Mark Elworth Jr.

Mark Gerald Elworth Jr. (born August 6, 1976) is an American freelance musician, businessman, cannabis rights activist, frequent candidate for public office, and rockhound. Elworth was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Nebraska in 2014 and was the Legal Marijuana Now candidate for Vice President of the United States in 2016.[1][2]

Mark Elworth
Born
Mark Gerald Elworth Jr.

(1976-08-06) August 6, 1976
Omaha, Nebraska
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Nebraska Omaha
Occupation(s)Businessman, musician
Known forCannabis rights activism,
Amateur geology
Political partyLibertarian (2014, 2018 and 2023−present)
Other political
affiliations		Legal Marijuana Now (2015–2016, 2021–2022)
Democratic (2020)
Independent (2018)
Green (2016)

Elworth, who petitioned in the past for ballot access for the Nebraska Green Party, led a successful statewide petition drive to acquire ballot access for a Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party.[3][4][5]

Elworth, who resides in Brush, Colorado, is state party chairperson of Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW.[6]

Personal life

When Mark Elworth was young, he was arrested several times for cannabis possession. He told a reporter for The Daily Nebraskan that even though the charges were misdemeanors, the record of infractions has haunted him as an adult.[7]

Elworth, who graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha, operated a free community garden in South Omaha, and has been a volunteer coordinator during petition drives for several state political parties.[1][5][7] A single father of one child, Elworth is state party chairperson of Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW.[6]

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, where he often points to as his permanent address, Elworth is known for leading a nomadic lifestyle, and he has taken up temporary residency at various locations, mostly in the Midwest and Western United States, including: Council Bluffs, Iowa; Brush, Colorado; Eugene, Oregon; and Las Vegas, Nevada.[8][9]

Political career

Green Party

Elworth got involved in politics in the 1990s, volunteering for the Green Party during the 2000 Ralph Nader presidential campaign. In 2016, Elworth was a Green Party candidate for Nebraska Legislature.[10][11]

Libertarian Party

Elworth met the Libertarian Party during the Nebraska branch's 2010 ballot access petition drive.[2]

Elworth was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Nebraska in 2014. He campaigned on a platform of marijuana legalization, and cutting corporate welfare. Elworth spent $500.00, saying that he was running a grassroots campaign and did not accept any large contributions.[2][10][12]

In 2018, Elworth ran for US Senate as a Libertarian candidate but left the race before the primary.[13][14]

In 2015–2016, Elworth petitioned for a Marijuana Party of Nebraska to be officially recognized by the state. To make the ballot, he needed 5,397 signatures statewide. In July 2016, the party turned in 9,000 signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State. However, the Secretary of State said that half of the signatures were invalid, falling short of the 5,397 needed.[3][15]

In 2016, Elworth changed the name of the Nebraska party to Legal Marijuana NOW.[11]

Elworth was the Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate for Vice President of the United States in 2016. His name appeared on ballots in Iowa, and Minnesota.[16][17][18]

After an unsuccessful attempt to make it onto Nebraska ballots in 2016, Elworth began circulating petitions for 2020 ballot access for a Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party in September 2016.[11][19]

Elworth said the group planned to collect double the number of signatures they submitted in 2016, to ensure their success. In September 2017, Elworth told a television reporter that Legal Marijuana NOW Party had gathered signatures of 10,000 registered Nebraska voters.[14][20][21]

Independent candidate

Elworth, of Council Bluffs, was nominated by petition to run independently for U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa’s 3rd congressional district, in 2018, as an independent candidate under the banner of “Legal Medical Now.”[8]

2020s activism

Democratic Party

In 2020, Elworth ran for Congress in Nebraska’s Third District as a Democrat. Elworth was the only person to file in the district for the Democratic Party primary, and was declared the winner. Elworth had a falling-out with the Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, Jane Kleeb. Elworth claimed Kleeb and the Democratic Party refused to support his candidacy, while Kleeb said Elworth failed to complete party paperwork. Elworth stated that he intended to switch parties and run as the candidate of Legal Marijuana Now Party in the district. Elworth told a reporter, “I consider myself pretty moderate on a lot of issues. I’m a little conservative on money issues. I’m more liberal on social issues. I’m a constitutionalist.” Elworth said, “I believe in people’s rights and equal rights for everybody. I’m not a true Democrat, but I’m not a Republican either.”[9] Elworth received 18% in a three-way race, in the November 2020 General Election.[22]

MAGA Patriots Party

Early in the month of February 2021, Elworth filed paperwork to establish a MAGA Patriots Party, headquartered in North Platte, Nebraska. Elworth said the state Elections Division denied his filing arbitrarily, but Secretary of State Bob Evnen said Elworth’s filing was deficient. Elworth told a reporter that he was still working on getting his own Legal Marijuana NOW Party recognized by the state of Nebraska.[23]

On April 21, 2021, Legal Marijuana NOW gained official recognition as a state political party in Nebraska, earning the party ballot access for their candidates, and allowing Legal Marijuana NOW Party to register voters. And Elworth became chairperson of Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW.[24]

Elworth was a Legal Marijuana NOW candidate for United States Representative from Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District in 2022.[25]

Colorado Libertarian Party

Elworth moved to Colorado, in 2023, to run as a 2024 Libertarian candidate for U.S. Representative from Colorado's 3rd congressional district.[26][27]

Political candidacy

Elworth has run numerous times for various offices, including:

