LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - When you think politics, the parties that typically come to mind are republicans and democrats, but a third party is growing across Nebraska: The Libertarian Party. <\/p>\n
One Nebraska senator describes the Libertarian ideals as promoting as little government interference in everyday life as possible, lower taxes, and a free market. <\/p>\n
\"I vote for the people who I think are going to do the job, I want them to act on their values,\" said Trevor Reilly. <\/p>\n
Reilly is the chair for the Lancaster County Libertarian Party, but just a few years ago he was in the marines and a registered Republican, then he decided he wanted a change. <\/p>\n
\"Being a prior Republican I didn't agree with a lot of it, I didn't agree with the Trump media going on, so when I found the Libertarian party, I jumped into the campaign,\" said Reilly. <\/p>\n
Trevor's not the only high ranking Libertarian who is a former member of the Grand Old Party. <\/p>\n
Senator Laura Ebke is the only Libertarian senator in the unicameral, and said the political shift is becoming more and more apparent. <\/p>\n
\"I think that what we are finding is that people, especially young folks, are more and more turned off by the partisan rancor that goes on,\" said Senator Ebke. <\/p>\n
Right now there are less than 13,000 registered Libertarians, but Senator Ebke believes this is only the start. <\/p>\n
\"I'd like to see it be a competitive party I think that a long ways coming, but I think we can become an influential party,\" said Senator Ebke. <\/p>\n
The latest registered voter numbers show the Libertarian party is growing at a faster rate than the two major parties. <\/p>\n
These numbers from the Nebraska Secretary of State show the percentages of registered Libertarians in Nebraska are just a little more than 1% of the almost 1.2 million Nebraska voters, but it's trending upwards. <\/p>\n
Party members understand they are still a very small percentage, but there are plans to grow. <\/p>\n
\"Starting to run people for local elections, city county offices, school board and things like that, so I think that's a win and that's a way you build a party,\" said Senator Ebke. <\/p>\n
And there are now specific benchmarks Libertarians want to hit by the next presidential election. <\/p>\n
\"Right now the state party's goal is to actually get 50,000 registered Libertarian voters by 2020,\" said Reilly. <\/p>\n
\"If we get to 50,000 that's big, for Nebraska, that's a significant amount of the voting population, and we can make a difference in a lot of elections then,\" said Senator Ebke. <\/p>\n
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Libertarian Party is trending upwards in Nebraska - 1011Now - 1011now<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - When you think politics, the parties that typically come to mind are republicans and democrats, but a third party is growing across Nebraska: The Libertarian Party. One Nebraska senator describes the Libertarian ideals as promoting as little government interference in everyday life as possible, lower taxes, and a free market. Continue reading