The Republican Liberty Caucus of West Virginia is holding two preliminary organizing events with the goal of getting chartered this fall. At these events they will be telling attendees about the RLC, handing out materials and recruiting members for the founding chapter.

Ron Paul 2012/RLC Meetup

Sunday, September 11 · 3:00pm – 6:00pm

South Charleston Public Library

312 Fourth Avenue

South Charleston, WV

Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164042247006706

This meeting is  to organize and strategize for the Ron Paul primary campaign in WV. Additional information will be available about the Republican Liberty Caucus and working toward obtaining a charter for WV.

WV Liberty Club Pre-Lincoln/Reagan Dinner Get Together

Saturday, September 17 · 4:00pm – 7:30pm
Panera Bread
Town Center Mall
Charleston, WV

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154679567947851
Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/ronpaul-wv/events/31793622/

Come join us as we gather to socialize and discuss candidates who value liberty. Topics will include the upcoming special election, the GOP presidential primary, and the Republican Liberty Caucus. Great opportunity to network with other Republicans and independents from across the state who want big liberty and small government. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and good company before the big event!

According to Human Events, five more states have joined the growing state sovereignty movement sparked by RLC activists and legislators. The new states cited in the article include Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

The Indiana RLC has been lobbying hard on behalf of that states’ resolution. It was introduced by RLC-friendly Senators Walker and Stutzmann, who recently attended the Indianapolis-area “RLC Callout” event (see photo, right).

The online information for Indiana’s 10th Amendment Resolution has been updated to represent that State Senator Mike Delph (district 29) was indeed one of the co-authors and initiators of this legislation along with Senators Greg Walker and Dennis Kruse. Not only that, but the list of Senators now listed along with them on this bill has grown to fourteen.

In Kentucky, RLC-friendly legislator Stan Lee of Fayette County is a co-sponsor of the resolution, HCR 168.  I received an e-mail this week from Rep. Lee’s office in response to a message I wrote to him, saying, in part, that “Rep. Lee shares [the RLC's] vision of limited government.”

In Tennessee, RLC-endorsed State Rep. Susan Lynn (left) introduced the resolution, HJR 108 (pdf).  At her blog, Rep. Lynn says: “State sovereignty is a big deal to state legislators; hopefully, it is to you as well. It is what keeps the federal government from over stepping its constitutional bounds.”

The Kansas resolution was introduced by a Republican Senator.  Kevin Patrick, a RLC ally in West Virginia, has set up a website in support of that state’s resolution.

A good number of RLC-endorsed candidates advanced through their primaries and on to the general elections in 2008, in what could be considered a breakout year for libertarian Republicans.  A listing of all of the RLC’s candidates is available here.

Each of the below candidates endorsed by the RLC ended up advancing in their respective primary race.  Congratulations!

• Alaska: Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, who was endorsed by the RLC, looks likely to lose in his race against Don Young. Both men are vying to represent Alaskans in Congress. Even if Parnell does lose, he will remain Lt. Governor. If McCain-Palin are successful in November, he will become Governor.

• Arizona: Sydney Hay, who is currently the underdog to replace Rick Renzi in Arizona’s First Congressional District. Hay received a donation from the Republican Liberty Caucus PAC.

• Colorado: George Lilly, who was inspired to run for Congress by Ron Paul.  Lilly is running in District 1 and is not favored to win the race due to district demographics.

• Florida: Ritch Workman, who is running for State Representative in District 30.

• Georgia: Dr. Paul Broun, who won his first campaign for Congress in 2007 and then faced a challenge from the establishment GOP in 2008.  Additionally, incumbent State Senator Jeff Chapman and State Representative Steve Davis, both RLC-endorsed, fended off challengers.

• Idaho: Elizabeth Allan Hodge, a former State Representative, won the GOP primary for State Representative in district 16B.

• Indiana: GOP challenger Bill Johnson narrowly lost his primary for State Representative in District 19.  However, in a victory for the RLC, the GOP challenger dropped out of the race for personal reasons and the county GOP decided that Johnson would be the ideal replacement.

• Maryland: The RLC has endorsed several victorious primary challengers in Maryland, including Richard Matthews (CD 02), Peter James (CD 04), Collins Bailey (CD 05), Roscoe Bartlett (CD 06), and Dr. Michael Hargadon (CD 07).  Unfortunately, all of the challengers are likely to lose due to district demographics.  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is likely to retain his seat.

• Michigan: Three RLC candidates were victorious in their primaries in Michigan, including Justin Amash for State Representative (District 72), Bob Genetski for State Representative (District 88), and Tyler Whitney for Bash Township Trustee.

• Montana: RLC-endorsed candidates Greg Hinkle and Mike Miller won their races for State Senate and State Representative, respectively.

• Nevada: Kris Pickering won her primary for State Supreme Court and up-and-coming GOP rock star Lindsay Nicole Madsen won a tough primary for State Senate in District 7.

• North Carolina: Dr. B.J. Lawson won his primary and will face incumbent David Price for U.S. Congress, District 4.

• Oregon: Delia Lopez won her primary in Oregon, District 3 and will face veteran Earl Blumenauer in November.

• Texas: Dr. Ron Paul won his primary in Congressional District 14 and will return to Congress come January.

• Washington: Michael Delavar won his primary against an establishment GOP candidate in Congressional District 3. He will face incumbent Democrat Brian Baird in November.

• West Virginia: Edward R. Burgress, the RLC contact for West Virginia, won his primary in District 30 (St. Albans) for the House of Delegates. Seven individuals, all of them currently Democrats, represent this large district.