Libertarian Gary Johnson launches presidential bid
Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson joined the crowded field of candidates seeking the White House on Wednesday.
Johnson first announced his campaign on Fox Business Network, quickly following up with the now-standard Twitter declaration.
Check out photos of Johnson over the years:
"I want to take this opportunity to announce my candidacy for president. I am hoping to get the Libertarian nomination for president in 2016," Gary Johnson said in his TV announcement.
Johnson has been a harsh critic of Republican front-runner Donald Trump already in the last few months, saying the fellow businessman-turned-politician appeals to "racist" voters.
He also touted his ability to potentially win votes from both Democratic- and Republican-leaning voters, but that his ultimate goal is to run a reasonable campaign.
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"On my deathbed, I'm hoping that I look back and believe that I was the voice of reason in all this, regardless of how many votes I end up garnering," he also said.
He ran for president in 2012 as well, initially seeking the Republican nomination. He later switched parties and became the Libertarian nominee instead. His ticket, which garnered more than a million votes on Election Day 2012 -- almost one percent of the popular vote -- became the most successful third-party ticket since Ralph Nader's run in 2000.
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Johnson launched his political career as a staunch fiscal conservative with more progressive views on social issues. He was an early supporter of the legalization of marijuana.
He was jokingly known as "Governor Veto" while serving in New Mexico in the 1990s, for his aggressive use of veto and line-item veto power.
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