Angela McArdle

Angela McArdle
McArdle in 2024
Chair of the Mises Caucus
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 2, 2025
Preceded byAaron Harris
22nd Chair of the Libertarian National Committee
In office
May 28, 2022 – February 2, 2025
Preceded byWhitney Bilyeu
Succeeded bySteven Nekhaila
Secretary of the Libertarian Party of California
In office
April 29, 2018 – April 6, 2019
Preceded byHonor Robson[1]
Succeeded byPaul Vallandigham[2]
Personal details
BornAngela Elise McArdle
(1983-06-07) June 7, 1983
PartyRepublican (2026-present)
Other political
affiliations
Libertarian (2017-2025) Mises Caucus[3][4]
Children1[5]
EducationBiola University (BA)
University of California, Los Angeles (CP)

Angela Elise McArdle (born June 7, 1983) is an American politician who is the chair of the Mises Caucus, a political action committee, since June 2025. She previously served as the 22nd chair of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC) from May 2022 to February 2025, secretary of the Libertarian Party of California from April 2018 to April 2019[1][2] and a former board member and organizer of the Mises Caucus before May 2022.[3] McArdle would be investigated for self-dealing by the LNC the day before she resigned, with the LNC reporting that not only had she committed gross fiduciary violations, but that she is “unfit to serve on the Libertarian National Committee, as an affiliate leader or as a candidate representing the Libertarian Party.”[6]

Under her tenure as LNC Chair, McArdle was claimed to have played a key role in leveraging the Libertarian Party's spoiler effect into securing a pardon for Ross Ulbricht by Donald Trump, something McArdle herself denies, instead arguing that Trump had a signed pardon ready to go from 2020 that he was foiled from delivering by disloyal underlings.[7]

Early life and education

McArdle has worked as a paralegal and legal aide for over eleven years. She currently works in litigation and also has a private practice where she provides self-help legal services to low-income clients. The bulk of McArdle's practices focus on real estate and constitutional law.[8]

McArdle received her Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership from Biola University in 2009 and a Paralegal Certificate from UCLA Extension in 2013. She is also trained as a craniosacral therapist through the Upledger Institute.[8]

Career

McArdle was the Libertarian nominee in the 2017 California's 34th congressional district special election.[9] She finished the primary in 17th place out of a field of 22 candidates with 0.8%.[10] McArdle ran again for the seat in 2018 and finished in 3rd place in a field of 3 candidates with 8.4%.[11]

In 2021 and 2022, McArdle was a candidate for Chair of the Libertarian National Committee.[12] She was endorsed by the Mises Caucus, of which she was also a board member.[13][3] She was elected to the position at the 2022 Libertarian National Convention on May 28.[14][15]

At Porcfest 2021, an annual libertarian festival held in New Hampshire, Executive Director of the Free State Project, Jeremy Kauffman and McArdle debated which strategy is more effective, the libertarian party strategy or the free state movement strategy.[16] Kauffman argued that, "There are more people in this room that are elected members to the NH House of Representatives and former members of the Libertarian Party than there are Libertarian Party members nationwide."[16] McArdle then counter-argued that while she wants to see the Free State Project succeed, it is her contention that the Free State Project could not have existed without the political infrastructure provided by the LP developed over the course of five decades.[16]

LNC Chair

McArdle at the 2022 Libertarian National Convention
Kash Patel, Angela McArdle, Clint Russell, and Bret Weinstein at FreedomFest 2024

On December 3, 2022, McArdle became the first known National Chair in the United States who has given birth during her tenure.[17]

McArdle was openly critical of Joe Exotic's short-lived campaign in the 2024 Libertarian Party presidential primaries.[18]

In February 2023, McArdle spoke at the Rage Against the War Machine Rally, co-hosted with the People's Party, where she called on a cut to all aid to Ukraine, and for Ukraine to surrender all of its Russian-occupied territories.[19] In June, McArdle also wrote an op-ed for Newsweek arguing that Russian forces were not committing a genocide in Ukraine.[20]

McArdle notably endorsed Libertarian nominee Chase Oliver in the 2024 United States presidential election as a vehicle for Donald Trump's victory.[21][22] She said that Oliver would take more votes from the Democratic nominee, and that it would be challenging to get libertarians and right of center independents to vote for him, so it would make the most sense to make Oliver a spoiler candidate for the Democrats.[23]

