Why is LAMA no longer affiliated with the National Libertarian Party?
Why is LAMA no longer affiliated with the National Libertarian Party?
A group of former members, under the direction of the Mises Caucus, formed a new libertarian organization and presented themselves as the official Libertarian Association of Massachusetts. They asked the LNC executive committee that was elected in the May 2022 Libertarian Convention by a majority of Mises Caucus members, to recognize their organization as LAMA.
In response, the LAMA state committee, that was elected at the 2022 state convention, unanimously voted in favor of disaffiliation from the LNC in June 2022 in order to protect the LAMA organization from fraudulent use.
Why did LAMA join the ALSP?
Why did LAMA join the ALSP?
The state committee that was elected at the 2022 state convention unanimously voted to join the Association of Liberty State Parties in December 2022. The ALSP is a national organization to promote national libertarian candidates across multiple states. LAMA joined in order to unite with other libertarian organizations with the goal of promoting national candidates, but will retain final decision on whether to support a national candidate, just as it did when it was associated with the national Libertarian Party.
Is there a "Libertarian" Party in Massachusetts?
Is there a "Libertarian" Party in Massachusetts?
There is the one recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which is determined by getting 10% voter registration of all voters in the Commonwealth, or by getting 3% or more of the votes in a state wide election. The Treasurer candidate that LAMA endorsed received 23% of the vote total in that race, meeting the requirements for major party status. When a political party fails to achieve either 3% of the vote or 10% of registrations, that party reverts back to a political designation.
Information about political parties and designations can be found here: Political Parties and Designations (state.ma.us)
What is this other Libertarian Association?
What is this other Libertarian Association?
In February 2022 former members of LAMA decided to act outside the bounds of the Libertarian Association of Massachusetts and its bylaws. A small group held a convention to organize and to fraudulently represent themselves as LAMA.
In March 2023, this fraudulent group realized that it was in the wrong and renamed themselves as the Unified Libertarians of Massachusetts.