FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2025
Libertarian Party of Colorado Unveils Evolved Liberty Pledge Strategy for 2026 Elections, Building on Historic 2024 Successes
Denver, CO – The Libertarian Party of Colorado (LPCO) today announced the evolution of its innovative Liberty Pledge strategy for the 2026 elections, designed to foster cross-partisan collaboration and advance individual freedoms across the state and nation. This updated approach refines the successful framework that played a pivotal role in the 2024 elections, where LPCO’s strategic alliances helped flip key seats and break the Democratic supermajority in the Colorado legislature.
In 2024, the Liberty Pledge—a binding commitment to core libertarian principles such as reducing taxes, protecting civil liberties, promoting school choice, and limiting government overreach—enabled LPCO to negotiate with candidates from other parties, ensuring libertarian voters could support liberty-minded individuals without splitting votes in close races. This pragmatic strategy yielded groundbreaking results, including the victories of Rebecca Keltie in Colorado House District 16 and Gabe Evans in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District.
Rebecca Keltie, a Republican challenger, signed the Liberty Pledge and defeated incumbent Democrat Stephanie Vigil by a razor-thin margin of just three votes after a recount. Her win marked a historic moment in Colorado politics, flipping a Democratic-held seat and underscoring the power of libertarian influence in tight contests. Similarly, Gabe Evans, then a state representative, signed a negotiated version of the pledge, prompting LPCO’s congressional candidate Eric Joss to withdraw and endorse him. Evans went on to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, flipping the district red and contributing to an even 4-4 split in Colorado’s congressional delegation. These outcomes not only advanced liberty-oriented policies but also etched LPCO’s mark on Colorado history by demonstrating how third-party leverage can decisively shape elections.
The 2026 Liberty Pledge was meticulously crafted by the dedicated Liberty Pledge Committee; a team of passionate volunteers whose expertise and commitment ensured the pledges reflect the evolving needs of Coloradans. LPCO extends profound gratitude to Pledge Committee members who spent countless hours in preparation including LPCO Chair Hannah Goodman, Brandon Wark of Free State Colorado, LPCO Legislative Director Michael Vance, Jefferson County Affiliate Secretary Will Long, El Paso County Affiliate Chair Rebekah Craig, and LPCO Secretary and Executive Director James Wiley. Their collaborative work has strengthened this tool to radically reshape Colorado’s political landscape, amplifying libertarian ideals and empowering voters.
“The Liberty Pledge isn’t about party loyalty—it’s about outcomes for freedom,” said Hannah Goodman, Chairwoman of the Libertarian Party of Colorado. “In 2024, we proved that by working strategically, we can prevent vote-splitting, hold candidates accountable, and win real victories against government tyranny.”
Will Long, Pledge Committee Member and Jefferson County Affiliate Secretary, highlighted his motivation: “I’m only interested in strategies that truly move the needle. The Liberty Pledge has made outstanding strides in getting liberty into our legislature and overturning an authoritarian supermajority—that’s the type of effort I’ll fully support.”
For 2026, LPCO has refined the Liberty Pledge templates for gubernatorial, state, local, and federal candidates to address emerging issues and build on recent national developments. The federal pledge now commits signers to completing the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by auditing and eliminating foreign aid spending, reflecting post-2024 momentum toward fiscal accountability. Each of the pledges emphasize auditing government expenditures for fraud, waste, and abuse; limiting emergency powers; and protecting whistleblowers, with specific references to pardons for figures like Edward Snowden and Roger Ver. Updates strengthen commitments to food freedom, medical autonomy (opposing vaccine mandates), Second Amendment rights (repealing unconstitutional gun laws like the NFA), and decentralizing power under the 10th Amendment. The gubernatorial pledge includes veto promises against tax hikes and surveillance expansions, while local pledges target municipal issues like banning red-light cameras and supporting home rule to resist state overreach.
This evolution maintains the pledge’s core emphasis on reducing government size, lowering taxes, and upholding constitutional rights in order to continue to transform Colorado’s political landscape. LPCO plans to negotiate pledges with candidates from all parties, including Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, to maximize liberty’s impact.
A prime example of this non-partisan approach was LPCO’s 2024 collaboration with independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who signed a customized Presidential Liberty Pledge committing to peace negotiations in foreign conflicts, auditing the Federal Reserve, and pardoning whistleblowers like Julian Assange and Ross Ulbricht. By signing, candidates signal their dedication to making Colorado freer and more prosperous, while voters gain a tool to hold elected officials accountable. “Tyranny doesn’t wear a party label,” Goodman added. “Whether it’s Republican overreach on surveillance, Democratic expansions of mandates, or federal encroachments on state rights, the Liberty Pledge equips us to fight tyranny wherever it manifests—by partnering with anyone willing to commit to liberty.”
LPCO Liberty Pledge – Federal Candidate
LPCO Liberty Pledge – State Candidate
LPCO Liberty Pledge – Governor Candidate
LPCO Liberty Pledge – County & Local Candidate
