Gary Johnson, American businessman and politician, 29th Governor of New Mexico

Gary Earl Johnson, born on January 1, 1953, is a distinguished American figure renowned for his multifaceted career as a businessman, author, and politician. His political journey includes serving as the 29th Governor of New Mexico and making a significant impact as a leading third-party presidential candidate.

Governorship of New Mexico: A Fiscal Conservative Tenure

First Term: Implementing a Business-Oriented Approach (1995-1999)

Gary Johnson first ventured into the political arena by successfully campaigning for the governorship of New Mexico in 1994. Running on a platform centered around low taxation and stringent anti-crime measures, Johnson promised to bring a "common-sense business approach" to state governance. This philosophy, rooted in fiscal conservatism and efficient management, resonated with voters. He secured a notable victory against the incumbent Democratic governor, Bruce King, winning with 50% of the vote compared to King's 40%. Immediately upon taking office, Johnson demonstrated his commitment to curbing government spending by significantly addressing the state's 10% annual budget growth. A hallmark of his early tenure was his extensive use of the gubernatorial veto power, which he exercised approximately 200 times within his initial six months. While this demonstrated his resolute stance on fiscal discipline, he faced challenges in gaining legislative consensus, as many of his proposed motions were not passed by the state senate.

Second Term and Policy Priorities (1999-2003)

Despite legislative hurdles, Johnson's fiscally conservative approach earned him reelection in 1998, where he expanded his winning margin to 55% against his opponent's 45%. In his second term, his policy focus broadened to include significant reforms in education, particularly advocating for school voucher programs, which aim to provide parents with public funds to send their children to private schools. Concurrently, he became a vocal proponent for cannabis decriminalization, a progressive stance that was ahead of its time in mainstream politics. Throughout his eight years as governor, Johnson maintained an unwavering anti-tax policy. His commitment to limiting government expansion and spending was evident in his record-setting use of the veto power; he vetoed more bills than the combined total of the other 49 contemporary U.S. governors during his tenure. Having served two consecutive terms, Johnson was term-limited and subsequently retired from front-line state politics in 2003.

Presidential Campaigns: A Prominent Third-Party Voice

2012 Presidential Bid: From Republican to Libertarian Standard-Bearer

After a hiatus from direct political office, Gary Johnson returned to the national stage in 2012, initially seeking the Republican nomination for President. His platform was distinctly libertarian, emphasizing critical national issues such as the burgeoning United States public debt and the urgent need for a balanced federal budget. He also championed the protection of civil liberties, advocated for a non-interventionist foreign policy to limit military engagements abroad, proposed replacing the existing income tax with the "FairTax" (a national consumption tax), and staunchly opposed the War on Drugs. In December 2011, recognizing the challenges of securing the Republican nomination, he shifted his focus and withdrew from the Republican primary to pursue the Libertarian Party nomination. He successfully secured the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination in May 2012. In the general election, Johnson garnered approximately 1.3 million votes, representing 1% of the national popular vote. This achievement was significant, as he received more votes than all other minor party candidates combined, marking a notable performance for a third-party contender.

2016 Presidential Campaign: Achieving Record-Breaking Votes

Building on his 2012 performance, Gary Johnson ran for President again in 2016, once more securing the Libertarian nomination. For this campaign, he selected former Republican Governor of Massachusetts, Bill Weld, as his vice-presidential running mate, a move that added significant political experience to the ticket. The Johnson-Weld ticket achieved an unprecedented level of support for a Libertarian campaign, receiving nearly 4.5 million votes nationwide, which accounted for 3.3% of the total popular vote. This result marked the highest vote total for any third-party presidential candidate since 1996 and represented the highest national vote share ever attained by a Libertarian candidate in a presidential election. Following the 2016 election, Johnson publicly stated his intention not to pursue the presidency again.

Post-Presidential Politics and Senate Run

Despite his declaration regarding the presidency, Johnson remained active in politics. In 2018, he launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico as a Libertarian, challenging the incumbent Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich. In this statewide race, Johnson finished third, securing a considerable 15.4% of the vote, which translated to 107,201 individual votes. This performance reaffirmed his continued appeal within New Mexico and his capacity to draw significant support as a third-party candidate.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gary Johnson

When was Gary Johnson Governor of New Mexico?

Gary Johnson served as the Governor of New Mexico for two terms, from 1995 to 2003.

What political party did Gary Johnson belong to as Governor?

As Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson was a member of the Republican Party.

What were some of Gary Johnson's key policies as Governor?

During his governorship, Johnson focused on a low-tax, anti-crime platform, fiscal conservatism, extensive use of the gubernatorial veto to control spending, school voucher reforms, and advocating for cannabis decriminalization.

How many times did Gary Johnson run for President?

Gary Johnson ran for President of the United States twice, in the 2012 and 2016 elections, both times as the Libertarian Party nominee.

What was Gary Johnson's best presidential election performance?

His best presidential election performance was in 2016, when he received nearly 4.5 million votes (3.3% of the total), setting a new record for a Libertarian presidential candidate.

Did Gary Johnson run for any other offices after his presidential campaigns?

Yes, after his presidential campaigns, Gary Johnson ran for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico in 2018 as a Libertarian candidate.