"Joint fundraiser" dispute

In mid-July 2024, McArdle entered a heated dispute with Caryn Ann Harlos, the National Secretary of the Libertarian Party, due to McArdle approving a "joint fundraiser" with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign.[24] Harlos argued that the vote to approve the joint fundraiser did not pass the threshold specified in LP bylaws, and that by forcing it through regardless McArdle violated even more bylaws and exceeded her power as chairwoman.[24] Harlos then petitioned the Libertarian Party's judicial committee, with the signatures of 188 of the 2024 delegates, arguing that McArdle violated bylaws Articles 2,[a] 3.1,[b] 14.1,[c] 14.3,[d] and 14.4.[e][24] Harlos additionally argued that efforts by the Colorado Libertarian Party to name Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as their nominee instead of the nominated Libertarian candidate, Chase Oliver, as proof McArdle is working with the Kennedy campaign against the libertarian party's own candidate.[24] Todd Hagopian, the former party treasurer, also filed an amicus brief in support of Harlos arguing that McArdle's cooperation with the Kennedy campaign is sabotaging Chase Oliver's campaign.[26] Hagopian also argued that McArdle illegally made the meeting to approve the Kennedy fundraiser as an "emergency" meeting to bypass receiving the required number of votes of libertarian delegates.[26]

Harlos would then move to put the fundraiser on hold until the Judicial Committee reaches a verdict, with McArdle quickly blocking the motion, stating that Harlos was "dilatory and out of order."[27] Harlos responded saying that her motion wasn't dilatory, since it would only hold the fundraiser's approval if the vote passes, to which McArdle again called Harlos as "dilatory and unprofessional" and asked her to rescind her judicial case and her motion to delay.[27] On July 20 the LNC executive met for a vote on blocking the fundraiser with the executive committee voted 6 in favor and 11 against, meaning that the joint fundraiser would go through, although, due to the speedy nature of the called vote, many of the voting members did not read the contents of the proposed fundraiser.[28][29] Later that day, Kennedy announced on Twitter that his campaign has signed the joint fundraiser, and that it was now in effect.[30] On July 27, Harlos sued the Colorado affiliate, and their chairwoman Hannah Goodman, for their support of Kennedy in response McArdle called an emergency session of the executive committee on July 30.[31] This meeting opened with McArdle attempting to transition the meeting to an executive session, so that McArdle would have more power over votes, in a 3–3 tie this motion failed.[32] McArdle began by arguing that the LNC cannot indemnify Harlos due to her lawsuit and for acting outside "your bylaws-mandated duties" due to being in conflict with the LNC as such she should be removed from her position.[32] In response Harlos stated she was not in conflict with the LNC, only the Colorado affiliate, and as such the executive committee had no means to remove her and as such no motion to remove was put forward.[32]

On July 31 Harlos' appeal to the judicial committee took place reviewing if McArdle violated the aforementioned by-laws.[28] During which committee chairman, Blay Tarnoff, ruled that article 2 was "a preparation, not a strict bylaw", however, also stated that the joint fundraiser was improper and asked why the LNC rushed to vote through a motion they had never seen, to which McArdle responded "We were in a hurry."[28] Tarnoff closed the meeting by stating that the LNC should withdraw from the agreement.[28]

On October 1 Harlos filed a lawsuit seeking to remove McArdle from office for alleged misconduct in her duties as chair, including inviting another political party's presidential candidate to hold a rally at the Libertarian Party's own presidential nominating convention, supporting candidates of a competing party, using party resources for non-party events without internal accounting, and self-dealing.[33]

Formal investigation and resignation

On January 23, 2025, four LNC members moved to form a committee "to investigate allegations of misconduct by our Chair".[34] The following day, McArdle announced her intention to resign as LNC Chair, citing new opportunities in the second Trump administration, likely under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the Department of Health and Human Services.[35][36][37] She continued as chair until her successor was elected in a special election on February 2.[35][37][38] On June 9, the Investigatory Committee submitted its final report to the LNC.[39] The report found gross fiduciary violations on McArdle's part, including paying her partner ~$49,600 through a shell PAC (Freedom Calls LLC) without board approval, and for personally receiving ~$32,000 from the “Kennedy Victory Fund" without disclosing it, and for using party resources to promote the “Rescue the Republic” rally which was hosted by another non-profit she founded, effectively pocketing that money too.[6] The report concluded that McArdle is “unfit to serve on the Libertarian National Committee, as an affiliate leader or as a candidate representing the Libertarian Party.”[6]