Further reading

References
  1. Walton, Don (October 12, 2014). "Elworth is third governor candidate". Lincoln Journal Star.
  2. Ozaki, Andrew (October 17, 2014). "Mark Elworth Jr.'s shaking up election with unflinching honesty". KETV 7 ABC News.
  3. "Activists petition for Marijuana Party of Nebraska". Kearney Hub. July 13, 2015.
  4. Robinson, Travis (September 20, 2015). "Omaha Man Petitions for Marijuana Political Party". KNOP-TV.
  5. Dortch, Winnie (February 6, 2017). "Man creates community garden that gives free fruits and vegetables". Fox 42 KPTM TV News.
  6. Walton, Don (April 22, 2021). "Legal Marijuana Now Party gains ballot recognition in Nebraska". Omaha World-Herald.
  7. Olson, Emma (November 28, 2016). "Narcotics charges increasing at UNL". The Daily Nebraskan.
  8. Brownlee, Mike (September 15, 2018). "Here's a roundup of Pottawattamie County, state and federal candidates". The Daily Nonpareil.
  9. Summers, Brandon (June 19, 2020). "Elworth leaving Democrats for Legal Marijuana Now Party". The Grand Island Independent. Elworth served before as 2016 vice presidential candidate for the LMN Party and achieved 10th place in the general election. "I wanted to help the Democrats out this time, but they were unable to give me any support at all," he said. "I was all gung ho to win this race for them." Elworth touted his record as a marijuana activist and third party candidate. He has also run as a Libertarian candidate and has supported the Green Party. "I consider myself pretty moderate on a lot of issues," he said. "I'm a little conservative on money issues. I'm more liberal on social issues. I'm a constitutionalist. I believe in people's rights and equal rights for everybody." He added, "I'm not a true Democrat, but I'm not a Republican either."
  10. Wilkinson, Melanie (July 12, 2014). "Nebraska governor hopeful Mark Elworth Jr. looks to fuel Libertarian Party's fire". Omaha World-Herald.
  11. Pluhacek, Zach (September 14, 2016). "Marijuana groups already petitioning for 2018 ballot". Lincoln Journal Star.
  12. Knapp, Fred (October 22, 2014). "Property tax, marijuana, backgrounds divide Nebraska candidates for governor". NET Nebraska PBS-NPR News.
  13. Moring, Roseann (January 11, 2018). "More Nebraska candidates announce plans to run for governor, U.S. Senate and House". Omaha World-Herald.
  14. Krohe, Kalin (April 4, 2018). "Krystal Gabel For Governor And Legal Marijuana Now Petition Signing In Scottsbluff". Panhandle Post.
  15. Associated Press (August 5, 2016). "Marijuana Party petition drive fails to result in ballot placement". Lincoln Journal Star.
  16. Adams, Mike (September 5, 2016). "HIGH TIMES Legislative Roundup: September 5". High Times.
  17. Stoddard, Martha (July 23, 2016). "Marijuana Party seeks spot on ballot for presidential race". Omaha World-Herald.
  18. Associated Press (July 25, 2016). "Marijuana Party candidates could appear on Nebraska ballot this fall". The Denver Post.
  19. Jordan, Spike (May 12, 2017). "Legalize Marijuana Now advocates petition to get pro-marijuana third-party on the ballot". Scottsbluff Star Herald.
  20. Chitwood, Joe (July 12, 2017). "Pro-pot party petition drive reaches North Platte". North Platte Bulletin.
  21. Ozaki, Andrew (September 29, 2017). "Medical marijuana advocates petition to form Nebraska political party". KETV 7 ABC News.
  22. "Nebraska Election Results: Third Congressional District". The New York Times. December 5, 2020.
  23. Vijil, Job (February 26, 2021). "Former Nebraska congressional candidate files to establish the MAGA Patriots Party". Lincoln Journal Star. Elworth said, "The Nebraska Republicans have failed us. They no longer work or compete for your votes. They have ulterior motives without your best interests in mind." Elworth also said the state Elections Division rejected the first filing for the MAGA Patriots Party, a claim Secretary of State Bob Evnen disputed. "Earlier this month, Mr. Elworth Jr. sent our office a filing to establish a new political party," Evnen said in an email. "The establishment of political parties is governed by Section 32-716 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes. Mr. Elworth's Jr. filing was deficient in various respects." Evnen said an email sent to Elworth advised him of the deficiencies in the petition form. He added that Elworth responded to the staff member "appreciatively" and the Elections Division has not heard from him since. "If Mr. Elworth Jr. claims that our office made up new rules for him, he is mistaken and that is inaccurate," Evnen said. "We apply the laws that the Legislature has passed, and that is what we did with respect to Mr. Elworth's Jr. petition." Elworth's petition filing lists an Omaha address, according to the Secretary of State's Office. In 2020, Elworth ran for the 3rd Congressional District seat held by Rep. Adrian Smith. After running unopposed in the Democratic primary, he said he wanted to leave the party and form his own, the Legal Marijuana Now Party. Elworth said he is still working to get the Legal Marijuana Now Party recognized as well.
  24. "'Legal Marijuana NOW' now recognized as a party in Nebraska". Associated Press. April 21, 2021.
  25. Hoffman, Ryan (March 6, 2022). "Here are the candidates running for office in Nebraska's May 10 primary". Omaha World-Herald.
  26. Kim, Caitlyn (August 18, 2023). "Who's running to compete against Lauren Boebert in Colorado District 3 in the 2024 elections?". Colorado Public Radio.
  27. Luning, Ernest (August 23, 2023). "Lauren Boebert doesn't plan to sign Libertarians' pledge". Colorado Politics. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
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