The Libertarian National Convention is held every two years by the Libertarian Party to choose members of the Libertarian National Committee, and to conduct other party business. In presidential election years, the convention delegates enact a platform and nominate the Libertarian presidential and vice-presidential candidates who then face the nominees of other parties in the November general election. While most delegates to the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention are tied to particular candidates, delegates to the Libertarian National Convention are free to choose, as was previously the case for the larger parties. Accordingly, Libertarian National Conventions place less emphasis on festivities and spinning the press, though some of each may be found. The complete convention is televised by C-SPAN with additional broadcast television coverage of the presidential nominating process. None of the above is always an option on all ballots.
The first Libertarian National Convention was held in 1972 in Denver, Colorado. John Hospers and Theodora Nathan were nominated presidential and vice presidential candidates respectively. The party received the first electoral vote won by a woman, cast by Roger MacBride.
1973
The 1973 Convention was held in Strongsville, Ohio from June 8–10. Over 175 were in attendance.
The 1975 convention was held at the Statler-Hilton hotel in New York City. Roger MacBride was nominated for president. After initially selecting None of the Above, the Convention's delegates nominated David Bergland for vice president.
1976
The 1976 convention was held in Washington, D.C., from September 23–26, 1976.
The 1978 Convention was held at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston Massachusetts.
1979
The 1979 Convention was held at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles and nominated Ed Clark for president and billionaire David H. Koch for vice president.
Alternative '80
The 1980 Convention was held at the Century City Hotel in Los Angeles, California and via satellite. Unlike other Libertarian Party conventions, its primary purpose was promotional.
The 1987 Libertarian National Convention was held the first weekend in September in Seattle, Washington. At the Convention, the party was split between conservative and liberal factions. Ron Paul, representing the former, was nominated as the Libertarian Party's 1988 presidential candidate on the first ballot with 196 of the 368 votes cast. His closest opponent, Native American activist Russell Means, received 120 votes. Andre Marrou was selected as Paul's running mate as the candidate for Vice President without opposition.
The 2000 Convention was held in Anaheim, California, from June 30 to July 4. Harry Browne was again chosen as the party's presidential candidate, becoming the first Libertarian Party candidate to run twice for President of the United States.
The 2006 Convention was held at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower in Portland, Oregon, July 1–2. Delegates chose to eliminate about three quarters of the specific planks in the party's platform Speakers included:
Michael Badnarik, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives and the 2004 Libertarian Presidential candidate
Andrew Neil, founding chairman of Sky TV, former publisher of The Scotsman, former editor of The Economist and former editor-in-chief of the Sunday Times
Christopher J. Farrell, member of the Judicial Watch's Board of Directors
Greg Nojeim, associate director and chief legislative counsel for the ACLU
Krist Novoselic, founding member of the Seattle-based grunge rock band Nirvana, founder JAMPAC, author of Of Grunge and Government: Let's Fix This Broken Democracy
2008
The 2008 convention was held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado, May 23–26.
2010
The 2010 Convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri from Friday May 28 to Monday May 31.
The 2014 Convention was held in Columbus, Ohio during the last weekend in June.
2016
The 2016 convention was held in Orlando, Florida during the last weekend in May.
2018
The 2018 convention was held from June 30 to July 3 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Nicholas Sarwark was reelected as chair, Alex Merced elected as Vice-Chair, Caryn Ann Harlos elected as Secretary, Tim Hagan reelected as Treasurer, new At-Large members were selected, and a new four-year term Judicial Committee was elected.
2020
The 2020 convention was scheduled to be held in Austin, Texas over Memorial Day weekend, but that was canceled via the enactment of their impossibility clause. Nomination business for president and vice president and potentially, confirmation of the in-person convention, will be done virtually on Friday, May 22 with ratification to take place sometime in early July. Currently, that alternate venue was set by the Libertarian National Committee for Orlando, Florida, the host city of the 2016 Libertarian National Convention.
