Nicholas Sarwark | |
|---|---|
 Sarwark in 2016 | |
| 19th Chair of theLibertarian National Committee | |
| In office June 29, 2014 – July 11, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Geoff Neale |
| Succeeded by | Joe Bishop-Henchman |
| Vice Chair of theLibertarian Party of Colorado | |
| In office 2009–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Wayne Harlos |
| Succeeded by | Eric Mulder |
| Chair of theLibertarian Party of Maryland | |
| In office 2001–2003 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Boone |
| Succeeded by | Chip Spangler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nicholas Joel Sarwark (1979-08-27)August 27, 1979 (age 46) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Libertarian |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (2022) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Manchester, New Hampshire |
| Education | Washington Adventist University (BS) American University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Official website |
Nicholas Joel Sarwark[1] (born August 27, 1979) is an American attorney and businessman who served as the 19th chair of theLibertarian National Committee (LNC), the governing body of theLibertarian Party. Prior to his election in 2014,[2] he served on several LP national committees and as chair of theLibertarian Party of Maryland State Committee and vice chair of theLibertarian Party of Colorado State Committee.[3][4] As of 2020[update], he is the only LP chair to have served three consecutive terms.[5]
Sarwark declined to run for another term as LNC chair in 2020, and was succeeded byJoe Bishop-Henchman.[6]
Sarwark was born on August 27, 1979,[7][8] inPhoenix, Arizona.[9] He graduated fromWashington Adventist University in 1998 with aBS in computer science and a minor in philosophy, later receiving hisjuris doctor fromAmerican University'sWashington College of Law in 2008.[9] While attending law school, Sarwark clerked for the libertarian law firmInstitute for Justice.[10]
In the early 1990s, Sarwark's father brought him toMaricopa County Libertarian gatherings, and Sarwark subsequently joined the party in 1999.[9][11]
Sarwark was chairman of theLibertarian Party of Maryland from 2001 to 2003,[12][13] holding numerous LP officer and local-level roles there.[14] Prior to being elected chairman of theLibertarian National Committee in2014,[2][4] Sarwark served as a deputypublic defender in Colorado and as vice-chairman of theLibertarian Party of Colorado.[15] He was re-elected in2016,[16][17] and again in2018.[18][19]
While serving as LNC chair, Sarwark made appearances on multiple national media outlets, includingMSNBC andNPR, to discusslibertarian perspectives on various topics.[20][21][22][23]
Sarwark ran in the 2018Phoenix mayoral special election.[24] His campaign platform included opposition tolight rail, addressing the city's pension debt, and working withRepublicans andDemocrats on the city council.[25] He garnered 10.5 percent of the vote, placing fourth among four candidates,[26][27] and did not advance to the 2019 run-off.[28]
After moving to New Hampshire, Sarwark ran forHillsborough CountyAttorney in 2020 under the Libertarian Party. His major issues included clearing the criminal case backlog.[29] He received 5.6 percent of the vote, placing third among three candidates.[30] Sarwark ran for the same office in 2022 under both the Libertarian and Democratic parties.[31][32][33] He placed second in a two-candidate race with 45.25 percent of the vote.[34]
Sarwark married his wife, Valerie in 2009. After building a family inDenver, he returned to Phoenix in 2014 to join his family's independent car dealership, where he served as vice-president.[35][36] Sarwark and his wife have four children.[8][37] In 2019, Sarwark and his family moved toManchester, New Hampshire, to become a part of thegrassroots libertarian movement theFree State Project.[38]
| Round 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Nicholas Sarwark | 161 | 40.7 | |
| Geoff Neale (incumbent) | 135 | 34.1 | |
| Brett Pojunis | 66 | 16.7 | |
| None of the above | 31 | 7.8 | |
| Starchild (write-in) | 3 | nil | |
| Total votes | 396 | 100% | |
| Round 2 | |||
| Nicholas Sarwark | 194 | 51.3 | |
| Geoff Neale (incumbent) | 144 | 38.1 | |
| None of the above | 40 | 10.6 | |
| Total votes | 378 | 100% | |
| Round 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Nicholas Sarwark (incumbent) | 464 | 64.7 | |
| Brett Pojunis | 135 | 18.8 | |
| Mark Rutherford | 108 | 15.1 | |
| None of the above (write-in) | 5 | nil | |
| James Weeks (write-in) | 2 | nil | |
| Trey Waites (write-in) | 1 | nil | |
| Brett Bittner (write-in) | 1 | nil | |
| Vermin Supreme (write-in) | 1 | nil | |
| Total votes | 717 | 100% | |
| Round 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Nicholas Sarwark (incumbent) | 517 | 65.4 | |
| Joshua Smith | 175 | 22.2 | |
| Christopher Thrasher | 46 | 5.8 | |
| None of the above | 33 | 4.2 | |
| Matthew Kuehnel | 13 | 1.6 | |
| John Keil | 4 | nil | |
| Matthew Schutter | 1 | nil | |
| Arvin Hammer (write-in) | 1 | nil | |
| Dan Behrman | 0 | nil | |
| Total votes | 790 | 100% | |
| 1st round | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Kate Gallego | 171,035 | 44.5 | |
| Daniel Valenzuela | 100,998 | 26.3 | |
| Moses Sanchez | 71,121 | 18.5 | |
| Nicholas Sarwark | 40,218 | 10.5 | |
| Write-in | 1,082 | nil | |
| Total votes | 384,454 | 100% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Coughlin | 105,491 | 49.4 | |
| Democratic | Michael Conlon (incumbent) | 95,948 | 44.9 | |
| Libertarian | Nicholas Sarwark | 11,982 | 5.6 | |
| Write-in | 105 | nil | ||
| Total votes | 213,526 | 100% | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Coughlin (incumbent) | 87,004 | 54.75 | |
| Democratic | Nicholas Sarwark | 71,904 | 45.25 | |
| Total votes | 128,908 | 100% | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Steve Boone | Chair of theLibertarian Party of Maryland 2001–2003 | Succeeded by Chip Spangler |
| Preceded by Wayne Harlos | Vice Chair of theLibertarian Party of Colorado 2009–2014 | Succeeded by Eric Mulder |
| Preceded by | Chair of theLibertarian National Committee 2014–2020 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
