Dunn out of Senate race, Johnson hints at taking his place

A candidate switch-up is likely in the works for the Libertarian Party of New Mexico’s run for the U.S. Senate. Libertarian Senate candidate Aubrey Dunn announced Monday that will exit the race and asked high-profile Libertarian Gary Johnson to take his place. In a press release, Dunn said he wants to devote more time to […]

Dunn out of Senate race, Johnson hints at taking his place

A candidate switch-up is likely in the works for the Libertarian Party of New Mexico’s run for the U.S. Senate. Libertarian Senate candidate Aubrey Dunn announced Monday that will exit the race and asked high-profile Libertarian Gary Johnson to take his place.

In a press release, Dunn said he wants to devote more time to his current role as State Land Commissioner. Now the question is whether Johnson, a former Republican governor and Libertarian presidential candidate, will take his place. If Johnson decides to run for Senate, it would create a considerable shake-up in the three-way race between Republican Mick Rich and Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich.

Dunn said that he fully endorses and personally encouraged Johnson to take his place.

“I have spoken with Governor Johnson, he is willing to consider serving as my replacement as the Libertarian nominee and I respectfully request that our Libertarian Party State Central Committee nominate him as the replacement candidate,” Dunn said.

Even though Dunn has asked Johnson to run, Johnson himself has had little, definitively, to say about taking on the role as candidate. Johnson did not return a call from NM Political Report, but his former presidential campaign manager Ron Nielson said Johnson is “contemplating” a run for Senate and “weighing it out” to determine if it seems like a winnable race. If Johnson determines there is a chance at winning in the next couple of weeks, Nielson said, the former two-term governor will decide to run.

Dunn, who left the Republican party to run for Senate as a Libertarian, said he can’t adequately perform his current job while also running for federal office.

“It is simply not possible to do that job like it needs to be done while campaigning for another office,” Dunn said.

Libertarians in New Mexico may be excited about one of their nationally recognized members to running for national office again, there are still a couple of things that need to happen before it’s official.

Can he win?

After winning 9 percent of the New Mexico votes for president in the 2016 election, Johnson told NM Political Report he was done running for office, choosing instead to take ski trips and bike across the country. Even as late as 2017, Johnson told The Washington Post he would never run again and called politics “toxic.” But, last week in an interview with Nielson, his former campaign manager who also runs a media website, Johnson hinted at running for office again.

If Johnson does decide to take Dunn’s place, the Libertarian Party of New Mexico’s central committee will need to approve his candidacy.

State Chair Chris Luchini said the party is planning to have a central committee meeting in August specifically to make a decision about Dunn’s replacement or whether to replace him at all.

Central committee member Paul Ryan McKenney said he couldn’t speak for anyone but himself, but had high hopes and praise for Johnson. Specifically, McKenney said, Johnson has a record as an elected official to stand behind.

“We can look at what Gary has actually done,” McKenney said.

Dubbed “Governor No,” Johnson himself has boasted that he holds the records for the most vetoes as governor. He was also instrumental in privatizing state prisons and advocated  for a school voucher program. He was also an early advocate of marijuana legalization.

While Johnson has his fair share of critics in the national Libertarian Party, in New Mexico he may have an advantage in name recognition–and fundraising.

War chest

Johnson would start out with a financial disadvantage over his two opponents, if he chooses to run. Johnson’s presidential campaign only has about $2,000 at his disposal. Heinrich has about $4 million in campaign funds and Republican candidate Mick Rich has almost $200,000 at the ready. But, Johnson was able to raise about $12 million during his run for president and has national name.

A Johnson candidacy could also create a fairly competitive three-way race in terms of policy and political beliefs. Johnson, who has previously called himself “fiscally conservative and socially liberal,” ran for president on a platform of a simplified immigration process, pro-marijuana legalization and against any assault weapon bans.

Local name recognition could also become a factor if Johnson decides to run. In the 2016 presidential election, Johnson garnered public support from former Republican state Senator Lisa Torraco and former Republican politician and Johnson’s former Department of Public Safety Secretary Darren White.

 

Johnson’s success in New Mexico also played a key role in the state Libertarian party obtaining major party status, allowing easier ballot access to their candidates.

Still, Johnson made high profile gaffes, like his now infamous “Aleppo moment” and his trouble naming a foreign leader in an interview may find their way into TV ads from his opponents.

But, Dunn thinks Johnson is the best option to get a Libertarian from New Mexico into the Senate.

“New Mexicans deserve a choice in 2018 of a candidate who can not only win this

race, but put New Mexico and America first before party politics as an independent voice in the United States Senate,” Dunn said. “It is time for Governor Johnson to again step up to lead this state and this nation to restore Liberty.”

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Sen. Martin Heinrih and other Senate colleagues introduced abortion rights legislation into the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Sen. Martin Heinrih and other Senate colleagues introduced abortion rights legislation into the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Ex-GOP candidate allegedly hired people to kill witnesses in shootings of homes of Democratix politicians

Ex-GOP candidate allegedly hired people to kill witnesses in shootings of homes of Democratix politicians

Republican failed state house candidate Solomon Peña is facing more federal charges, this time on a murder-for-hire scheme.  Peña allegedly tried to hire two…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report