Who Is Jo Jorgensen?

Jo Jorgensen is an American lecturer, businesswoman, and political activist who made history as the 2020 Libertarian Party presidential candidate — the first woman to run for president on the LP ticket. A psychology lecturer at Clemson University, Jorgensen brought intellectual rigor and principled libertarianism to the national stage.

Background & Career

Jorgensen earned her Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and has spent her career in both academia and business. She previously ran as the LP's vice-presidential candidate in 1996 alongside Harry Browne, giving her deep roots in the libertarian movement long before her 2020 presidential run.

The 2020 Presidential Campaign

In 2020, Jo Jorgensen received over 1.8 million votes — the third-highest vote total in Libertarian Party history. Her campaign centered on a bold vision: making America "one giant Switzerland" — armed, neutral, and free. She called for ending foreign wars, legalizing all drugs, abolishing the income tax, and dramatically reducing the size of government.

Core Beliefs

• Non-interventionist foreign policy — bring all troops home
• End the war on drugs completely
• Abolish the income tax and the IRS
• Free markets and voluntary exchange
• Individual rights and personal responsibility

Why She Matters to the Liberty Movement

Jo Jorgensen broke barriers as the first woman to carry the Libertarian banner for president, and her 2020 campaign reached millions of Americans who had never heard the libertarian message before. She remains a respected voice in the liberty movement and a symbol of principled, consistent advocacy for freedom.

"Instead of trying to make the world safe for democracy, let's make the world safe for Americans — and everyone else — to live free."