Darrell Castle
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Darrell Lane Castle was a 2016 Constitution Party candidate for president.[1]
Biography
Castle earned a bachelor's degree in political science and history from East Tennessee State University in 1970. After college, during the Vietnam War, Castle served in the United States Marine Corps. He earned a Juris Doctor from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) in 1979. Castle opened his own law firm in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1984. He has since expanded the firm and opened law offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Detroit, Michigan, Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Louis, Missouri.
Castle has served two terms as state chairman of the Constitution Party of Tennessee, three terms as vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Constitution Party, and two terms as platform chairman of the National Convention of the Constitution Party. He was the Constitution Party's vice presidential candidate in 2008. A frequent author and commentator, Castle has served on the board of the Conservative Caucus since 2005.[2]
On the trail
- In an August 13, 2016, interview with RedState, Castle explained why he is running for president on the Constitution Party ticket. He said, "I am running on the Constitution Party ticket because I want to restore the Constitution to what it says it is, the supreme law of the land. I want to run a 10th Amendment Presidency and return liberty to individuals and sovereignty to the states."[3]
Vice presidential pick
- On August 13, 2016, Castle explained why he picked Scott Bradley as his running mate. He said, "I've known Scott for at least 20 years and consider him a dear friend. I know that he is very well versed in the Constitution and the original intent of the founders. He is from Utah and is very knowledgeable about the land issues especially in the West where the federal government owns a great deal of those states. I would like to see those lands returned to the people."[3]
- Representing the Constitution Party, Bradley unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in Utah in 2010.
- According to Castle's 2016 campaign website, Scott Bradley is a business owner from Utah. Before college, he served in the Utah Air National Guard and then served as a missionary for his church for two years. He holds a master's degree in public administration and a Ph.D. in constitutional law. Bradley is a former AT&T executive and University of Utah administrator.[2]
Comments on third-party candidacies
- Castle discussed the struggles that third-party candidates face in a RedState interview. He said, "The people in the third party movements and those who are coming their way have to finally give up on getting anything from the establishment and vow to stop begging for scraps from the establishment table. When that happens the grassroots will begin to see through and ignore the defamatory attacks by agents of the establishment and just continue to march. In addition, the grass roots must develop the numbers, the passion, and the stamina to press on despite the odds until the right moment when the establishment finally collapses as it inevitably will."[3]
Endorsements
- On June 9, 2016, the Georgia Right to Life Political Action Committee (GRTL PAC) endorsed Darrell Castle. Making the endorsement, GRTL PAC Director Gen Wilson said, “America is in political and moral freefall." She continued, “We need someone who understands our founding principles and truly respects the immeasurable value of human life. Darrell Castle is that person.”[4]
- On May 24, 2016, "Liberty Roundtable" host Sam Bushman endorsed the 2016 Constitution Party ticket. He wrote, "After personal discussions, knowing them both for years and my incredible, on-air radio interviews with Darrell Castle and Scott Bradley, they have been found to be good, honest and wise men. Further, I am convinced their valiant leadership in the sacred cause of liberty, demonstration of complete fidelity in their personal and public lives, along with a true fundamental understanding of American principles, make them uniquely qualified for my endorsement as the next leaders of the free world."[5]
On the issues
International trade
- In an August 13, 2016, interview, Castle used the term "international engagement" to describe trade. He said, "We should trade with all nations who want to trade with us in as friendly a manner as possible."[3]
Banking policy
- Castle calls for repealing the Federal Reserve Act, which established the Federal Reserve System. After a series of bank failures and financial panics, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law on December 23, 1913, "to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system."
- Castle advocates for ending the Federal Reserve so lenders and borrowers could set their own interest rates, and so Americans could use any form of currency, including bitcoin.[2]
Foreign affairs
- Castle believes "the ideas of America are not compatible with membership in the United Nations (U.N.)" and that the "very existence of the U.N. is an affront to liberty and human dignity."[2]
- In an interview with RedState, Castle explained his policy on Israel. He said, "Israel is a most important ally in the Middle East and for the most part Israel's enemies are our enemies. I am against foreign aid for anyone since there is no Constitutional basis for it, but I know that if we cut off the billions in aid to Israel's enemies and potential enemies, Israel would not need our help. We provide much aid, a lot of it military, to countries that have previously been enemies of Israel and without that Israel would not need to be an American dependent."[3]
Military engagement
- In an interview with RedState, Castle said, "Any policy that does not involve an entry into every rattlesnake's nest around the world is not isolationist, instead it is peace. War should be used for the defense of the United States only. I remind people that the president takes an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic. The Constitution doesn't permit most of the international interventions that we engage in."[3]
Constitutional interpretation
- In a podcast posted to his 2016 campaign website, Castle called the original intent theory, also called strict constructionism, the "correct method" for interpreting the Constitution. Individuals who adhere to this theory limit their interpretation of the Constitution to the literal meaning of the language when it was written.[2]
Immigration
- Castle told RedState on August 13, 2016, "Immigration should be stopped completely until the borders are secure. We have an obligation as a nation to secure our borders and the Federal Government is Constitutionally obligated to protect the states from invasion. Once the borders are secure enough that we know who is coming and why, we can admit as many people as we want. The borders should be secured by whatever means prove necessary just as this nation should be defended from attack by whatever means available and necessary." He also said, "I would not be in favor of granting asylum to those here illegally but neither would I deport them wholesale."[3]
Abortion
- Castle is anti-abortion. On his 2016 presidential campaign website, he described himself as "the only candidate of any party that is 100% pro-life or even close to it."[2]
Ballot access
Some states have special provisions permitting parties to place presidential candidates on the ballot without attaining full ballot status. Ballot access for the presidential candidates of select minor parties in previous election cycles is detailed below.
