Larry Sharpe (politician)

Sharpe was a candidate for the 2016 Libertarian vice presidential nomination. During the 2016 Libertarian National Convention, he placed second on the first ballot with 30.4% of the vote. Because no one received a majority on that ballot, a second ballot vote was held.[8] Sharpe received 46.9% of the vote on the second ballot, finishing second to former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld.[9][10]

On July 12, 2017, Sharpe announced his 2018 candidacy for Governor of New York, making him the first person to mount a challenge to incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo.[11] Sharpe received the Libertarian nomination on April 21, 2018 and Andrew Hollister was selected as the Lieutenant Governor nominee for the ticket.[12]

Sharpe's campaign raised $102,596 prior to the first filing deadline, which was second to Andrew Cuomo's re-election campaign.[13] As of October 10, 2018, Sharpe raised $449,515 for his campaign, the highest amount ever raised by a Libertarian gubernatorial candidate in New York. Sharpe in addition was the only candidate in the race to have visited all 62 counties on the campaign trail.[14]

On Election Day, Sharpe received 95,033 votes (1.6%) and came in fourth place behind Cuomo, Republican challenger Marc Molinaro, and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins. Sharpe's vote total achieved automatic ballot access for the Libertarian Party of New York for the first time in the party's history.[15]

Following the 2018 election, Sharpe continued speaking tours across New York State.[49] Since 2019, he has hosted the podcast The Sharpe Way.[50]

On April 13, 2020 it was announced that Sharpe would again seek the Libertarian Party's nomination for Vice President, as the running mate of 2012 Libertarian vice-presidential nominee Judge Jim Gray.[51] After Gray was eliminated during convention presidential balloting, Sharpe withdrew from the race.

Sharpe considers himself "pro-choice" as well as "anti-abortion". While running for Governor, he vowed to reduce the number of abortions in New York state by increasing availability of other options instead of establishing regulations on abortion.[54]

Sharpe favors marijuana legalization, calling for hemp and marijuana to be "regulated like onions".[55] Sharpe has said he would pardon those convicted of victimless crimes or otherwise non-violent offenses.[56]

Sharpe has supported deregulation to stimulate economic growth, ending the funding of enforcement of unnecessary regulations. In particular, Sharpe has cited occupational licensing as a hurdle to small business, describing mandatory licensing for jobs such as barbers and dog walkers as "barriers to entry and a tax on the poor."[57] Additionally, to reduce the state deficit, Sharpe has called for eliminating unfunded mandates.[58] He has vowed to follow this reduction in state spending with a reduction in property taxes and the ultimate repeal of the New York state income tax.[59][60]

Sharpe has called for the decentralization of education in New York State and has proposed a "K-10" model, reducing the span of high school to ready students for the workforce and/or college.[55][61] Sharpe has also rejected standardized testing until high school.[61] He stated, "everyone should be able to opt out of testing at any time....it puts kids who have special needs at a huge disadvantage. Kids who do not test well are labeled as dumb."[62]

Additionally, Sharpe stated he would refuse federal grants for education. He would also abolish the Board of Regents.[63]

Sharpe vowed, if elected, to repeal the NY SAFE Act by 2020 and pardon those convicted under its provisions.[57] Sharpe supports allowing school teachers and staff to carry firearms on school grounds, on a voluntary basis.[64]