Budget calls for 47 state Presidential ballot access. Missing states are kept secret from the membership. Jorgensen campaign is blamed for ballot access failure. The powerpoint line “Does not include any expenses needed in order to rent the building” seems a bit odd, since we own the building.
The Libertarian National Committee’s Executive Committee, by a 7-0 vote, approved an LNC draft budget for 2022.
Revenue and expenditures are balanced at $1.98 million. Income is called to be 3/4 of a million for memberships, 3/4 of a million for donations, and 1/2 million for convention income. The convention income is said to be 73% higher than in 2020, but 5% lower than 2022.
Convention income is balanced by $303,000 in predicted convention expenses. Fundraising expenses are set at $370,000, a 131% increase over “projected 2022” numbers ‘in order to get a 33% increase in non-convention donations’. Salary expenses are proposed to be $617,000, a 1/3 increase over the 2020 salary expense of approximately $465,000. However, in addition to salaries, ‘professional services’ increase from not quite $100,000 to $190,000, which includes both outsourcing more staff activities and also legal expenses. Administrative costs are estimated at $181,800.
The fundraising expenses include a fundraising employee and a ‘Fundraising Contractor’. There will also be membership cards, ‘wealth screening’ software, and mailers.
The outreach and activism efforts include $56,000 for outreach and activism, $12,000 for membership communication, and $25,000 for candidate/campaign support.
The administrative expense includes a new CRM system and conversion expenses.
Professional services include $65,000 for legal, $78,000 for accounting and financialpackage work, $30,000 for the FEC contractor, and $19,500 for CiviCRM maintenance.
Political activities? Outreach and Activism are set at $93,000; the corresponding number for 2020 was just over $585,000. The 2020 expenditures went to affiliate development, LP News, candidate support, and brand materials. The $492,000 reduction is described as funding more ballot access than would otherwise be the case.
Last but hardly least, ballot access is allotted $200,000, which is estimated to cover 47 states plus DC. “There is no clear path to 50 states.” The identity of the three states in which ballot access is being abandoned was kept a secret to be revealed in executive session. However, Third Party Watch has determined that they are New York, Illinois, and DC. For New York there was no plan as to how ballot access might be obtained.
The claim that we need more spending on ballot access because “We came into the 2024 cycle with far less ballot access based on the lower numbers that the Jorgensen ticket received relative to the Johnson ticket four years earlier” may be controversial.
The cash position becomes very tight between March and May “We just barely make it to the convention without needing some form of equity injection.”
A question to ask those seeking the presidential nomination is how important is it to them and their campaign to be on the ballot on 50 states + DC.
“Last but hardly least, ballot access is allotted $200,000, which is estimated to cover 47 states plus DC. ”
“The identity of the three states in which ballot access is being abandoned was kept a secret to be revealed in executive session. However, Third Party Watch has determined that they are New York, Illinois, and DC. ”
47 states + DC, and you named two states + DC. You’re missing one. Tennessee?
Compressing discussion. The three places without Presidential Candidate ballot access appear likely to be New York, Illinois, and DC.
However, if you think it is 47 states plus DC that we will miss, your estimate of the third missing state is reasonable. Massachusetts is perhaps interesting, as petitioning will probably be needed.
“Jorgensen campaign is blamed for ballot access failure.”
This is the most laughable assumption coming from the Executive Committee.
The ballot access failures came at the hands of this current LNC.
I almost hope that Jorgensen sues them for spreading this lie.