Amid the noise of state and national elections, the Libertarian Party is having a banner year.

It became an officially recognized party March 21, allowing members and political candidates to register as Libertarians for the first time in 16 years.

Now, all eyes from the party are pointing to the general election when 15 Libertarian candidates will participate in legislative and congressional races across the state. They will join Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, of New Mexico, on November ballots.

Julie Rinehart, a Libertarian and resident of Oklahoma City, was registered as a Republican although she has considered herself a Libertarian for the past five years.