Third-party and independent candidates from across Iowa will meet in Shaeffer Hall this Wednesday, October 1 for an alternative candidate forum, hosted by the University of Iowa chapter of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL).
The forum starts at 8 p.m. in room 140 of Shaeffer Hall, located on the UI Pentacrest.
Organizers say the event comes as a response to America’s growing dissatisfaction with both Republicans and Democrats, citing a 2014 Gallup poll that showed 42 percent of Americans now identify as political independents. The forum is designed, in part, to supplement election coverage offered by Iowa media organizations, which have failed to include these candidates in their fall election debates, organizers say.
“We don’t endorse any candidates, but we want to make sure every candidate has a fair shot, even if they don’t belong to one of the big political parties,” said YAL state chairman Matthew Evans in a statement released Friday. YAL is a national political organization that formed largely in the wake of Rep. Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign, and has since grown to incorporate a broader liberty-minded platform based on libertarian values.
Forum hosts have invited all third-party and no-party candidates currently running for statewide office. Participating candidates are as follows:
U.S. senate
| Doug Butzier | Confirmed |
| Rick Stewart | Confirmed |
| Ruth Smith | Confirmed |
| Bob Quast | Invited |
Governor
| Lee Hieb | Confirmed |
| Jonathan Narcisse | Confirmed |
| Jim Hennager | Confirmed |
Sec. of State
| Jake Porter | Confirmed |
| Spencer Highland | Invited |
Treasurer
| Keith Laube | Confirmed |
Sec. of Agriculture
| Levi Benning | Invited |
