Gary Johnson would like to run for the Libertarian nomination again, he told the Wall Street Journal. Johnson was the Libertarian Party nominee in 2012.
Johnson spoke in a short interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC. From the Wall Street Journal:
“I don’t have any delusions about this,” Mr. Johnson said. “I do believe that the things that I’ve been saying have been the truth, that I am reality-based, and that I am reflective of what most Americans think. Democrats and Republicans don’t provide any of that and so to be able to do this, I don’t know, I’m doing it for myself, I guess.”
Johnson said after the 2014 elections he wanted to run again, with similar talking points, including saying he had “no delusions.”
In speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Johnson admitted the way he ran in 2012 wasn’t the most effective way, saying speaking to people on internet radio “didn’t make sense.”
Johnson was at CPAC to participate in several panels.
On Thursday, Johnson participated in a debate over legalization of marijuana. He, of course, supports legalizing marijuana for recreational use. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Ann Marie Buerkle opposed legalization.
Johnson will also appear on a panel called “Lowering the Boom: When to Stand Up to Rogue Nations” on Friday, according to a press release from the Our America Initiative. Johnson serves as the honorary chairman of the organization.
Johnson had floated the idea of running as a Republican again, but that door seems to have been slammed shut.
Johnson had begun his run in 2012 as a Republican but after being unable to gain any traction, or participate in debates because of low polling numbers, Johnson became a member of the Libertarian Party.
Once there, Johnson again found himself on the outside of debates but ended up with more than a million votes nationwide. He did not earn any votes in the Electoral College.
Johnson had the most successful run for the White House from a Libertarian Party candidate since Ed Clark’s run in 1980. Johnson received 0.99 percent of the national vote, while Clark received 1.06 percent.
Johnson’s successor as governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, ran for President in 2008 but lost to Barack Obama in the Democratic Primary. Current governor Susana Martinez has been mentioned as a potential Vice Presidential candidate, but she has consistently denied any interest.
