Libertarian candidates could sway tight US Senate races

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 11:02 · Archive

Republican strategists worry Libertarian candidates could cost Republicans control of the US Senate in close contests.

Republicans are concerned that Libertarian candidates could siphon enough votes to swing control of the US Senate in this year's elections. The worry is particularly acute in Texas, Ohio, Kansas and Iowa, where races are expected to be extremely close and even a few percentage points for a third party could determine the outcome.

Republican former Ohio state lawmaker Gene Krebs, working on a project to diminish the impact of spoiler candidates, said unhappiness with President Donald Trump could prompt conservatives to cast protest ballots. He identified an unpopular war with Iran and Trump's expansion of executive power as two issues that could fuel the Libertarian Party's message of nonintervention and limited centralised authority.

In Ohio, former Libertarian Party national chairman Bill Redpath is running against Republican Senator Jon Husted and Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown. Krebs warned that the Libertarian candidate could easily pull enough votes away from the Republican to help the Democrat win. Third parties could also work against Democrats: an organisation with Republican ties has distributed fliers promoting a socialist candidate, apparently to pull support away from Brown.

President Trump is scheduled to hold rallies in Texas on Tuesday, Ohio on Wednesday and Iowa on Sunday. Republican Senate campaign officials said they were less concerned about Iowa, where Libertarians are not a regular presence on the ballot, than about Ohio, Kansas and Texas.

How it is being reported

• Libertarians could spoil Republicans' chances in the fight for control of the US SenateLibertarian candidates in highly competitive U.S. Senate races could play spoiler in a year the Senate majority hangs in the balance.Clickorlando · 27 Oct, 10:30
• Libertarians could spoil Republicans' chances in the fight for control of the US SenateLibertarian candidates in highly competitive U.S. Senate races could play spoiler in a year the Senate majority hangs in the balance.News4Jax · 27 Oct, 10:30

In this story: Donald Trump · Gene Krebs · Bill Redpath · Jon Husted · Sherrod Brown · Texas · Ohio · Libertarian Party

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