Mises Caucus Chair

On June 2, 2025, McArdle announced that she had stepped in as the new Chair of the Mises Caucus.[40][41]

Electoral history

California's 34th congressional district special primary, 2017[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jimmy Gomez 10,728 25.5
Democratic Robert Lee Ahn 9,415 22.2
Democratic Maria Cabildo 4,259 10.1
Democratic Sara Hernandez 2,358 5.6
Democratic Arturo Carmona 2,205 5.2
Democratic Wendy Carrillo 2,195 5.2
Green Kenneth Mejia 1,964 4.6
Democratic Yolie Flores 1,368 3.2
Republican William Morrison 1,360 3.2
Democratic Tracy Van Houten 1,042 2.5
Democratic Alejandra Campoverdi 1,001 2.4
Democratic Vanessa Aramayo 853 2.0
Democratic Sandra Mendoza 674 1.6
Democratic Steven Mac 663 1.6
Democratic Raymond Meza 509 1.2
No party preference Mark Edward Padilla 427 1.0
Democratic Ricardo De La Fuente 331 0.8
Libertarian Angela McArdle 319 0.7
Democratic Adrienne Nicole Edwards 182 0.4
Democratic Richard Joseph Sullivan 155 0.4
Democratic Armando Sotomayor 118 0.3
Democratic Tenaya Wallace 103 0.2
Democratic Melissa "Sharkie" Garza 79 0.2
Democratic Michelle Walker (write-in) 0 nil
Total votes 42,308 100
California's 34th congressional district election, 2018[11]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jimmy Gomez (incumbent) 54,661 78.7
Green Kenneth Mejia 8,987 12.9
Libertarian Angela Elise McArdle 5,804 8.4
2022 Libertarian National Committee chair election[14]
Candidate First Ballot %
Angela McArdle 692 69.6
Steve Dasbach 151 15.2
Tony D'Orazio 103 10.4
NOTA 47 4.7
Adam Kokesh (write-in) 1 nil
Tiffany Deleon (write-in) 1 nil
Totals 995 100%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Party is organized to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of Principles by: 1. functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements; 2. electing Libertarians to public office to move public policy in a libertarian direction; 3. chartering affiliate parties throughout the United States and promoting their growth and activities; 4. nominating candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States, and supporting Party and affiliate party candidates for political office; and 5. entering into public information activities.[25]
  2. ↑ The Statement of Principles affirms that philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded, by which it shall be sustained, and through which liberty shall prevail. The enduring importance of the Statement of Principles requires that it may be amended only by a vote of 7/8 of all registered delegates at a regular convention.[25]
  3. ↑ Nominations of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States may be made only at the regular convention immediately preceding a Presidential election.[25]
  4. ↑ In the event of the death, resignation, disqualification, or suspension of the nomination of the Party's nominee for President, the Vice-Presidential nominee shall become the Presidential nominee. Two-thirds of the entire membership of the National Committee may, at a meeting, fill a Vice-Presidential vacancy, and, if necessary, a simultaneous Presidential vacancy.[25]
  5. ↑ The National Committee shall respect the vote of the delegates at nominating conventions and provide full support for the Party’s nominee for President and nominee for Vice-President as long as their campaigns are conducted in accordance with the platform of the Party.[25]

