Libertarians challenge Trump-backed Republicans in bid to shake up midterms

Libertarian candidates are seeking to offer voters an alternative to the Republican-Democrat duopoly in the US midterm elections, with some directly challenging candidates backed by President Donald Trump.

Libertarian Jeremy Todd is running in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District. He entered the race after incumbent Republican Rep. Thomas Massie lost the party primary to Trump-backed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. Democratic candidate Melissa Strange is also running for the seat.

Todd describes himself as to the right of MAGA. He argues that the Republican Party has abandoned true conservatism and small-government principles.

He said he is welcoming voters who believe in conservative, limited government to his campaign. Former National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent and former Rep. Ron Paul have backed Todd.

A Pew Research survey released earlier this month found 5 percent of registered voters said they would vote for a candidate other than the Republican or Democrat in their district's House race, while 15 percent were not sure. The survey, conducted from 28 September to 4 October, had a margin of error of 1.8 percentage points among registered voters.

No candidate running under the Libertarian Party has ever been elected to the US Congress. Former Michigan Rep. Justin Amash switched to Libertarian during his final term, but all of his election wins came as a Republican.

In the Texas Senate race, Libertarian Ted Brown is on the ballot, where Trump-backed Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico. Brown won about 2.36 percent of the vote in the 2024 Texas Senate contest.

Brown dismissed regular Republican criticism that he is spoiling Paxton's chances, saying the party could avoid the problem by nominating a better candidate, a message he said he also gives Democrats.

Former Libertarian National Committee chair Bill Redpath is running in Ohio's special Senate race, where Trump-backed Republican Sen. Jon Husted faces former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Redpath won less than 2 percent in a 2022 Illinois Senate bid.

Todd advocates slashing government spending, arguing that cutting spending would stop money printing and currency devaluation so wages can catch up. He also called for ending US spending connected to the conflicts involving Ukraine, Israel and Iran.

Republican National Committee national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre said in a statement that Trump has endorsed Ed Gallrein and that Republicans are focused on electing America First Republicans. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.