Former Libertarian Party Vice-President Candidate Bill Weld assisted in a fundraiser supporting Republican Senate candidate Beth Lindstrom and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. Some Libertarians felt that this was a betrayal from Weld who is a lifetime member of the party, while others don’t see an issue with it.

In defense of Weld, the Jack News stated “Governor Weld’s friendship and support for Baker has never been a secret. After all, Baker served in two different cabinet positions during Weld’s own governorship.”

It was also expressed by the former governor at the 2016 Libertarian convention that he would “continue to support […] other candidates as he saw fit regardless of party affiliation […].”

This support also has been demonstrated recently with Weld donating $1000 to 2018 Democratic House of Representatives candidate, Dan Koh.

Weld already has a rocky relationship with the Libertarian party after praising Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race and overall being accused of not being libertarian enough. The Liberty Conservative recently went so far to say “The plague known as Bill Weld is not leaving the libertarian movement, as Koch-funded organizations will never stop pushing this milquetoast centrist despite Weld having no national appeal and not being well-received outside of backroom meetings with big money donors.”

Truthfully, it’s up to each libertarian to decide whether it is important if Bill Weld’s supporting of candidates who are not members of the Libertarian Party is a betrayal or a demonstration of placing principles over party. Weld’s name has been thrown around for a 2020 presidential candidate and his recent actions will surely be a topic of debate should he run