This libertarian activist is now running for Senate as a Republican – here’s why

What do you do when you realize you may be too conservative to be a libertarian?

Austin Petersen, best known for running for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination in 2016, is giving the Republican Party a try. Advocating “pro-life and pro-Constitution” values, Petersen is challenging incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri for the 2018 midterm elections.

His decision came after thousands of phone calls reaching out directly to his supporters, who overwhelmingly urged him to run as a Republican, Petersen explained on Wednesday’s “Pat & Stu.”

“I decided to take their advice because they’re the ones who are putting all of their money and their time and their energy into these campaigns,” he said of his supporters.

Even though Republicans hold Congress and the White House, they haven’t managed to fulfill platform promises like repealing the Affordable Care Act. Petersen’s main mission is to join his voice to conservative senators clamoring for real reform.

“I’m running because I want to go in there and help people like Ted Cruz and Mike Lee and Rand Paul,” he said.

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