Hello and welcome to my campaign website
Together, we can spread the message of liberty and limited government in the Shenandoah Valley!
The District, Joshua, and the Libertarian Party
The 2nd District
The Libertarian Party
About the candidate
If you are registered to vote in Bath, Highland, Rockingham, Page County, in the city of Harrisonburg, or the western or northern portions of Augusta County, then you live in Virginia Senate District 2 and you can cast a vote for Joshua this election!
About the candidate
The Libertarian Party
About the candidate
Joshua Huffman is a longtime resident of the Shenandoah Valley. Passionate about politics, he first began volunteering at the age of 15. A graduate of Harrisonburg High School, he earned a B.A. in government from the College of William & Mary and an M.A. in political science from West Virginia University. He presently lives in and works for the city of Harrisonburg.
The Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party
Although formerly a member of the Republican Party for 19 years, Joshua joined the Libertarian Party of Virginia in 2014. He, like the LP, supports limited, constitutional government. Unlike Senator Obenshain, he won't abandon his principles for the sake of power or if his party leaders tell him to do so. Learn more at https://lpofva.com/
The Problems With Obenshain
An Enemy of Democracy
Party Before Principles
Party Before Principles
When I ran for Harrisonburg City Council, I discovered that I had to collect signatures to make the ballot while my Democratic and Republican opponents did not. As Obenshain billed himself as a pro-liberty, pro-limited government legislator, I thought he would jump at the chance to correct this injustice and expand political competition.
When I ran for Harrisonburg City Council, I discovered that I had to collect signatures to make the ballot while my Democratic and Republican opponents did not. As Obenshain billed himself as a pro-liberty, pro-limited government legislator, I thought he would jump at the chance to correct this injustice and expand political competition. Not only did he say that he opposed fair and equal ballot access laws, but he also told me that "only Republicans and Democrats should be allowed to run for office".
Party Before Principles
Party Before Principles
Party Before Principles
Sadly, Senator Obenshain always seems to put his loyalty to the Republican Party ahead of any principles. He's eager to tell you to "vote red" and has deceived the public about candidate positions in order to get more Republicans in office. To him, electing Republicans is more important than electing honest men and women who hold a higher
Sadly, Senator Obenshain always seems to put his loyalty to the Republican Party ahead of any principles. He's eager to tell you to "vote red" and has deceived the public about candidate positions in order to get more Republicans in office. To him, electing Republicans is more important than electing honest men and women who hold a higher loyalty to their values and the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Expanding Government Power over our Personal Lives
Expanding Government Power over our Personal Lives
Expanding Government Power over our Personal Lives
For couples seeking a child, the first few months of pregnancy can be especially challenging. Although devastating to the potential mother and father, unfortunately sometimes miscarriages happen and they are more common than we might expect. Combining this personal tragedy with the threat of criminal prosecution is particularly heinous a
For couples seeking a child, the first few months of pregnancy can be especially challenging. Although devastating to the potential mother and father, unfortunately sometimes miscarriages happen and they are more common than we might expect. Combining this personal tragedy with the threat of criminal prosecution is particularly heinous and yet Senator Obenshain introduced a bill in the Virginia Senate that would require grieving parents to file a notice with the police within 24 hours of a miscarriage or be guilty of a crime. Fortunately, this bill was defeated.
Poor Constituent Services
Expanding Government Power over our Personal Lives
Expanding Government Power over our Personal Lives
Back in early 2014, I tried to schedule a meeting with Senator Obenshain. His legislative assistant refused to let me speak with my supposed representative saying it was "a waste of time". I tried month after month and got nowhere. It wasn't until he hired a new legislative assistant almost a year later that I finally got a meeting. In
Back in early 2014, I tried to schedule a meeting with Senator Obenshain. His legislative assistant refused to let me speak with my supposed representative saying it was "a waste of time". I tried month after month and got nowhere. It wasn't until he hired a new legislative assistant almost a year later that I finally got a meeting. In 2013, I repeatedly invited Obenshain to speak at our monthly Libertarian political gathering, but, as we weren't Republicans, he refused. All citizens should be able to speak to their legislators. Our access shouldn't be blocked based on our partisan affiliation.
Important issues Facing Virginia
Ballot Access Reform
Abolishing Civil Asset Forfeiture
Abolishing Civil Asset Forfeiture
Unlike just about every country on Earth, Virginia elections typically feature only two candidates or a single candidate running unopposed. One reason for this is something called ballot access laws which Republicans and Democrats use to stifle competition. For example, in order to appear on the ballot this year, Joshua had to collect s
Unlike just about every country on Earth, Virginia elections typically feature only two candidates or a single candidate running unopposed. One reason for this is something called ballot access laws which Republicans and Democrats use to stifle competition. For example, in order to appear on the ballot this year, Joshua had to collect signatures from 250 voters while Senator Obenshain needed 0. Do you hate voting for the lesser of two evils? Then elect me to help change these unfair laws!
Abolishing Civil Asset Forfeiture
Abolishing Civil Asset Forfeiture
Abolishing Civil Asset Forfeiture
If a person is accused of a crime in Virginia, police are allowed to confiscate property that they say was used in the commission of the crime. However, if that same person is later found not guilty, it is still possible for the police to keep the items that they took from the defendant. This process erodes public trust in our police force. We must end policing for profit!
Ending Subsidies to Political Parties
Ending Subsidies to Political Parties
Ending Subsidies to Political Parties
Did you know in Virginia that only the Democratic and Republican Parties are allowed to hold primaries? And that these primaries are paid for by Virginia taxpayers? As Senator Obenshain wrote in 2011, "...the truth is, we pay through the nose, sometimes as much as $20 per voter...If a political party wants a conventional primary, fine –
Did you know in Virginia that only the Democratic and Republican Parties are allowed to hold primaries? And that these primaries are paid for by Virginia taxpayers? As Senator Obenshain wrote in 2011, "...the truth is, we pay through the nose, sometimes as much as $20 per voter...If a political party wants a conventional primary, fine – but they can pay for it. Our localities are burdened enough as it is. If a party cannot or will not put up that much money, they can always go with a cheaper option. Our localities can ill afford it". As I've never heard him speak of this matter since I fear he has abandoned it. Virginia taxpayers, especially those of us who are neither Republican nor Democrat, should not be forced to subsidize the two largest political parties.
Needed Electoral Reforms
Ending Subsidies to Political Parties
Ending Subsidies to Political Parties
Under our current system, a candidate might win an election despite the fact that a majority of voters preferred a different choice. For example, in the 2013 gubernatorial race, 52.25% of Virginians voted for a candidate that was not Terry McAuliffe. Nevertheless, as McAuliffe had more votes than any other candidate he was elected. Fort
Under our current system, a candidate might win an election despite the fact that a majority of voters preferred a different choice. For example, in the 2013 gubernatorial race, 52.25% of Virginians voted for a candidate that was not Terry McAuliffe. Nevertheless, as McAuliffe had more votes than any other candidate he was elected. Fortunately, there are solutions to our electoral problems. Ranked Choice Voting (as they do in Maine) lets voters rank candidates by their preference so that if a voter's first choice doesn't win, their vote still counts for their second choice. Or, we could elect legislators through Multimember Proportional Representation (as Germany and New Zealand do) which better represents society's diverse political opinions. Obenshain has voted against these important reforms.
Photo Gallery
Joshua, I Want to Help Your Campaign!
Your generous support will be used to buy ads, yard signs, and other materials to spread our message of liberty to your neighbors.