Libertarian candidate enters Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District race

Nathan LaFrance, who won 2% of the vote running for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian in 2014, announced on Facebook Wednesday that he is campaigning for the 3rd District congressional seat against U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers.

“My campaign for the U.S. Congress begins TODAY,” he wrote. “The major parties have all of the structural advantages, but we have one thing on our side – time. 490 days to be exact. Much can be accomplished over these next 16 months, and I am going to work hard each and every day toward our goal of winning the election on November 8th, 2016.”

LaFrance asked for volunteers and said he would be creating a campaign team with campaign infrastructure “over the next few weeks.”

LaFrance collected 17,210 votes, placing just ahead of the Green Party candidate, in the 2014 race that was won by now-U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton.

Libertarians as a party support significantly less government involvement in fiscal and social issues.

Because the party’s gubernatorial candidate did not win 3% of the vote in 2014, the party was required to collect 10,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot. It has already turned in its signatures and is awaiting certification by the Secretary of State’s office.