Politics

Gary Johnson Announces Libertarian Party Run For President

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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Gary Johnson is running again for the White House.

The fiscally conservative, socially liberal former Republican governor said Wednesday that he will seek the Libertarian Party’s nomination for president. He made the comments while appearing on Fox Business with host Neil Cavuto.

“I want to take this opportunity to announce my candidacy for president,” Johnson said. “I am hoping to get the Libertarian nomination for president in 2016.”

“I think the biggest problem facing this country is the $20 trillion debt that we will have when Obama leaves office,” he said. “Government is too big, it’s unwieldy, it’s out of control, we need to get control.”

Johnson, 63, served two terms as governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003. He briefly ran for president as a Republican during the 2012 cycle but dropped out after low poll numbers and an inability to be included in the debates.

He went on to leave the GOP and win the Libertarian Party’s nomination for president. As the third-party’s nominee, Johnson won about one percent of the popular vote against Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

After the 2012 election, Johnson became CEO of Cannabis Sativa Inc., a company formed to sell legal cannabis products. Prior to his announcement on Wednesday, Johnson announced his resignation from Cannabis Sativa.

Johnson’s views include legalizing marijuana, reducing domestic and military spending, keeping abortion legal and allowing gay marriage.

Appearing on Fox Business after Johnson’s announcement, Chris Bedford, a senior editor at The Daily Caller, said of third-party candidates: “They certainly can affect the outcome, especially in a race like this.”

But Bedford expressed doubt that enough libertarians would be motivated to help Johnson: “I went to high school with hundreds of guys that were pro-pot and pro-abortion, and I don’t think they’re going to be showing up at the polls to help anybody.”

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