Larry Sharpe

Larry David Sharpe (born July 12, 1968) is an American business consultant, entrepreneur, political activist, and podcaster.

Sharpe was born on July 12, 1968, in Manhattan, New York, and was adopted as an infant.

He joined the United States Marines Corps at age 17, serving from 1986 to 1993.

He received a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Maryland University College.

After working as an English teacher, Sharpe founded Prime Distribution Inc., a trucking and distribution company which he later sold, in 2001.

In 2004, Sharpe built an online business training company called Neo-Sage Group, Inc., for which he serves as managing director.

As a Libertarian Party activist, Sharpe has outlined a vision to grow the party by encouraging grassroots Libertarian Party campaigns across the country.

He was a candidate for the Libertarian Party nomination for vice president of the United States in 2016, losing to former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld.

Sharpe was a candidate for the 2016 Libertarian vice presidential nomination.

During the 2016 Libertarian National Convention, he placed second on the first ballot with 30.4% of the vote.

Because no one received a majority on that ballot, a second ballot vote was held.

Sharpe received 46.9% of the vote on the second ballot, finishing second to former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld.

On July 12, 2017, Sharpe announced his 2018 candidacy for Governor of New York, making him the first person to formally mount a challenge to incumbent governor Andrew Cuomo in that election race.

Sharpe was the Libertarian nominee for Governor of New York in the 2018 gubernatorial election.

He again received that party's gubernatorial nomination for the 2022 New York gubernatorial election, but did not meet the qualifications to be listed on the general election ballot and consequently ran as a write-in candidate.

Sharpe served on the Libertarian National Committee as the Alternate for Region 8, until his resignation in February 2018 because of an internal LNC vote that failed to oust the party's then-vice chair, Arvin Vohra, following public controversial comments made by Vohra.

Sharpe received the Libertarian nomination on April 21, 2018, and Andrew Hollister was selected as the Lieutenant Governor nominee for the ticket.

Sharpe's campaign raised $102,596 prior to the first filing deadline, which was second to Andrew Cuomo's re-election campaign.

As of October 10, 2018, Sharpe had raised $449,515 for his campaign, the highest amount ever raised by a Libertarian gubernatorial candidate in New York.

Sharpe in addition was the only candidate in the race to have visited all 62 counties on the campaign trail.

On Election Day, Sharpe received 95,033 votes (1.6%) and came in fourth place behind Cuomo, Republican challenger Marc Molinaro, and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins.

Sharpe's vote total achieved automatic ballot access for the Libertarian Party of New York for the first time in the party's history.

Following the 2018 election, Sharpe continued speaking tours across New York State.

Andrew Hollister, Sharpe's running mate in 2018, was again selected as the lieutenant governor nominee.

In July 2022, the New York State Board of Elections disqualified Sharpe from the election ballot for not meeting the qualifications for ballot access.

Sharpe subsequently continued his gubernatorial campaign as a write-in candidate.

Sharpe supports reducing regulations such as occupational licensing as well as legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing other drugs.

Sharpe has advocated for raising revenue for New York by selling naming rights to bridges and highways.

Sharpe considers himself "pro-choice" as well as "anti-abortion".

While running for governor, he vowed to reduce the number of abortions in New York state by increasing availability of other options instead of establishing regulations on abortion.

Sharpe favors marijuana legalization, calling for hemp and marijuana to be "regulated like onions".

Sharpe has said he would pardon those convicted of victimless crimes or otherwise non-violent offenses.

Since 2019, he has hosted the podcast The Sharpe Way.

On April 13, 2020, it was announced that Sharpe would again seek the Libertarian Party's nomination for vice president, as the running mate of 2012 Libertarian vice presidential nominee Judge Jim Gray.

After Gray was eliminated during convention presidential balloting, Sharpe withdrew from the race.

On October 5, 2021, it was reported that Sharpe announced the formation of an exploratory committee to run for Governor of New York in the 2022 election.

On February 16, 2022, Sharpe officially announced his campaign to run for Governor of New York on Kennedy.

During the announcement, he stated that he was seeking three lines: Libertarian Party, Forward Party, and Unite Party.

Subsequently, the Forward Party endorsed Sharpe following his announcement.

Sharpe received the Libertarian gubernatorial nomination on February 19, 2022.