Robert K. McBride

Robert K. McBride is an information technology engineer and Libertarian political figure. In 1999, McBride ran for chairman of the Prince William County, Virginia Board of Supervisors, losing to Democrat Kathleen K. Seefeldt. He ran for Congressman as an independent in 2000, but lost to Republican Thomas M. Davis. McBride garnered 2% of the vote in that election. By 2003, the Libertarian Party of Virginia had decided that it needed to win some local elections before it would have a chance in statewide or federal races. McBride ran for Occoquan Magisterial District supervisor that year, picking up the endorsement of Ruth Griggs, the retiring supervisor. Griggs was expelled from the local Republican Party as a result of that endorsement, which threatened the candidacy of Republican Corey Stewart for that seat. In the last days before the election, Stewart mailed out postcards to every home in the district accusing McBride of supporting drug legalization, abolition of public education, and repeal of zoning laws. Ultimately, Stewart finished with 3,110 votes (51%); Scarborough ended with 1,790 (29%), and McBride took 1,196 (20%). It was the best vote ever for a Libertarian in Virginia in a three-way partisan race, breaking the previous record of 15%, set by Paul Gagnon in a campaign for the Fairfax County, Virginia Board of Supervisors in 1991.

References

* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/va/elections/va11/ 2000 Virginia Election] , The Washington Post, 2000.
*Kafka, Lillian: Challenger defeats Wilbourn: Other incumbents keep supervisor positions, Potomac News, Nov. 5, 2003.
* [http://www.lp.org/lpnews/0312/election_results.html Libertarians pick up 21 wins in local elections] , LP News, 2003.
*Rollins, Kevin: [http://www.lpva.com/Archives/News/2003/20030925mcbride.shtml McBride Wins Major Endorsement] .
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/campaign2000results/state/state_va.html State Results] , CBS News.