Libertarian Democrats support the majority of positions of the
Democratic Party, but they do not necessarily share identical viewpoints across the political spectrum; that is, they are more likely to support individual and personal freedoms, although rhetorically within the context of Democratic values.[3] The faction is very ideologically diverse, including both conservative and progressive Democrats alike.
Former representative and current Governor
Jared Polis of Colorado, a libertarian-oriented Democrat, wrote in
Reason magazine: "I believe that libertarians should vote for Democratic candidates, particularly as our Democratic nominees are increasingly more supportive of individual liberty and freedom than Republicans".[5] He cited opposition to the
Stop Online Piracy Act, support for the legalization of marijuana, support for the
separation of church and state, support for
abortion rights and individual
bodily autonomy, opposition to mass surveillance and support for tax-code reform as areas where the majority of Democrats align well with libertarian values.[5]
While maintaining a relatively libertarian ideology, they may differ with the
Libertarian Party on issues such as consumer protection, health care reform, anti-trust laws and the overall amount of government involvement in the economy.[3]
History
Modern era
After election losses in 2004, the Democratic Party reexamined its position on gun control which became a matter of discussion, brought up by
Howard Dean,
Bill Richardson,
Brian Schweitzer and other Democrats who had won in states where
Second Amendment rights are important to many voters. The resulting stance on gun control brought in libertarian minded voters, influencing other beliefs.
In the 2010s, following the revelations by
Edward Snowden about
NSA surveillance in 2013, the increasing advent of online decentralization and
cryptocurrencies like
Bitcoin, the perceived failure of the
war on drugs and the police violence in places like
Ferguson, Democratic lawmakers such as Senators
Ron Wyden,
Kirsten Gilibrand and
Cory Booker and Representative
Jared Polis have worked alongside
libertarian Republicans like Senator
Rand Paul and Representative
Justin Amash to curb what is seen as government overreach in each of these areas, earning plaudits from such traditional libertarian sources as Reason magazine.[6][7][8][9] The growing political power of
Silicon Valley, a longtime Democratic stronghold that is friendly to economic deregulation and strong civil liberties protections while maintaining traditionally liberal views on social issues, has also seriously affected the increasingly libertarian leanings of young Democrats.[10][11]
The libertarian faction has influenced the presidential level as well in the post-
Bush era. Alaska Senator and presidential aspirant
Mike Gravel left the Democratic Party midway through the
2008 presidential election cycle to seek the
Libertarian Party presidential nomination,[12] and many anti-war and civil libertarian Democrats were energized by the
2008 and
2012 presidential campaigns of libertarian Republican
Ron Paul.[13][14] This constituency arguably embraced the
2016 and
2020 presidential campaigns of independent Democrat
Bernie Sanders for the same reasons.[15][16] In the state of
New Hampshire, libertarians operating from the
Free State Project have been elected to various offices running as a mixture of both Republicans and Democrats.[17][18] A 2015
Reuters poll found that 22% of Democratic voters identified themselves as "libertarian," more than the percentage of Republicans but less than the percentage of independents.[19]
Jared Polis, 43rd Governor of Colorado, member of the United States House of Representatives from
Colorado's 2nd congressional district (2009–2019), and member of the
Colorado State Board of Education (2001–2007).[24] In 2014, the libertarian magazine Reason described Polis as "
left-libertarianish"[25] and the "most libertarian-leaning Democrat" in Congress due to his role as "a leading voice on civil liberties, from gun rights to online privacy, from defending
Bitcoin to
advocating legal weed."[26] Polis has written an op-ed in Reason magazine arguing that libertarian-inclined citizens should vote for Democrats.[27] Polis has emphasized digital freedom issues and opposition to
mass surveillance and
warrantless wiretapping.[27] While in Congress, he was an occasional Democratic visitor to now-Libertarian Representative
Justin Amash's otherwise Republican-dominated
House Liberty Caucus.[28] As Colorado governor, Polis vetoed in 2019 three bills that would have created
occupational licensing requirements for
homeowners' association managers, sports agents, and genetic counselors; the vetoes reflected Polis' libertarian leanings.[29][30] However, since he was elected Governor, Polis has shown a liberal progressive stance with his backing and signing of legislation increasing state oversight of the oil and gas industry through Senate Bill 181, restricting gun rights through six different gun control bills, as well as 14 bills expanding government regulation over the healthcare industry as of 2021. Governor Polis, on the other hand, has also backed the use of
cryptocurrencies and the elimination of Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) and tax increases on tobacco.
Russ Feingold, United States Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes and the Congo-Kinshasa (2013–2015), United States Senator from Wisconsin (1993–2011), and Member of Wisconsin Senate (1983–1993). He is known for his civil libertarian views and for being the sole senator to vote against the
USA Patriot Act in 2001.[32][33]
Mike Gravel, United States Senator from Alaska (1969–1981), 3rd Speaker of Alaska House of Representatives (1965–1967), and Member of Alaska House of Representatives (1963–1967). After his time in the Senate, Gravel unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, switching to the
Libertarian Party that same year and losing its nomination as well (see
Mike Gravel 2008 presidential campaign).[34][35] After that he then switched back to the Democratic Party in 2010 and remained in it until his death in 2021 (even
running for president again as a Democrat in the 2020 election).
United States House of Representatives
Tulsi Gabbard, Member of United States House of Representatives from
Hawaii's 2nd congressional district (2013–2021), Vice Chair of Democratic National Committee (2013–2016), Member of the Honolulu City Council (2011–2012), and Member of Hawaii House of Representatives (2002–2004). She earned the praise of libertarian
Ron Paul for her strong anti-war stances.[36] She joined efforts with her libertarian-leaning colleagues in Congress
Justin Amash,
Thomas Massie and
Rand Paul in legislation aimed to defund the
National Security Agency, audit the
Federal Reserve and promote a more non-interventionist foreign policy.[37] She also gained the support of former New Mexico Governor and two-time Libertarian Party presidential candidate
Gary Johnson during her
2020 presidential bid.[38](Later left the party and became an
Independent)
Jerry Brown, 34th and 39th Governor of California (1975–1983, 2011–2019), 31st Attorney General of California (2007–2011), 47th Mayor of Oakland (1999–2007), Chair of California Democratic Party (1989–1991), and 23rd California Secretary of State (1971–1975).[43][44]
State lower chambers
Elizabeth Edwards, Member of New Hampshire House of Representatives (2014–2018). She has been described by
WMUR as "having a libertarian streak".[45]
Joseph Stallcop, Member of New Hampshire House of Representatives (2016–2018). He left the Democratic Party for the
Libertarian Party in 2017, describing his views as "classically liberal".[46]
^"Libertarian Party" in Historical Dictionary of United States Political Parties (ed. Harold F. Bass Jr.:
Scarecrow Press: 2d ed., 2009), p. 180: "Among the more prominent Democrats in the Libertarian camp is former senator Mike Gravel ... who ran unsuccessfully for the presidential nominations of both the Democratic and Libertarian parties in 2008."
^"Decentralism" in The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism (Sage: 2008: ed. Ronald Hamowy), p. 112: "In post-World War II American politics, decentralist themes can be found in such disparate groups as ... the Democratic left (former California Governor and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown)."