Steven Skelton aims to rebrand Republicanism and unseat Rep. Carolyn Eslick – Lynnwood Times
SNOHOMISH, Wash., January 20, 2022 Steven Skelton, a Snohomish-based Republican, is planning to run for State Representative representing Washingtons 39th legislative district, challenging Republican incumbent Carolyn Eslick for the Position 2 seat.
On the matters that are really important war, debt, and the infringements of rights there is no reasonable difference between the Democrat and the Republican parties, and therefore our best hope as a nation to defend liberty is the remake of the Republican party as the party of liberty and freedom to oppose the Democrats as the party of force and of government, Skelton told the Lynnwood Times.
The focus of his platform is education reform, supporting backpack funding for K-12 education. Backpack funding grants students funds that follow them to whichever school they are enrolled in, rather than giving a set dollar amount to a school based upon the enrollment in a given district.
It funds the student rather than the system. The schools are failing miserably. Lets put the money in the parents backpacks and let the parents decide where to send their kids to school, and lets let different schools open up around the country serving different needs, Skelton told the Lynnwood Times.
Along with his focus on education, Skelton believes in supporting and protecting private business and property, freedom of speech, and minimizing taxes.
Skelton ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Washingtons 1st Congressional District in 2020 and lost in the primary on August 4, 2020, to Democrat Suzan DelBene. After witnessing Governor Inslees response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which Skelton believed to be unconstitutional, he decided to focus on his home state of Washington rather than the federal government.
Prior to COVID, I really saw the federal government as the center of the irresponsible governments. They were the ones printing the money, they were the ones acting outside of their constitutional mandates. But post-COVID, my eyes have moved from D.C. to home, Skelton told the Lynnwood Times.
Skelton was born in Aberdeen and was raised on Mercer Island. In 1984 his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he lived for 28 years. When his father passed in 2012, Skelton returned to Washington with his wife and kids, living in Lake Stevens for one year before moving to Snohomish where he has lived for the past seven years. He runs his own consulting company in Everett, Steven Skelton Consulting, dealing with attorneys in competitive industries working with client acquisition; one of his clients is his wife who owns her own law firm, Skelton Law.
His interest in politics blossomed in 2012 after seeing Gary Johnson and Judge Jim Gray speak at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). During the lecture, Gray looked out into the audience and laid out the reasons students involved in sales and law should consider running for office as a Libertarian.
I was persuadedIt was focus-changing for me. I left that day telling myself Id do it, Skelton said. I see bad things coming, and its time for people to stand up for liberty, Skelton said.
Skelton has done a number of things to support his community including a free clothing store through his church and running the Snohomish Longhouse, a community kitchen that ran from 2013 to 2019 providing free meals for Snohomish residents in need.
In addition to free meals, Skelton and his team offered free showers and laundry machines. They did not ask for proof of income but instead provided their services without judgment to whoever needed them.
Libertarians are some of the most generous people I know because we understand you cannot tax and spend your way out of social problems, Skelton, who considered himself a Libertarian until recently, told the Lynnwood Times.
Although Steven Skelton identifies as a religious man, attending Central Faith Church in Snohomish where he plays bass in the band every Sunday, he believes religion and politics should be separate issues.
Im not the Christian-right Republican. I have no interest in using the force of government to instill my moral values upon anyone else. I want people to be free as they want to be to live their lives as they wish to live them, Skelton told the Lynnwood Times.
Steven Skelton maintains a strong social media presence, creating a stir on platforms like Facebook where he posts on local news outlet pages to further what he calls liberty-minded comments. He has over 1,000 followers and over 1,000 likes.
On September 17 Skelton asked his followers on Facebook if he should run with prefers Republican party or prefers Libertarian party. Although he considers himself far-distanced from the Republican party ideologically, the reason for this consideration relates back to Anthony Welti, who ran for Washington Commissioner of Insurance in 2020 as a Libertarian.
Welti was a longtime insurance worker, working in banks and insurance agencies across Washington before leaving his career to raise money and campaign for Insurance Commissioner. He raised $100,000 for his campaign. On the last day before the ballots were finalized, Chirayu Avinash Patel signed up as Republican. Patel received 644,446 votes and Welti received 324,921. Skelton believes the reason was simply due to Welti having Libertarian written beside his name.
Thats when I realized that a Libertarian may be able to win a city council position in Arlington. But a Libertarian probably cant win a statewide position, Skelton told the Lynnwood Times.
Lawyer and politician Justin Amash broke history in 2020 by becoming the first Libertarian to sit in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. In 2016 Gary Johnson, the same Libertarian who inspired Skeltons political interest, held the most successful Libertarian presidential to date receiving 3.28% of the vote (about 4.5 million).
