FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joseph Lehman Calls for Immediate Resignation of Libertarian Party of Oregon Chair and Vice Chair, Announces Campaign for Party Chair
OREGON — July 27, 2026 — Former Libertarian congressional candidate Joseph Lehman is calling for the immediate resignation of Libertarian Party of Oregon Chair Sonja Feintech and Vice Chair Richard Burke, alleging they abandoned one of the Libertarian movement’s most fundamental principles by casting the deciding votes to nominate an openly pro-war Republican candidate for Congress at the party’s 2026 nominating convention.
According to Lehman, the Republican nominee has publicly supported U.S. military intervention, including the war in Iran and the overthrow of the Venezuelan government. Lehman argues that supporting a candidate with those positions is incompatible with the Libertarian Party’s longstanding commitment to non-interventionism.
“In a time when voters are looking for an alternative to both major parties, our leadership sent the worst message possible. Non-interventionism is not a secondary priority within the Libertarian Party, it is one of our defining principles,” Lehman said. “When the Chair and Vice Chair use their positions to help nominate a candidate who openly supports foreign wars and intervention overseas, they have failed to uphold the very values they were elected to defend. For that reason, I am calling on Chair Sonja Feintech and Vice Chair Richard Burke to resign immediately.”
Lehman also announced that he is officially running for Chair of the Libertarian Party of Oregon in the party’s March 2027 officer elections.
Lehman currently serves as Chair of the Libertarian Party of Linn County, the only currently chartered Libertarian county affiliate in Oregon, which he organized and chartered. He also serves as Secretary of the Independent Candidate Network (ICN), a national organization dedicated to advancing independent candidates and political reform. Lehman says these leadership roles have given him firsthand experience building organizations rooted in principle and accountability.
“After watching the current leadership cast the deciding votes to nominate a Republican over a Libertarian candidate, I have concluded that our party needs a new direction,” Lehman said. “Too many Oregon Libertarians have watched our party drift closer to the Republican Party. That must end.”
Lehman says his campaign will focus on restoring the party’s commitment to principle over political expediency.
“There is no room in the Libertarian movement for supporting either of the two major parties that have repeatedly chosen war, corruption, and authoritarianism over liberty,” Lehman said. “Our members deserve leadership that will defend Libertarian principles without compromise.”
If elected Chair, Lehman has pledged to:
• Restore confidence in the Libertarian Party of Oregon through transparent, principled leadership.
• Defend the party’s commitment to non-interventionism and individual liberty.
• Ensure the party remains independent from both major political parties and looks after its own.
• Rebuild trust among Libertarians who believe the party has lost its direction.
“This campaign is about restoring integrity, rebuilding trust, and returning the Libertarian Party of Oregon to the values that inspired so many of us to join in the first place,” Lehman said. “I believe Oregon Libertarians are ready to reclaim our party and once again make it a principled voice for liberty.”
Supporters and interested Libertarians can learn more or get involved by visiting JosephForLPOChair.com.
Here we go again…!