Jake Leonard

My name is Jake Leonard and being a Libertarian has been the only thing I’ve ever known. Despite coming from pro-union Democratic parents, my deviation from those views began well before joining the Libertarian Party in practice in 2012.

I hail from the Land of Lincoln, Illinois, better known as “where the governors make the license plates,” in which there have been four: Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan, and Rod Blagojevich (and coming soon to a federal prison near you: Bruce Rauner and J.B. Pritzker).

Libertarian Party Highlights:

Tri-Counties Libertarian Party / ChrisMont Libertarian Central Committee

  • Established Tri-Counties Libertarian Party in March 2016 (dissolved in June 2022)
  • Revived former chapter/committee in 2023 as ChrisMont Libertarian Central Committee

Libertarian Party of Illinois

  • Joined the party in May 2013
  • Became active in the party in October 2017
  • Two-time Political Director (November 2019–May 2022; January 2023–Present)
  • Two-time State Central Committeeperson (13th CD: 2018–2020; 15th CD: 2024–Present)

LP National / Libertarian National Committee

  • Joined the party in 2016
  • Ballot Access Committee member (March 2021–June 2022, appointed by Joe Bishop-Henchman)

Political History

  • Have run for office in nearly every single election since 2015 (except 2022)
  • Elected uncontested in April 2025 as Library Trustee for the Nokomis Township Public Library District (six-year seat expiring in May 2031)
    • Elected as Board President by the Library Board of Trustees in my first term

Professional Highlights:

  • Owner, Heartland Internet Media Networks (technology, 2004–Present)
  • Owner, Heartland Media Group of Central Illinois & Eastern Missouri (media/publishing, 2021–Present)
    • Editor-in-Chief, Heartland Newsfeed (December 2016–Present)Program Director of three digital radio stations (2018, and two in 2024 respectively–Present) and a podcast network (March 2020–Present)
    • The business includes a merged former standalone business where I consult non-profit organizations wanting to establish a low-power FM or shortwave radio station
  • Freelance journalist with bylines in Bleacher Report, SportsRantz Magazine, Midwest Sports Network, Ambush Sports Network as well as seven Illinois-based newspapers—Blue Mound Leader, Golden Prairie News, Morrisonville Times, Nokomis Free Press-Progress, Pana News-Palladium, and Troy Times-Tribune with occasional photography for Nokomis Free Press-Progress and Shelbyville Eagle
  • Occasional contributor, Independent Political Report