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# A Libertarian Goes Off On Gov. Phil Bredesen's Facebook Page Over Ballot Access In Tennessee
- URL: https://ivn.us/a-libertarian-goes-off-on-phil-bredesen-over-ballot-access-in-tennessee/
- Published: 2018-10-26T16:37:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-22T20:04:52.000Z
- Author: Wes Messamore
- Tags: News

**NASHVILLE, Tenn.** \- [Most polls show](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2018/senate/tn/tennessee%5Fsenate%5Fblackburn%5Fvs%5Fbredesen-6308.html?ref=ivn.us) Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) leading FMR Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) in the 2018 Tennessee Senate race. Bredesen for Senate recently ran a Facebook Ad with a quote from a New York Times op ed saying, "At stake in the Bredesen-Blackburn race is the durability of a Tennessee tradition of electing temperamentally sound senators."

That post prompted a Tennessee Libertarian Party member frustrated with the two party system's iron grip on the ballot to go off on the former governor about a ballot access process in Tennessee that is arbitrary, capricious, and clearly biased in favor of the two party establishment. Here's what he said:

*"Complete BS. It's about ignoring the TN constitution clause guaranteeing Tennesseans 'free and equal' elections by moving the goal post every time a third party manages to get over a hurdle. D's and R's? 25 signatures to get on the ballot. Anyone else? 2% of the voters. No, wait, 5%. No wait, you had to have your signatures turned in before today, even though there wasn't a date mentioned before. No, wait, we can't put a libertarian on the ballot because it's too expensive.*

*That's literally the ballot access process in TN, and we're sick of it. THAT is why there are 30 libertarians running as independent in TN this year." -Brandon McNaughton*