DETROIT — Back in 2018, Michigan Libertarians had a remarkably savvy candidate for governor, Bill Gelineau, who ran an underwriting business in Grand Rapids.

Libertarians are often known for what seem like nutty ideas, such as that the government should distribute guns to homeless people. Mr. Gelineau had well-thought out positions, including one for how to reorganize Detroit’s failing public schools.

Despite not having the millions in campaign funds the major parties did, he began to get an enthusiastic response. But as November neared, he told me “so many people told me they wanted to vote for me” but couldn’t risk it.

They knew that Gretchen Whitmer, the Democrat, or Bill Schuette, the Republican, was bound to win, and felt they had to vote for the lesser of two evils.

Mr. Gelineau

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