Libertarian Party selects former Republican governor as their presidential candidate

Gary Johnson Secures Libertarian Party Nomination for President

Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, has emerged as the presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party. Known for his efforts to lower taxes and reduce bureaucracy during his tenure as governor, Johnson secured the nomination on May 29, 2016, beating out contenders including Austin Petersen and John McAfee.

The Libertarian Party, with its central goal of "minimum government, maximum freedom," has seen a surge of interest following the rise of Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee. Web searches for the party have quintupled, and the Libertarian convention drew far more media attention than usual.

Johnson's nomination was not without controversy. William Weld, a former Republican governor of Massachusetts, was also considered by many delegates as a potential running mate. However, on Sunday, May 29, the party nominated Spike Cohen as the vice-presidential candidate.

The convention has been as colorful as other American political conventions, with delegates suggesting the party adopt Dobby, a character from the Harry Potter series, as its official mascot. Another delegate serenaded the group with a harmonica tune, offering to make it the party's "semi-official" theme song.

Johnson has been vocal in his criticism of both major party candidates. He called Donald Trump a "racist" due to his description of Mexican immigrants as rapists. Johnson described Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton as "the two most polarizing figures in American politics today." He also stated that he is more liberal on social issues than Hillary Clinton and more conservative on fiscal issues than Ted Cruz.

Johnson's stance on fiscal issues aligns with his call to eliminate the income tax and abolish the Internal Revenue Service. He stated that he needs William Weld, a recent convert to Libertarianism, to serve as his running mate to help him achieve these goals.

In at least two recent national polls, Johnson scored 10% in hypothetical 3-way contests against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Johnson garnered 1.2 million votes as the Libertarian candidate in 2012, the party's best showing ever. As the 2016 election approaches, Johnson's candidacy promises to add an interesting dynamic to the race.

Libertarian Party selects former Republican governor as their presidential candidate