Fed up with the two-party duopoly, Aron Lam launched a longshot Libertarian campaign for Mayor in Keenesburg, Colorado. Defying the odds, he won a landmark 60% victory by running a hyper-local grassroots effort.
I spoke with Aron on my podcast about how he pulled off this extraordinary upset. His story provides a blueprint for third party and independent candidates seeking to win local elections.
From Ron Paul Fan to Frustrated Outsider
Aron’s political awakening came in college after being introduced to Ron Paul by fellow students. The ideas of libertarian figures like Murray Rothbard and Ayn Rand opened his eyes to the possibilities of freedom.
Volunteering for Paul’s 2012 presidential run, Aron became an ardent supporter. But he grew disillusioned after witnessing the GOP establishment undermine Paul’s campaign at the national convention.
“We saw how it was being ran at the time,” Aron explained. “Reince Priebus was the Chairman and I mean was as corrupt as any politician that you can find.”
This insider sabotage convinced Aron that change through the two major parties would be an uphill battle.
Seizing the Libertarian Moment
In recent years, Aron joined the Mises Caucus, a libertarian faction focused on moving the Libertarian Party in a more principled direction.
The Mises Caucus has now taken control of the national Libertarian Party and also dominates the Colorado state party. Sensing momentum, Aron saw an opportunity to put libertarian ideas into practice locally.
But first he had to identify the right race to target.
Recognizing a Winnable Election
Reviewing past election results, Aron realized Keenesburg’s mayoral race showed promise. Voter turnout was extremely low, with the last mayor only receiving around 120 votes.
These off-cycle local elections favor grassroots organizing over well-funded campaigns. Aron knew with some legwork, he could be competitive.
Before jumping in, Aron got involved with the community by attending local events and meeting residents. This grassroots engagement paid huge dividends.
Running a Hyper-Local Campaign
When knocking on doors, Aron kept the focus hyper-local. Instead of ideological purity, he led with issues like high water bills and permitting delays facing residents and businesses.
This community-first style resonated in the small town. Aron won the Mayor’s race decisively with 60% of the vote, doubling his opponent’s total.
Delivering Results in Office
Since taking office, Aron has followed through on his promises. He removed obstructionist staff, allowed a farmer’s market to open, and repealed a ban on selling eggs from backyard chickens.
Key Takeaways
Aron’s historic victory provides a blueprint for third party and independent candidates to win local races:
- Find low-turnout elections where retail politics can have an outsized impact.
- Build community recognition by engaging residents before running.
- Run hyper-local campaigns focused on fixing issues directly impacting voters’ lives.
- With targeted messaging, third party contenders can prevail locally.
Fed up with the status quo? Follow Aron’s lead and get involved in your community. Grassroots change starts from the bottom up. Let me know your thoughts on Aron’s inspiring victory in the comments!
Link: https://www.briannicholsshow.com/760-libertarians-can-win-how-this-nurse-became-mayor-as-a-libertarian-with-over-60-of-the-vote/
