Michael Rectenwald
2028 Libertarian Presidential nominee
$3.8K
NOV 7, 2028
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAcademic
Political ideologyLibertarian
Age70 years old (Jan 29, 1956)
GenderMale
BackgroundAcademic
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EducationUniversity of Pittsburgh (B.A., English literature, 1983)
Notable personal detailsMichael D. Rectenwald is an American author and former New York University professor who taught in Liberal Studies and Global Liberal Studies and retired in January 2019. He has written on secularism and cultural/literary studies and later became a political activist associated with the Libertarian Party's Mises Caucus. In 2023 he filed with the FEC as a Libertarian candidate for president and placed second at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, losing the nomination to Chase Oliver.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
The candidate advocates major reductions in government size and spending and supports cutting or eliminating federal taxes and tax-collecting agencies (including abolishing the IRS and federal income tax). He has stated positions opposing capital-gains taxes and promoting abolition of large federal programs and agencies.
Healthcare
Opposes government involvement in healthcare and rejects the Affordable Care Act. Advocates market-based or non-governmental approaches to health insurance and care.
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Immigration & Border
Supports more restrictive, invitation-based immigration and stronger controls rather than open-borders policies; emphasizes humanitarian concerns but favors policies that require immigrants to be vouched for or financially responsible and allows for stronger local/state control over admissions. Positions focus on limiting uninvited immigration and reforming legal pathways rather than broad regularization or open asylum expansion.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate identifies as pro-life and has said that abortion violates the libertarian Non‑Aggression Principle and that unborn babies have a right to live. He has stated opposition to abortion and aligns with positions that restrict access rather than support unfettered access.
Climate & Energy
The candidate rejects mainstream climate-change urgency and criticizes what he calls climate-change ‘catastrophism,’ framing climate alarm as exaggerated and politically motivated. He promotes skepticism of climate science consensus and opposes climate emergency framing and aggressive climate policies.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate opposes additional restrictions on purchasing firearms, opposes mandatory buybacks of assault weapons, supports allowing teachers to carry guns in schools, and rejects banning gun purchases for people on the no‑fly list. These positions favor protecting gun ownership rights while supporting some measures for armed school staff rather than expanded federal regulation.
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