Go here to read the rest:
Steven Skelton aims to rebrand Republicanism and unseat Rep. Carolyn Eslick - Lynnwood Times
- Nick Offerman says 'Parks and Rec' character would 'listen to reason' and reconsider his libertarian beliefs - Fox News - September 11th, 2026 [September 11th, 2026]
- BC Greens, Libertarian Party announce Abbotsford-Mission byelection candidates - Abbotsford News - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- 'Sweden Is Not a Libertarian Paradise': Socialist Swedes Want to Rebuild Their Bloated Welfare State - cbn.com - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- Libertarian takes on Rep. Beyer, pledging to cut government waste, support civil liberties - ARLnow - September 4th, 2026 [September 4th, 2026]
- Libertarian candidate for governor picks Facebook fight about abortion, gets an education - Arkansas Times - September 4th, 2026 [September 4th, 2026]
- Federal judge keeps Libertarian off NJ-7 ballot, while saying the state wronged her - newjerseyglobe.com - September 4th, 2026 [September 4th, 2026]
- Libertarian Pat Dixon on the ballot for Texas Governor in midterm election - Herald-Zeitung - September 4th, 2026 [September 4th, 2026]
- Idaho Libertarian Party now has no limit on this type of campaign spending - Idaho Statesman - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Inside the libertarian city on a Caribbean island backed by Silicon Valley - ABC News & Headlines Australian Broadcasting Corporation - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Democracys Three Moral Languages: Conservative, Liberal, and Libertarian - providencemag.com - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Libertarian candidate for Pa. state House withdraws after petition challenge - TribLIVE.com - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- Libertarian candidate for U.S. House Rick Stewart takes questions from the press at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 15, 2026, in Des Moines. -... - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- VIDEO: Paradise Inc.: The libertarian experiment on a Caribbean island backed by Silicon Valley - ABC News & Headlines Australian Broadcasting... - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- Peter Thiel to Headline Libertarian Summit in Buenos Aires, Uniting Chile's Far Right and Mining Sector - elciudadano.com - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Colt following: Could Libertarian candidate Colt Shelby have the best shot against Gov. Sarah Sanders? - Arkansas Times - August 14th, 2026 [August 14th, 2026]
- Pedagogy of the Marginalized: A Libertarian Solution for Black Academic Achievement - Race, Racism and the Law - August 14th, 2026 [August 14th, 2026]
- Four candidates are in the running for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat this November. From left: incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jon Husted, former... - August 14th, 2026 [August 14th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party of Iowa Selects Jake Heard and Chuck Aldrich to Fill Ballot Vacancies - River Cities' Reader - August 14th, 2026 [August 14th, 2026]
- Second Iowa Libertarian candidate withdraws from November election - KCCI - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- After resisting pressure from Zach Nunn and RFK Jr. to drop his bid for Congress, Libertarian Marco Battaglia leaves anyway, citing medical emergency... - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- July 27: Stephanie Dasbach named Libertarian Party of Indiana chair - Fort Wayne Business Weekly - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Iowa judge rules to keep one Libertarian off ballot, while another hangs on - Daily Nonpareil - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Iowa judge rules to keep one Libertarian off ballot, another hangs on - The Quad-City Times - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Iowa judge rules to keep one Libertarian off ballot, another hangs on - Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Iowa judge rules to keep one Libertarian off ballot, another hangs on - Sioux City Journal - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Judge opts to keep Libertarian candidates off November ballot - WQAD - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- Judge rules Libertarian candidates for Iowa Governor can't be on the ballot - KCAU 9 News - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- Read the ruling: Judge keeps Libertarian gov., lt. gov. candidates off Iowa ballot - Dispatch Argus - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- Libertarians Must Defend Tribal Sovereignty at Bears Ears - Libertarian Party - July 28th, 2026 [July 28th, 2026]
- Iowa judge to decide if Libertarian governor ticket will be on ballot - The Des Moines Register - July 28th, 2026 [July 28th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Calls for Immediate Action on Madison Police Body Cameras - Urban Milwaukee - July 28th, 2026 [July 28th, 2026]
- Charges Dropped Against Controversial Libertarian Leader - InDepthNH.org - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Libertarian Candidate Krawchuk Pub Crawl Stops In The Valley | - WKOK.com - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Voters have a Libertarian option in state Senate District 13 this November - WAJR - July 7th, 2026 [July 7th, 2026]
- Libertarian congressional candidate fights to get back on Iowa election ballot - KCRG - July 6th, 2026 [July 6th, 2026]
- Tracing Jeffersons Libertarian Thought in the Declaration of Independence - Mises Institute - July 6th, 2026 [July 6th, 2026]
