Iowa Libertarians to nominate new candidates Wednesday

The original Libertarian candidates in these races were removed from the ballot by the State Objections Panel in June. In the 3rd District, Marco Battaglia was removed by the panel because they said the name he used as a candidate was too different from his legal name, Mark T. Anderson, which could cause voter confusion.

The panel also ruled the Libertarian ticket of Nicholas Gluba for governor and Jules Cutler for lieutenant governor did not qualify for the general election ballot. The state panel found Cutler had not submitted an affidavit of candidacy for lieutenant governor by the June 2 deadline, though Cutler and her attorney argued she was told by an employee at the secretary of state’s office that she did not need to submit this paperwork.

Both decisions were challenged by the Libertarian candidates in court. In late July, a Polk County District Court judge released a ruling upholding the decision to keep these candidates off the ballot. Both Gluba and Battaglia told reporters they planned to appeal the ruling. But on Tuesday, the Iowa Libertarian Party announced Battaglia had ended his campaign because of a medical emergency. Speakers at the Sunday meeting said Cutler similarly moved to end her campaign, allowing for the nomination of a new gubernatorial running mate for Gluba.

Iowa Libertarian Party Chair Stephanie Berlin said Sunday these two updates mean the party must choose new candidates to appear on the ballot.

“Unfortunately, Marco had a medical emergency, so he is completely withdrawn,” Berlin said. “So we will not be moving forward with the appeals in his case at this time, hence, the need for the nomination and voting for replacement Libertarian candidates. Jules is not able to continue either after the court cases.”

The party meeting was originally scheduled to include nominating votes for new Libertarian candidates to enter these races — a process that must be completed by Aug. 14 under Iowa law. Berlin said the schedule for nominating candidates changed because the committee had to first change its non-party political organization (NPPO) “vacancy protocol” — new language specifying how substitute candidates are chosen — before it could officially nominate new candidates.

The LPIA committee approved the new language, but Berlin said Libertarians need to file the new revised protocol with the secretary of state before nominations can happen — paperwork she said she plans to submit at 8 a.m. Monday.

After the planned nominating votes Wednesday at 8 p.m., Cutler said the chosen replacement candidates will go with her and the LPIA secretary to file affidavits of candidacy, minutes of the vote and signatures with the Iowa secretary of state.

“It’s fairly straightforward, so there’s no more, I guess, need to have a lawsuit — at least at this point,” Berlin said. “… Now, obviously, if there is an objection to this process, we will have to go through that process. But there are no more lawsuits specifically related to Battaglia or Cutler.”

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