Local Lancaster Latest Libertarian to Launch Labor Towards Election

COLUMBIA CITY-The Whitley County Libertarian Party passed a unanimous resolution Saturday morning endorsing Jarrad Lancaster for Congress. A longtime resident of Whitley and Kosciusko County, Lancaster is a retired third-generation firefighter and NFPA instructor, current volunteer Whitko wrestling coach, and Whitley County hobby rancher.

Congress hopeful Jarrad LancasterPhoto byMelany Love

Lancaster’s research into discovering the truth concerning election integrity, the shady dealings of those in power, and the erosion of parental rights in schools (and Constitutional rights in general) brought him into the political arena. When a child relative was forced to choose between taking the experimental COVID vaccine or being denied life-saving medical treatment, Lancaster joined with a few other like-minded truck drivers and co-pioneered the American Freedom Convoy, taking a daring stance against the government overreach of mask mandates and forced vaccination. Lancaster later spoke at the Wisconsin State capital on the subject as well. 

Lancaster is passionate about parental rights in schools and has been a vocal attendant at Purple for Parents meetings throughout Northern Indiana. According to their mission statement, “Purple for Parents of Indiana Inc. informs, advocates, and engages Hoosiers to protect children from harmful agendas saturating the education system. [They] believe the responsibility of teaching morals and values to children are the parents/caregivers and NOT a government institution.” Lancaster supports green energy and personal freedom; however, he opposes the use of taxpayer dollars to seed such businesses and/or keep them afloat. 

A former staunch Republican, Lancaster grew disillusioned with the party’s infighting, lack of teeth and complacency over courage. In his own words, Lancaster said, “I believe the Libertarian Party is the Constitutional, ‘America first’ representation in government.” He isn’t alone; as political parties have evolved over the many decades of their existence, the Libertarian Party’s ideals of personal freedom and small government have started to sound more like the “Give me liberty or give me death” and “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” of the United States’s origins, and the number of Libertarian candidates who win elections keeps increasing. For many people, Ron Paul sparked interest in the party during his 2012 presidential run. Most recently, 2020 Presidential Candidate Jo Jorgensen earned the second-best result in Libertarian history, and Indiana Libertarian Candidate for Governor Donald Rainwater’s made headlines as well. Though Republican Governor Eric Holcomb gained 30% of voters who also voted for Joe Biden, Rainwater gained a record-breaking 11.4% of the vote and 2nd place in a third of Indiana’s counties (including Whitley County). Rainwater plans to run again in the 2024 election.

Libertarian Candidates will be decided at the Libertarian State Convention in Fishers Indiana, on March 2, 2024, where Lancaster and any other nominees from Indiana will be considered as potential candidates.