By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – Candidates on the Libertarian Party ticket filed their paperwork at the Illinois State Board of Elections Monday, then they took a victory lap at the Capitol.
In front of the Lincoln statue, vice presidential hopeful Spike Cohen said Our Sixteenth President was the original third-party candidate.
“They were told, you just have to keep voting Democrat or Whig, because those are your only options,” Cohen said, “and he proved them wrong.”
Even with reduced signature requirements to account for the pandemic-era distancing, third parties face long, tall odds.
“Well, the goal is always to win. That’s goal Number One,” said state party chairman Steve Suess. “Goal Number Two is obviously getting to that five percent threshold for any of our statewide offices.”
That would allow the state’s Libertarians to retain the ballot access they earned this year.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].
