Libertarian Party of Minnesota

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Libertarian Party of Minnesota
Chairman	Charles Kuchlenz
Founded	1972; 54 years ago (1972)
Headquarters	1710 Douglas Dr N, STE 225U, Golden Valley, Minn., 55422
Membership (May 2022)	350
Ideology	Libertarianism (American)
National affiliation	Libertarian Party
Colors	Gold/Yellow
Senate	0 / 67
House of Representatives	0 / 134
U.S. Senate	0 / 2
U.S. House of Representatives	0 / 8
Website
www.lpmn.org
Politics of Minnesota Political parties Elections

The Libertarian Party of Minnesota is a state affiliate of the United States Libertarian Party.

The Libertarian Party of Minnesota was formed in 1972 after Charles Brekke and Steve Richardson wrote to the Libertarian Party, headquartered in Colorado, requesting to charter a state group. They were joined by Frank Haws and Rich Kleinow, who were independently seeking a way to get Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Dr. John Hospers on the ballot in Minnesota.

The first meeting of the LPMN was held at Brekke's home in Minneapolis, where Ed Contoski was elected as the LPMN's first party chair, Rich Kleinow was elected vice chairman, Charles Brekke secretary, and Claudia Jenson treasurer. The original signers of the LPMN charter, considered the founders of the LPMN and the first executive committee, were:[1]

• Ed Contoski (chair)
• Rich Kleinow (vice chair)
• Claudia Jensen (treasurer)
• Charles Brekke (secretary)
• Georgiena Brekke
• Jack Buxell
• Jane Buxell
• Franklin Haws
• Arnette Putman
• Marc Putman
• Stephen Richardson

In 1974, Rich Kleinow and Claudia Jensen were the first two candidates for the Libertarian Party of Minnesota, on the ballot for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively. Kleinow/Jensen received 1,858 votes and came in 7th place.[2] Dale Hemming, LPMN Chair[3] in 1976, ran for Congress in 1976 and 1978.