References

  1. 1 2 "Libertarian Party of California 2018 Convention Minutes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Libertarian Party of California 2019 Convention Minutes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Meet The Team – Libertarian Party Mises Caucus". April 25, 2022. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  4. ↑ What's Next for the Libertarian Party After Jo Jorgensen Got 1%?, November 8, 2020, retrieved May 23, 2022
  5. ↑ McArdle, Angela [@angela4LNCChair] (December 31, 2022). "In 2022, I got elected as chair of the 3rd largest political party in the USA, got pregnant, got engaged, moved back to Texas & had a baby" (Tweet). Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Twitter.
  6. 1 2 3 Evans, Jordan. "Libertarian National Committee Finds Former Chair McArdle Violated Fiduciary Duty". Independent Political Report. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ Doherty, Brian (January 22, 2025). "President Donald Trump pardons Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht". Reason.com. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "About McArdle". May 17, 2016.
  9. ↑ Pyeatt, Jill (February 2, 2017). "California Libertarian Angela McArdle Files To Run For Congress In Special Election". Independent Political Report. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Final Official Election Results – Congressional District 34 :: California Secretary of State". www.sos.ca.gov. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "2018 California primary election results" (PDF). Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  12. ↑ Buchman, Joseph (November 17, 2021). "Angela McArdle, AMA (tonight or tomorrow?), Campaign for LNC Chair Update". Independent Political Report. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  13. ↑ "You probably know @angela4LNCChair has a plan, a vision, and an insane work ethic. But you might not know that she is an effective leader because she brings out the best in her team. We fully endorse Angela to lead and bring out the best in the many leaders of the LP. #RenoReset". Twitter. @lpmisescaucus. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "2022 Libertarian National Convention 5.28.2022", YouTube, @LibertarianParty, May 28, 2022, retrieved May 28, 2022
  15. ↑ "Mises Caucus Takes Control of Libertarian Party". Reason.com. May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 "Is the Free State Project a Better Idea than the Libertarian Party?". Reason.com/podcast. July 30, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Libertarian National Chair Gives Birth to a Healthy Baby Boy". Ballot Access News. December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  18. ↑ Teh, Cheryl (March 21, 2023). "Joe Exotic is running a long-shot 2024 campaign for president, all while serving 21 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot". Business Insider. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Libertarian Leak: Extremist Ties, Anti-LGBTQ+ Remarks, GOP Collaboration". Southern Poverty Law Center. August 31, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  20. ↑ McArdle, Angela (June 21, 2023). "No, Russia Is Not Committing Genocide in Ukraine | Opinion". Newsweek. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  21. ↑ Fowler, Stephen (June 21, 2024). "As voters suffer presidential election deja vu, Chase Oliver wants to be another option". NPR. Retrieved September 28, 2024. That includes Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle, who has said explicitly she endorses Chase Oliver as a vehicle for Trump's victory.
  22. ↑ Doherty, Brian (July 11, 2024). "The Libertarian Party vs. Chase Oliver". Reason.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  23. ↑ Coaston, Jane (June 17, 2024). "What Chase Oliver, the 2024 Libertarian Candidate, Believes". The New York Times. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Phillies, George (July 17, 2024). "Harlos Appeal Received by LP Judicial Committee". Third Party Watch. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bylaws and Convention Rules". lp.org. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  26. 1 2 Phillies, George (July 17, 2024). "Hagopian Files Amicus Brief in Support of Harlos". Third Party Watch. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  27. 1 2 Phillies, George (July 16, 2024). "McArdle Blocks Harlos Motion". Third Party Watch. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Phillies, George (July 31, 2024). "LNC Judicial Committee Hearing 7/31/2024". Third Party Watch. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  29. ↑ Phillies, George (July 20, 2024). "LNC Motion Against Funding RFK Fails". Third Party Watch. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  30. ↑ Phillies, George (July 20, 2024). "Kennedy Claims RFK-LP Joint Fundraising Deal Signed". Third Party Watch. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  31. ↑ Phillies, George (July 27, 2024). "Special ExComm Meeting Because Harlos Sues LP Colorado". Third Party Watch. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  32. 1 2 3 Phillies, George (July 30, 2024). "LNC ExComm Liveblog 7/30/2024". Third Party Watch. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  33. ↑ Doherty, Brian (October 10, 2024). "Libertarian Party secretary files lawsuit to remove party chair Angela McArdle". Reason.com. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Bost Moves for Committee to Investigate McArdle – Third Party Watch". June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  35. 1 2 Doherty, Brian (February 4, 2025). "Libertarian Party gets new national chair after Angela McArdle's surprise resignation". Reason.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  36. ↑ Winger, Richard (January 25, 2025). "Libertarian National Chair Announces Intent to Resign Soon". Ballot Access News. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  37. 1 2 "Libertarian National Committee Chair Resigns, Citing New Opportunities". Independent Political Report. January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Steven Nekhaila Elected Chair of the Libertarian National Committee |". February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  39. ↑ Secretary (June 2, 2025). "Notice of Special LNC E-Meeting to Hear and Consider Investigatory Committee Report, June 9, 2025 at 8:00pm Eastern". Libertarian Party. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  40. ↑ "McArdle Becomes Mises Chair – Third Party Watch". June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  41. ↑ @LPMisesCaucus (June 3, 2025). "Special Announcement from Angela McArdle" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
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