Larry Sharpe is once again considering a run for New York governor.
The Libertarian candidate announced that he has formed an exploratory committee for governor in 2022 and will make a decision soon on another run.
Sharpe ran for governor in 2018 and secured 1.6% of the vote, or about 95,033 votes in total. Sharpe came in only slightly behind Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins, who garnered 1.7% of the vote in 2018.
“These last two years have exposed so many more cracks in our state and has fostered even more division in our society,” Sharpe said. “Our current two-party system has failed. I warned of this in 2018. It’s time for New York to hear me and make the right choice. The choice for a better New York with happier people who can work, grow businesses, raise families and retire here. It’s time for a new New York.”
Since running for governor in 2018, Sharpe has held speaking tours across the state and hosts a podcast called “The Sharpe Way.”
Sharpe also again sought the Libertarian Party’s nomination for vice president in 2020, as the running mate of Judge Jim Gray. After Gray was eliminated during convention presidential balloting, Sharpe withdrew from the race.
Right now, both Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates are starting to campaign for the governor’s race next year.
On the Democratic side, Gov. Kathy Hochul has already announced that she will be running for governor next year. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Attorney General Letitia James and others are also openly weighing their own runs.
On the Republican side, Andrew Giuliani, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, Lewis County Sheriff Mike Carpinelli, former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Derrick Gibson have all announced their bid to be New York’s next governor.
“Democrats in this state have been failing us for years and Republicans in this state have been impotent for years,” Sharpe said. “Let’s stop the madness and vote for someone with real ideas and policies and not just left-right rhetoric.”
The Libertarian Party lost its ballot access after the party failed to secure at least 130,000 votes or 2% of the vote cast in the 2020 presidential election.
Jo Jorgensen got 60,383 votes on the Libertarian Party line in New York State.
For decades, minor parties in New York only needed 50,000 votes in the gubernatorial race every four years in order to maintain their automatic ballot access. Sharpe did this in 2018 when he secured well over that 50,000, leaving many to believe he also secured the Libertarian ballot line for the 2022 election as well.
However, a new law passed in 2020 as part of the state budget raised that threshold, which could result in both the Libertarian and the Green Party to lose their ballot line for the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Right now, the Libertarian Party and the Green Party are currently fighting this in court.
Sharpe said he will “sue personally” if the party’s lawsuit fails and if both those legal fights are unsuccessful, he will petition his way on to the ballot.
“The one thing Libertarians do exceptionally well is petition to get on ballots,” Sharpe said.