Leaving the Libertarian Party wasn’t an easy decision, especially after nearly a decade of being all in on its principles and candidates. But over time, it became clear that the party is its own worst enemy. Instead of focusing on the goal of advancing liberty, it’s constantly caught up in infighting, absurd theatrics, and a messaging strategy that’s more about shock value than winning hearts and minds. It started to feel more like a circus of internet trolls than a serious political movement.
The infighting was a huge part of why I left. The party is filled with different factions that can’t seem to agree on anything, let alone work together. Instead of building a united front to advance liberty, they’re too busy fighting among themselves, treating every disagreement as a battle for the soul of the party. Debate is healthy, sure, but this was something else entirely. It became impossible to get everyone moving in the same direction, and that internal chaos spilled over into every aspect of the party’s work. Instead of using that energy to advocate for freedom, it got wasted on pointless power struggles and purity tests.
Then there’s the inability to work well with others. For a party that talks a lot about individual liberty and open-mindedness, it has a remarkable talent for pushing away potential allies. Whether it’s a guy dancing naked on stage at a state convention or the downright offensive messaging coming out of places like the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire, these antics do nothing but make the entire party look bad. It’s like a few people are determined to tarnish the reputation of every state chapter, including those that are genuinely trying to make a difference. These controversies make it nearly impossible for the rest of us to be taken seriously when advocating for meaningful change.
What’s most frustrating is that these distractions undermine the real work that needs to be done. We should be having conversations about reducing government overreach, reforming the criminal justice system, and pushing for free-market solutions. Instead, we’re constantly dealing with the fallout from the latest scandal or offensive tweet. The party seems more interested in stirring up drama and picking fights on social media than making tangible progress on the issues. It’s like they can’t get out of their own way to make a real impact.
I have two sons. One is about to turn 13, and the other is just two months old. When I think about the future I want for them, I can’t wait around for a party that’s more interested in internal squabbles than advancing liberty. I want movement on the issues now, not endless debates and infighting. The Libertarian Party just doesn’t seem capable of that. Real change doesn’t happen through shock tactics and rigid ideological purity. It happens through pragmatic, incremental progress—by working with others and building coalitions, even when you don’t agree on every single point. It’s about moving the needle on important issues one step at a time, not trying to burn the whole system down in one go.
The reality is that the Libertarian Party has turned into a party of internet trolls rather than serious political operatives. They excel at getting into heated debates online, but they completely falter when it comes to actual strategy and coalition-building. They simply don’t have the political capital to be so extreme and uncompromising. In today’s political climate, purity tests and rigid stances only serve to alienate potential supporters. Pragmatism and incremental change aren’t just options; they’re necessities if we want to advance liberty, shrink government, and create a more free and independent society.
That’s why, for the first time in my life, I registered as a Republican. I still believe in the core principles of limited government, free markets, and individual liberty. But unlike the Libertarian Party, the Republican Party has the infrastructure and political muscle to actually get things done. There are still enough liberty-minded Republicans who are willing to work across the aisle on key issues like criminal justice reform, immigration, and cannabis legalization. Within the Republican Party, there’s a real opportunity for effective movement on these issues. In contrast, the Libertarian Party seems content to just argue and create chaos.
It’s not about abandoning my principles. It’s about finding a political home where those principles have a fighting chance of becoming reality. The Libertarian Party’s unwillingness to engage in practical politics and its tendency to self-destruct rather than collaborate make it incapable of achieving meaningful change. It’s a choice between political pragmatism and ideological purism, and only one of those paths leads to progress.
So, I’m putting my energy where it can actually make a difference. I still believe in many of the ideals that drew me to the Libertarian Party, but those ideals have a better chance of being realized through a party that understands the importance of coalition-building and working within the system to change the system. The Republican Party offers a path toward real progress, not just more infighting and chaos. It’s time to actually advance liberty in our lifetime, not just argue about it online.
Written By: Stephen Despin Jr. | Founder/Contributor
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