Jorgensen/Photo by Campaign
This week, the Amarillo Pioneer will be bringing our readers interviews with a few of the candidates for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination. The Libertarian Party will select its candidates for President and Vice President in a nomination vote this weekend and the party’s ticket will be one of four eligible to appear on the Texas ballot in November.
With all eyes on the brewing general election fight between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, one Libertarian candidate is making her case to party delegates as to why she is the best candidate to offer voters an alternative this year.
Dr. Jo Jorgensen is one of the leading candidates for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination. A senior lecturer at Clemson University, Jorgensen has clear Texas roots. Jorgensen holds degrees from Baylor University and Southern Methodist University and has been a full-time educator since 2006. Jorgensen is no stranger to the Libertarian Party and its elections, serving as the party’s vice presidential nominee in 1996.
For the 2020 campaign, Jorgensen is focusing her campaign on practical issues with a libertarian approach of emphasizing personal liberty and personal responsibility, which she feels will appeal to the general American electorate. For her top priority, Jorgensen is calling for a reduction in the overall size of the government.
“We have got to cut the size and scope of the government,” Jorgensen said.
On what is perhaps the biggest issue facing Americans today, Jorgensen said she is not satisfied with the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, calling it, “the biggest assault on our liberties I’ve seen in my lifetime.” Jorgensen said in regards to economic recovery, the private sector should take the lead, noting the private sector has a record of being more efficient than the government.
“The private sector for the same amount of money can create twice as many jobs,” Jorgensen said.
Jorgensen also said she opposes bailouts for corporations.
“If they do a lousy job of running a company, let them go bankrupt,” Jorgensen said. “Don’t give them a bailout.”
Regarding why she is the best candidate for the Libertarian Party to nominate in 2020, Jorgensen said she will take a different approach to campaigning than that of Gov. Gary Johnson in 2016. Jorgensen notes that Johnson “went after votes” in his campaign, and while she said votes are important, her top priority will be growing the membership of the Libertarian Party.
“To grow our party long term, we need membership,” Jorgensen said. “We need people.”
For more information about Jorgensen and her campaign, visit joj2020.com.