Remembering Ed Wright (1951-2025)
Remembering a genuinely great and inspirational man
A few weeks ago, Jocelyn and I were about to go inside a restaurant when I received a text with the sad news that Ed Wright had passed away. Ed was a major inspiration to me and the reason I am involved in politics and the reason I ran for Governor of Iowa.
In 2006, I moved to Des Moines to start my first year of business college. I had been supporting the Libertarian Party for a couple of years but had never met a Libertarian Party member in person. It wasn’t long after moving that I was in contact with state house candidate Brett Blanchfield, one of the few Libertarian candidates running that year in Iowa.
We had a meeting over at Blanchfield’s house and Ed Wright and Tim Hird (a state party member since the 1970’s) were there. These were the first Libertarians I met.
In the Summer of 2006, the party went through a nasty split. The split happened just months before I moved. The party was temporarily without a Chair, a candidate for Governor, and in bad shape after the split.
Ed was the Deputy Chair of Campaigns and Elections for the party. With the split, there weren’t a lot of candidates to help, and recruitment was too late, but Ed was always there for the candidates we had. He would go door-to-door, make phone calls, plan events, and give all the advice and support he could.
After the 2006 election was over, Ed invited campaign volunteers, staff, and candidates all to dinner in Ames for a December meeting where we could discuss the future of the party and candidates.
In 2007, the state party held its convention in Coralville where we elected Ed as Chair and put me on as an at-large representative. I got to work with Ed off and on for the next 14 years where I watched him build a solid foundation for the state party to build on.
Sometime between 2004-2006, Ed was at the state capital just visiting and someone asked him who are you with. Ed didn’t know and said, “I’m here with the Libertarians.” The woman replied, “There are a lot of you here today!” Ed was wondering who else showed up. The party was very small at the time, and he thought maybe Tim Hird and Kevin Litten were around for some state party business. Turns out there was a convention of librarians there that day.
I love to tell that story to this day. A few years ago, no one knew who we were, but Ed was recruiting and made sure people wouldn’t be making that mistake much longer.
In 2008, I was finishing college and was working for one of the Libertarian Presidential contenders. They had a big convention in Kansas City and Ed graciously let me ride along with him. During that trip, Ed taught me his lessons on business, politics, and most importantly leadership. I also learned that Ed was a musician, and he used part of that trip to go jam with some old friends of his.
When Ed saw a party leader at the event operating in a way that he felt was wrong, he pulled me to the side and explained why it was the wrong way to operate and how good leaders accept input from their board.
He was always training people through examples, stories, and humility. He didn’t often directly criticize but was able to move people in a better direction.
During his leadership and up to the Reno Mises Caucus takeover, the Iowa Party was nearly immune from factional party fights. Ed was a pragmatist. He was always welcoming to us more radical types. His focus on building for the future kept the party going in that direction for nearly 15 years.
After finishing my associates degree, I left Iowa for a couple of years. I kept in good contact with Ed by phone and even the occasional meeting. Ed was recruiting candidates such as Russ Gibson for the state legislature. I got to go to an event Gibson held in 2008.
When I returned in 2010, I started to think about running for office myself. The first call I made was to Ed. I was skeptical if I should do it, but I thought running statewide would help our Governor candidate, Eric Cooper.
During that campaign, Ed gave me a candidate support kit, helped collect signatures, and set up events for me.
Ed continued his support kit of CDs and DVDs for candidates until James Schneider recruited one of the largest number of candidates for the state party in 2016 and it became too much to put together.
After receiving my Bachelors in 2011, I left Iowa for southern Nebraska. When I returned in 2013, I got a call from Ed. A group of people in a rural county just north of me wanted to form a county affiliate. Ed was there for the formation. A few months later, Ed drove to my apartment in Council Bluffs to form another county party.
Jake, we have been pushing this rock for several years and it is finally starting to move!
In 2014, Ed ran for Congress and recruited Lee Heib to run for Governor. He was also helping launch the Polk County Libertarian Party that year and traveling not only his Congressional district but the state to do so.
In addition to recruiting candidates and supporting candidates, Ed was known for giving out pocket constitutions to everyone. He was tied for longest serving Chair in state party history until 2021 when the Chair had to resign for theft of party funds leaving Ed to step into the Chair role one last time. making him the longest serving chair.
Sadly, Ed and I had a falling-out during the theft. Neither one of us had any responsibility for what the Chair did. I regret not being more even-keeled during the situation and unfortunately the theft put the LPIA in the middle of the Mises Caucus takeover before a state convention could be held. Emotions ran high during those few months for many Iowa Libertarians, and a deep scar remains for many party members including myself.
I didn’t have any ill-feelings towards Ed, and I was upset to lose him as a friend for that time. Even in this situation though, Ed still was able to teach me a valuable lesson and one that I hope I don’t forget. Don’t let disagreements with friends get out of control and take a step back when angry.
Fortunately, Ed and I were both at the Libertarian National Convention in 2024 in Washington D.C. where we got to run into each other. I was at the radical caucus suite and realized I had no bottle opener for my beer. I was going down to the convention hall where I heard a rumor that a vendor table was giving them away. As I was walking to the vendor tables, I see Ed and he yells out “Jake Porter!” We immediately gave each other a hug, and it was so nice to see my friend again. Going to D.C. was worth it just for that one moment.
We spoke a bit more at that convention, but sadly that was the last time I would see Ed.
Without Ed, the LPIA would have never had the success it has had and the people he influenced will continue to make the world a better place.
Ed was one of the most influential people I ever had the privilege of meeting, and I am going to miss him. We need a few more people like him during these days that lie ahead of us.
Thanks Jake for your remembrance of Ed Wright. He was truly an earnest and dedicated Libertarian.
Sad news and some happy memories.