrington Martin II 1,944 5.56%
Libertarian Chase Oliver 712 2.04%
Independent Steven Muhammad 282 0.8%
Total votes 34,967 100.00%
2022 United States Senate election in Georgia[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Raphael Warnock (incumbent) 1,946,117 49.44% +1.05%
Republican Herschel Walker 1,908,442 48.49% −0.88%
Libertarian Chase Oliver 81,365 2.07% +1.35%
Total votes 3,935,924 100.0%

References

  1. ^ a b c "The 'armed and gay' Senate hopeful who helped force Georgia's runoff". The Guardian. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  2. ^ a b DeFeo, T. A. | The Center Square (May 30, 2023). "Oliver sees 2024 as an opportunity for Libertarians to break out". The Center Square. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Multiple sources:
  4. ^ "Chase Oliver". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  5. ^ Crenshaw, Noah (September 25, 2023). "Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver makes stop in Greenwood". Daily Journal. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Columbia City Council Meeting Minutes". City of Columbia, S.C. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "City Council Meeting". YouTube. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  8. ^ "Atlanta City Council Regular Meeting". Atlanta City Council. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "Cop City breaks government promises in cruel way, Oliver says". Chase Oliver for President. May 17, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Stuart, Tessa (November 12, 2022). "He Won 2 Percent of the Vote – and Could Decide Who Wins a Senate Seat". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "LGBTQ Agenda: Gay Libertarian presidential candidate says he's running 'confident, aspirational' campaign". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Georgia Secretary of State (September 30, 2020). "Results Summary".
  13. ^ Melton, Elizabeth (January 17, 2022). "Press Release: Libertarian Party of Georgia Makes History at 2022 Convention with Full Slate of Statewide Candidates". Libertarian Party of Georgia. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  14. ^ King, Maya (October 17, 2022). "Warnock Hammers Walker in Senate Debate, Gesturing to an Empty Lectern". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  15. ^ a b McFall, Caitlin (November 10, 2022). "Georgia Senate Libertarian candidate says he will not endorse in Walker-Warnock runoff". Fox News. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  16. ^ Nunez, Gabriella (December 2, 2022). "Georgia Libertarian announces president exploratory committee". WXIA-TV. Atlanta. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  17. ^ Chase Oliver [@ChaseForLiberty] (April 5, 2023). "Are you ready to start Chase-ing Liberty with me? http://Votechaseoliver.com" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Fernandez, Madison (April 10, 2023) "What Republicans can do with their new supermajorities>PRESIDENTIAL BIG BOARD". Politico. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023. THIRD-PARTY CORNER — Libertarian Chase Oliver, who ran for Georgia Senate last year and earned 2 percent of the vote, pushing the contest to a runoff, filed to run for president. He announced his bid last week.
  19. ^ Stewart, Scott (July 25, 2023). "Libertarian candidate visits Carter Lake". The Daily Nonpareil. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Eller, Donelle (August 19, 2023). "Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver in Iowa calls for 'cultural war ceasefire'". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Barton, Tim (July 23, 2023). "Who is Chase Oliver? Meet the Libertarian candidate running for president". The Gazette. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  22. ^ Opsahl, Robin (August 19, 202). "Presidential candidates wrap up state fair political events". The Southwest Iowa News Source. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "Why 2024 could be a big year for third-party candidates". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  24. ^ "Who is on presidential primary ballot in Oklahoma?". USA Today. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  25. ^ "16 candidates file to appear on Oklahoma's presidential primary ballot". KGOU. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  26. ^ Kemp, Harrison (January 10, 2024). "Libertarian Party Earns major party status in maine". Libertarian Party of Maine. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  27. ^ Lathers, Addison (January 14, 2024) "Iowa Libertarians host a debate on the eve of the Iowa Caucuses. What they said:", Des Moines Register. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  28. ^ Miller, Larry (January 11, 2024). "OLIVER RETURNS TO IOWA FOR CAUCUSES". CHASE FOR PRESIDENT. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  29. ^ Bunge, Mike (January 16, 2024) "Libertarian Party of Iowa announces the winner of its statewide Presidential caucus", KIMT.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  30. ^ Fausset, Richard (November 9, 2022). "The Libertarian Who Helped Push the Georgia Senate Race Into a Runoff". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  31. ^ Simms, Claire (October 3, 2022). "Libertarian candidate 'happy' to cause runoff in U.S. Senate race". FOX 5 Atlanta.
  32. ^ a b Weisbrod, Katelyn (October 26, 2022). "In Georgia, Warnock's Climate Activism Contrasts Sharply with Walker's Deep Skepticism". Inside Climate News. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  33. ^ "Candidate for U.S Senate (L-GA): Chase Oliver". FOX Carolina News. October 25, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  34. ^ Kenmore, Abraham. "Who is running for Georgia's U.S. Senate seat? Warnock to defend post against icon Walker". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  35. ^ "Do Third Parties Help or Harm Democracy?". Divided We Fall. September 27, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  36. ^ Boehm, Eric (November 18, 2022) "What's Next for Chase Oliver, the Libertarian Who Forced a Runoff in the Georgia Senate Race?", Reason.com. Retrieved December 9, 2002.
  37. ^ Oliver, Chase [@ChaseForLiberty] (March 29, 2023). "I do want to clear up a misconception I am seeing online. Being LGBTQ does not mean you are anti-Christian or oppose religion in general. There are many LGBTQ people with a deep faith in the gospel, myself included. Don't question people's faith if you don't know them" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ^ "Results Summary". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  39. ^ "United States Senate – November 8, 2022 General Election". Georgia Secretary of State. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.

External links

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