Huge Republican Liberty Caucus Victories in California, Maine, South Carolina
By Aaron - June 9, 2010 at 6:51 AM
Filed under California , Congress , Elections , Maine , Nevada , South Carolina , State races
Filed under California , Congress , Elections , Maine , Nevada , South Carolina , State races
These results are perhaps the best results the Republican Liberty Caucus has achieved on a single primary day in our nearly 20 years of existence.
As we reported last night, RLC endorsed candidates for Governor in Maine (Paul LePage) and South Carolina (Nikki Haley) were victorious on the Super Tuesday primary ballots. In South Carolina, Nikki Haley will face Congressman Gresham Barrett in the run-off because she did not reach 50% of the vote.
Some big news out of South Carolina: incumbent State 
Treasurer Converse Chellis has been ousted by a Republican Liberty Caucus-endorsed challenger. Curtis Loftis (pictured), a small business owner who has “created jobs, balanced books and met payroll,” defeated the incumbent Treasurer by running as a conservative alternative to the Republican Chellis.
Loftis attacked Chellis for making an accounting error that cost the state (taxpayers) $60 million. Loftis is a term limits supporter who vowed to take on special interests and corruption as State Treasurer. This is an exciting win for South Carolina taxpayers. On a similar note, Congressman Bob Inglis, a bailout supporter representing a very conservative South Carolina Congressional district, will have to face a Republican opponent in an upcoming run-off election.
In California, RLC endorsed candidates for Congress did quite well. John Dennis in District 8 and Gary Clift in District 10 both won their respective primaries in northern California. Dennis (pictured with Dr. Ron Paul), a RLC member and Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of San Francisco, will face Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi this fall. 
In southern California, RLC candidate Clayton Thibodeau gained a respectable 30% of the vote against moderate U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack. In Santa Cruz, RLC-endorsed State House candidate Ellie Black faced no primary opponent, so she will face incumbent Democrat Assemblyman Bill Monning in November.
In Maine, 
four RLC-endorsed candidates for State Representative will advance to the General Election, including Richard Malaby (pictured left), Ryan Harmon, Michael McClellon, and William Gombar. Harmon and Gombar are both dues-paying RLC members. Their victories come on the heels of a huge win for Paul LePage to become the next Governor. Remember the name Paul LePage; with our help, he is going to become Maine’s next Governor.
In addition to the Nikki Haley and Curtis Loftis victories in South Carolina, two other statewide RLC-endorsed Republicans have advanced. RLC-endorsed candidates Richard Eckstrom — the incumbent two-term Comptroller General — won his primary and Bill Connor (pictured right) has advanced to a run-off in his bid to become the state’s Lt. Governor. 
Connor would be a significant improvement over the current Lt. Governor, Andre Bauer, who performed terribly in yesterday’s gubernatorial election. According to Connor, “I’m one who firmly believes in as small a government as possible. Charity is the job of churches.”
Additionally, two South Carolina RLC candidates scored victories in their Congressional races. Mick Mulvaney was unopposed in District 5 against 30 year incumbent John Spratt. Mulvaney describes himself as a libertarian Republican and Republicans nationally believe he has a good chance in November. In Congressional District 6, RLC-endorsed candidate Nancy Harrelson advanced to a run-off with a Republican opponent for the right to face House Majority Whip James Clyburn. Harrelson has signed the RLC’s Liberty Compact.
Although 
the Republican Liberty Caucus did not endorse any candidates in the high profile Nevada U.S. Senate race, the Republican Liberty Caucus did endorse Sharron Angle in her 2006 bid for Congress. Angle is well aware of the RLC, is a subscriber to our Nevada RLC list-serve, and has made efforts to reach out to RLC members in the past. In July, 2009, we profiled her as a “leader for liberty” in the RLC newsletter. While many RLC members may object to her views on social issues or foreign policy (or both), her philosophy on government appears to be in line with ours in the general sense: It’s doing way too much and must be downsized.
This is turning out to be a great election year for liberty-focused candidates, thanks in large part to the Tea Parties. Please become a Republican Liberty Caucus member today or make a small gift so we can propel our movement forward in states like California, Maine, and South Carolina.
On June 9th, 2010 at 10:54 am
This is wonderful news!! Keep up the awesome work and may we see the restoration of the Republic.
On June 9th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
This is great! Now if we can just get Van Irion through the primary here in Tennessee’s 3rd. If we make it through the primary he is a shoe in given that the 3rd is a republican district. Our primary is August 5th. Van is running a very strong race. If you have not given yet we would appreciate it! http://www.Van4Congress.org.
On June 9th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Amazing. The fact that this many libertarian leaning candidates have won their primaries means that the Ron Paul Revolution’s message is spreading.
On June 9th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
This headline caught my eye on Facebook.I am thinking what victory in California ? I am happy for John Dennis. how about the Governor and Senate primary? Larry Naritelli and Chuck DeVore should have won. But the Rino and Marxist took it. as stated in an article-June 1, Carly, has Marxist ties but somehow neglected to tell the California voters. most of the voters were easily swayed by her commercials running 24/7. Is my friend right? that there is no way we can stop the slide into socialism, facscism or the NWO ?
On June 9th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Good work, RLC!
On June 10th, 2010 at 12:52 am
I looked on Nikki Haley’s website but I couldn’t find the RLC’s endorsement.
On June 10th, 2010 at 7:22 am
We must realize that we are a global economy where countries compete. We do need to cut back government. State governments are too big and overlap with cities and towns chewing up funding for its own maintenance leaving too few dollars for needy recipients. Putting these government service jobs back into private industry with government regulating
will spur the economy and protect citizens.
State governments are passing more laws for fines, fees and programs for citizens to pay to stay out of jail and denying speady trials for citizens to PROVE their innocence. DA’s, AG’s and Judges have Immunities and self governing review boards protecting them from misconduct while they work for Governments’ best interests and their own political and personal self interests.
Family courts are exploiting children and elders and their business enterprises are bilking assets to fund State coffers and fatten their own wallets.
Politicians pass laws to fill government coffers and their own political interests and their other jobs and financial holdings.
Government is in partnership with businesses and do not effectively regulate them to protect the public. There is Permeated waste, fraud and deep pockets and no effective means for citizens victimized by government or their partnerships to obtain relief.
The Obama Administration has re implemented Federal Regulations over business and the markets but without an effective system to hold elected officials accountable, our economy will continue to flounder.
The public must be more engaged in what their government officials activities; know what their other jobs are, how they vote and what bills they propose, what their financial holdings are.
A 4th Branch of government is required with a Jury pool system for serving. Paying citizens a wage for serving will encourage participation. Subpeona and Impeachment powers; using the Constitution as law, reviewing ALL evidence, and ruling with COMMON SENSE vs convoluted leagalese that is expert on twisting, turning and flipping truths. No lawyers in black robes to rubber stamp illicit plans and plots for profiteering or retaliations. We must end Immuntities and implement term limits.
We the people must take back our government and its courts and work to hold our leadership accountable.
On June 11th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Nikki Haley “twittered” about the RLC endorsement and that Twitter feed appeared at her campaign site.
On June 21st, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Congratuloations RLC and the grass roots! This many liberty minded candidates, and this many primary victories or ties bodes well for the return of republican minded Republicans at all levels of government. Give Me Liberty!