Presidential ballot access, 2024
- See also: Presidential candidates, 2024.
There were 11 candidates on the ballot in Louisiana, more than in any other state. Washington came in second, with 10 candidates. New York had two candidates on the ballot, the fewest in 2024.
The following map shows the number of presidential candidates on the ballot in 2024 in each state.
For information from previously presidential election years, click "[Show more]" below.
Presidential ballot access, 2020
- See also: Presidential candidates, 2020
There were 21 candidates on the ballot each in Vermont and Colorado, more than in any other state. Arkansas and Louisiana came in second, with 13 candidates each. Twelve states featured only three candidates on the ballot.
The following map shows the number of presidential candidates on the ballot in 2020 in each state.
Presidential ballot access, 2016
- See also: Presidential candidates, 2016
In 2016, the Democratic and Republican parties were fully ballot-qualified in all 50 states, granting them presidential ballot access by default. The following large minor parties achieved presidential ballot access as indicated:[6][7][8]
- Libertarian Party: 50 states
- Green Party: 44 states (write-in status in an additional three states)
- Constitution Party: 24 states (write-in status in an additional 22 states)
The maps below provide further details for each of these parties. Hover over a state to see further details.
Impact of minor party presidential candidates on party ballot status
In some states, the performance of a minor party's presidential candidate can directly help that party attain state ballot status. The table below identifies state-level affiliates of the Libertarian and Green parties that gained ballot status between 2016 and 2017.[9] The table also indicates whether the performance of a presidential candidate can figure directly in methods for attaining ballot status.
| Impact of minor party presidential candidates on parties attaining ballot status between 2016 and 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political party | State | Methods for attaining ballot status | Impact of candidate on party status | Notes |
| Libertarian Party | Iowa | Candidate petition, then poll 2% Hold meeting of 250, then poll 2%[10] |
Party met multiple thresholds for ballot status | The Libertarian Party also ran a candidate for the United States Senate who won 2.6% of the total votes cast for that office.[11] |
| Libertarian Party | Massachusetts | Registration drive, 1% Candidate petition, then poll 3%[10] |
Direct impact | The Libertarian candidate for president, Gary Johnson, won 4.2% of the total votes cast for that office. No other statewide contests featured Libertarians.[12] |
| Libertarian Party | New Hampshire | Candidate petition, then poll 4% Petition of 3% of last gubernatorial vote[10] |
Party met multiple thresholds for ballot status | The Libertarian Party's candidate for governor, Max Abramson, won 4.3% of the total votes cast for that office.[13] |
| Libertarian Party | South Dakota | Petition of 2.5% of last gubernatorial vote[10] | No direct impact | The performance of a party's presidential candidate cannot directly help that party attain ballot status. |
| Green Party | Delaware | Registration drive, 0.1% | No direct impact[10] | The performance of a party's presidential candidate cannot directly help that party attain ballot status. |
| Green Party | Missouri | Petition of 10,000 signatures | No direct impact[10] | The performance of a party's presidential candidate cannot directly help that party attain ballot status. |
Elections
2016
Castle was a 2016 Constitution Party candidate for President of the United States.
2008
Castle was the 2008 Constitution Party vice presidential candidate.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2016 Presidential Form 2 Filers," accessed August 1, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Darrell Castle 2016 campaign website, "Meet Darrell Castle," accessed August 16, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 RedState, "Constitution Party Candidate Darrell Castle In His Own Words," August 13, 2016
- ↑ Independent Political Report, "Georgia Right to Life PAC Endorses Darrell Castle for President," June 9, 2016
- ↑ Darrell Castle 2016 campaign website, "Official Endorsement: Darrell Castle, Scott Bradley," May 24, 2016
- ↑ Libertarian Party, "2016 Presidential Ballot Access Map," accessed November 8, 2016
- ↑ Green Party US, "Ballot Access," accessed November 8, 2016
- ↑ Constitution Party, "Ballot Access," accessed November 8, 2016
- ↑ Affiliates of the Constitution Party are not included because no state affiliates of the party attained new ballot status between 2016 and 2017.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Ballot Access News, "April 1, 2017 – Volume 32, Number 11," accessed July 28, 2017
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Canvass Summary," accessed July 28, 2017
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Election results," accessed July 28, 2017
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Governor - 2016 General Election," accessed July 28, 2017
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