- Audio: RFK Jr. urges Libertarian candidate to drop out of race to help GOP keep House | CNN Politics - CNN - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- OPINION | JOHN BRUMMETT: In Arkansas governor debate, Libertarian wins the round - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Duval GOP tries to oust Libertarian from ballot; key hearings coming this week - JaxToday - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- RFK Jr. urges another Iowa Libertarian to leave House race, recording shows - thegazette.com - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Iowa Libertarian candidates sue to get back on the ballot - KCRG - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- RFK Jr. recorded trying to entice Iowa Libertarian to quit House race: 'I cant go into specifics because theres legal prohibitions' - Little Village... - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- The Libertarian Position on the War and Imperialism of the U.S. State - Mises Institute - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- In case you missedit: RFK Jr. urges another Iowa Libertarian to leave House race, recording shows - Globe Gazette - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- I understand the needs of everyday people: Libertarian candidate for Indiana Secretary of State Lauri Shillings talks election bid - Fox 59 - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Libertarian Leanings: If the US government won't respect freedom of speech, AI firms should move - Havasu News - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Zach Nunn wanted a Libertarian off the ballot. Heres what his campaign did about it - Iowa Starting Line - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- State Objections Panel takes two Libertarian candidates off November ballot - Community Newspaper Group - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party Condemns GOP Intimidation Campaign Against Ballot-Qualified Iowa Candidates - lp.org - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- The current libertarian administration has deepened this tradition - The Week - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- The Libertarian Party Is Trying to De-MAGAfy Itself - The Bulwark - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Peter Thiel moves his family to Buenos Aires as Argentina bets big on libertarian tech money - Startup Fortune - May 31st, 2026 [May 31st, 2026]
- The Libertarian Party has cut its ties with the N.H. affiliate over the groups Trump endorsement. Now what? - The Boston Globe - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- The Libertarian Party's New Leader Has No Interest in Playing Kingmaker - Reason Magazine - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- 'It's been long enough': Longtime Libertarian influences Dan and Carol McGuire will retire from State House this year - Concord Monitor - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Libertarian National Convention held in Grand Rapids - WOODTV.com - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- The Libertarian Party has announced Dan Clarke as their Makerfield by-election candidate - Wigan Today - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Austin in line for $30M of libertarian development devoted to Ayn Rand - The Real Deal - May 25th, 2026 [May 25th, 2026]
- Antisemitism transformed Thomas Massie from libertarian extremist to liberal hero - JNS.org - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- The Library is One of the Best Libertarian Arguments for Limited Government - Washington Monthly - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Incumbent Democrat and a Libertarian have entered the race for Douglas County Commission District 5 seat - Lawrence Journal-World - May 5th, 2026 [May 5th, 2026]
- Libertarian Leanings: OK, gun control had its chance -- here are the results - Havasu News - May 5th, 2026 [May 5th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Condemns Lifting Boundary Waters Mining Ban - Urban Milwaukee - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- From libertarian visionary to architect of state power: Whats the deal with Peter Thiel - Ivo Vegter - BizNews - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Green Cards for Cubans Plunge 99.8% as ICE Arrests From the Island Surge, Libertarian Cato Group Finds - Latin Times - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- My Libertarian Plan for Resolving the U.S. War on Iran - The Future of Freedom Foundation - April 27th, 2026 [April 27th, 2026]
- Musk and Silicon Valley Arent Libertarian. They Want to Fuse With the State. - Truthout - April 27th, 2026 [April 27th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party candidate hopes for election success - Runcorn and Widnes World - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Colorado Wages War on First Amendment Under Libertarian Governor Polis - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Meet Your Neighbor: Ali Sledz says having a Libertarian candidate matters, even if she doesnt win - Midland Daily News - April 17th, 2026 [April 17th, 2026]
- Mises, Rothbard, and Libertarian Just War Theory in the 2026 Iran War - Blog de Daniel Lacalle - April 17th, 2026 [April 17th, 2026]
- CBD: Mark Latham flirts with John Ruddick and the Libertarian Party - SMH.com.au - April 17th, 2026 [April 17th, 2026]
- CBD: Mark Latham flirts with John Ruddick and the Libertarian Party - Brisbane Times - April 17th, 2026 [April 17th, 2026]
- The libertarian case for Trumps Iran war: Persians have natural rights, too - Washington Examiner - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- The libertarian case for Trumps Iran war: Answering the critics - Washington Examiner - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party to Host 2028 Convention in El Paso - National Today - April 10th, 2026 [April 10th, 2026]
- Out of Order Sign on Urinal No Match for Free-Thinking Libertarian - The Hard Times - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]
- Libertarian Leanings: OK, fine, give TSA agents back pay ... but then send them home for good - Havasu News - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party of Wisconsin to Host April 4 Town Hall Focused on Local Elections and Party Engagement - Urban Milwaukee - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Tonya Hudson wins Libertarian Party of Indiana's nomination for U.S.House of Representatives in Indiana's 9th District - WBIW - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]