Republican Liberty Caucus

The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) is a political action organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of individual liberty, limited government and free market economics within the Republican Party in the United States.[1] It is part of the libertarian wing of the Republican Party.[2] It also operates a political action committee, the RLC-USA PAC.[3]

This article is about the political action organization. For the U.S. Congressional organization also known as the Liberty Caucus, see Liberty Caucus.
Republican Liberty Caucus
Founded1991
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
,
U.S.
Key people
Matt Nye (Fla.), Chairman
Dave Nalle (Tex.), Vice Chairman
Aaron Day (N.H.), Treasurer
John Dennis (Calif.), Secretary

The organization was founded in 1991 and has chapters in many states.[4] In 2011, the organization hosted its National Convention in Arlington, Virginia.[5] The 2013 convention was held in Austin, Texas and the 2015 National Convention was hosted in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Issues

The RLC works within the Republican Party to influence the party to adopt the RLC's agenda.[6] As activist Tom Heitman put it, "We're trying to reintroduce the Republican platform to the Republican Party."[7]

The RLC favors individual freedom and limited government.[8] Specifically, the RLC favors reduced government intrusion, lower taxes, elimination of federal agencies, less regulation, a strong national defense with fewer military bases abroad, and no foreign aid.[9]

In 2010, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas denounced the new state Republican Party platform that supported criminalization of sodomy and making same-sex marriage a felony.[10]

Leadership
# Chairman Term State[11] Notes[12]
1Barbara Rittberg1991–92Florida
2Roger MacBride1992–95Florida
3Ron Paul1995–2000Texas
4Chuck Muth2000–01Nevada
5Ron Paul2001–02Texas(Honorary)
6Douglas Lorenz2002–04California
7Bill Westmiller2004–09California
8Shepard Humphries2007–08Wyoming
9Dave Nalle2009–13Texas
10Matthew Nye2013–PresentFlorida

Endorsements

Presidential endorsements

The Republican Liberty Caucus' process for endorsing presidential candidates is described in the organization's Bylaws and Rules:

A candidate for President of the United States may be endorsed by the Caucus by a 2/3 vote of the active and voting Chartered state's executive committees. The national Secretary shall notify all Chartered states of a favorable national board proposal for endorsement and state executive officers shall inform the Secretary of the approval or denial by their executive committee within 60 days.[13]

Since the Caucus' founding in 1991, only three candidates have reached this level of support: Steve Forbes 1996, Ron Paul in 2012 and Rand Paul in 2016. When Forbes ran again in 2000, the organization remained neutral in that primary and did not endorse another specific Republican candidate in any presidential primary until December 30, 2011 when the RLC endorsed Ron Paul for President.[14] In 2016, his son Rand Paul was also endorsed by the RLC.[15]

Notable 2012 endorsements

On November 2, 2011, the Republican Liberty Caucus announced its first two endorsements in the 2012 election: Barry Hinckley, ran in the Republican primary in Rhode Island, and Brian K. Hill, ran in the Republican primary in Connecticut.[16][17] The Republican nominee in Rhode Island challenged Democratic United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse while the Republican nominee in Connecticut ran for an open seat being vacated by independent United States Senator Joseph Lieberman.[18]

Notable 2014 endorsements

Notable 2016 endorsements
  • Republican Presidential Candidate Rand Paul from Kentucky

Notable 2018 endorsements

See also

References
  1. "Republican Liberty Caucus - "The Conscience of the Republican Party"". Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. Hallow, Ralph (21 May 2001). "GOP will court its libertarian wing New group forms amid fears of splitting party strength". Washington Times. p. A4.
  3. RLC-USA PAC
  4. History of the Republican Liberty Caucus. 2-20-2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  5. Republican Liberty Caucus Celebrates Twenty Years. 2-15-2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  6. Guinta, Peter. GOP warns dissident wing. Quoting William Westmiller, former RLC National Chair. Palm Beach Post, 7-2-2008. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  7. Scott, Sam. Ron Paul Cured Their Apathy. Star News, 5-3-2008. Quoting Tom Heitman, Cape Fear RLC. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  8. Moffett gets support of Republican Liberty Caucus. Lexington Herald-Leader, 4-14-2011. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  9. Guinta, Peter. GOP warns dissident wing. Palm Beach Post, 7-2-2008. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  10. Mataconis, Doug. Texas RLC Denounces Anti-Gay Planks in Party Platform. UnitedLiberty.org, 6-26-2010. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  11. The Republican Liberty Caucus Library, Republican Liberty Caucus: Background and Early History, accessed November 24, 2011. Archived June 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  12. The Republican Liberty Caucus, History of our Movement, accessed November 24, 2011.
  13. Bylaws and Rules of the Republican Liberty Caucus
  14. Republican Liberty Caucus endorses Ron Paul
  16. "Elected Officials". Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  17. "Republican Liberty Caucus - "The Conscience of the Republican Party"". Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  18. Republican Liberty Caucus Announces First Endorsements for 2012
  19. "Poliquin endorsed by Republican Liberty Caucus". Bruce Poliquin for Congress. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  20. https://rlc.org/congratulations-to-the-rlc-endorsed-candidates/
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