LPNH calls Ayotte's letter an effort to curtail legal political speech
Libertarian Party of New HampshireState political party
The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire called Governor Kelly Ayotte's letter to X a "shameful" effort to "curtail legal political speech".
“curtail legal political speech”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Was the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire's 'assassination' post a threat of political violence?
On September 22, 2026, the official X account of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire posted that the party "openly support[s] the assassination of basically every elected Democrat in New Hampshire," adding that anyone unwilling to do so should vote Republican. InDepthNH.org attributed the post to party chair Jeremy Kauffman. The Boston Globe and Boston.com described it as deleted, while InDepthNH.org reported on September 23 that it remained live and that party chair Jeremy Kauffman said it had not been taken down. New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, state Democratic Party chairman Raymond Buckley, House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson, U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas and Maggie Goodlander, and Republican congressional candidate Lily Tang Williams condemned the post. The state Attorney General's office said it was aware of the post but would not comment further. The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire's account separately said its posts are "completely legal," and after X temporarily suspended the account, Kauffman wrote that "patriots" should be able to "advocate for self-defense." It was the third time since 2024 that the party's account had posted about killing elected officials; the national Libertarian Party disaffiliated the state party in May 2026.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Boston Globe report on Governor Kelly Ayotte's letter asking X to suspend the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire's account. It dates the party's post about killing Democrats to Tuesday, October 13, and describes Alexis Simpson's statement, the deleted post about her, and responses from Jason Osborne, Sherman Packard, the Department of Justice and the party.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Governor Kelly Ayotte had asked X that day to remove the party's posts and suspend its account.
After the quotation
House Speaker Sherman Packard, a Republican, disputed that framing, saying, "Wishing death on an elected official is not political speech worth debating".
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the party's September 22 post. By calling the governor's request to remove its posts an effort against legal political speech, the party rejects the description of its posts, that one included, as threats of violence. That challenges the characterization; it does not argue that violence is justified.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Kelly Ayotte
More from this case
Read the full caseAyotte asks X to remove the party's posts and suspend its account
“Violent rhetoric is completely unacceptable and has no place in our civil discourse. These posts plainly violate X's own rules on violent content, and I'm calling on X to remove them and suspend the account immediately.”Read statement
Simpson calls on X to permanently ban the LPNH account
“Enough is enough. Week after week, the LPNH account posts rhetoric on X intended to encourage violence against Democrats. I have reported these posts to the appropriate law enforcement. X needs to enforce its rules and permanently ban the LPNH account.”Read statement
LPNH says the media misrepresented a get-out-the-vote campaign
Libertarian Party of New Hampshire
“You get a place where when the media misrepresents your get-out-the-vote campaign as a call to 'assassinate Democrats' it's not a big deal and some elected anarcho-capitalists call you and laugh about it.”Read statement
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- LPNH calls Ayotte's letter an effort to curtail legal political speech
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The Dispute Index. "LPNH calls Ayotte's letter an effort to curtail legal political speech". First published: 2026-10-19. Last updated: 2026-10-19. https://disputeindex.com/events/6080-the-libertarian-party-of-new-hampshire-called-governor