36 Things that you need to know about Gary Johgson
- Johnson served two terms as governor of New Mexico, from 1995 to 2003, as a Republican.
- As governor (link is external), Johnson was known for his conservative stances on a variety of issues. He slashed income tax rates, slowed the growth of government, and vetoed more than 700 bills passed by a Democratic legislature. His approval rating dropped however, when he called for the full legalization of marijuana in 1999.
- As a Libertarian, Johnson believes (link is external) in smaller government when it comes to economic and social issues. His most well-known policy proposals include: legalizing marijuana, raising the retirement age for Social Security, abolishing the IRS, and shrinking the military.
- Johnson first ran for President in 2012 (link is external). He started out as a Republican candidate but switched to the Libertarian Party in December of 2011 after polls showed him trailing in the GOP. He later drew in one percent of the popular vote as the Libertarian Party?s 2012 presidential nominee with 1.27 million votes - the highest in the party?s history.
- Johnson has climbed the tallest mountains on all seven continents, including Everest (link is external). He was healing from a broken leg when he ascended Mount Everest, and he says his toes have never healed from the frostbite he incurred on the mountain.
- Johnson has also finished 75 triathlons (link is external). His best Ironman time (which includes a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bicycle ride, and a marathon) was 10 hours and 38 minutes, in 2001.
- His running mate (link is external) is former Republican Gov. Bill Weld of Massachusetts. The ticket is one of the most mainstream since the Libertarian Party was founded in 1971. It is also the first time two governors have been on a presidential ticket since 1948.
- Johnson has long said that he doesn?t do negative campaigning (link is external). He has, however, referred to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as the ?two most polarizing political candidates? and spoken out publicly (link is external) against Trump and his running mate Mike Pence.
- If elected President, Johnson would be the first unmarried (link is external) president since 1885, when Grover Cleveland took office. He is, however, currently engaged to realtor Kate Prusack.
- Johnson believes that most Americans are secretly libertarian (link is external), or that they are fiscally conservative and socially liberal.
- He first started to refer to himself as a libertarian at the age of 18 (link is external)when he read a book - he?s since forgotten the title - about what it means to be libertarian.
- Johnson founded a construction company (link is external), Big J Enterprises, when he was a senior at the University of New Mexico in 1975. In 1986, the company became the facilities contractor for Intel in New Mexico. Johnson was successful enough that he was able to self-finance his first gubernatorial campaign and sold Big J for $5 million in 1999.
- Johnson has an estimated net worth (link is external) between $3 million and $10.5 million.
- Johnson was born (link is external) in 1953 in Minot, North Dakota, to a tire salesman-turned-teacher and a mother who worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His family moved to New Mexico when he was 13.
- He currently lives in a Taos, New Mexico home he built himself (link is external).
- If Johnson polls at least 15 percent (link is external) of votes, as determined by five selected national public opinion polling organizations, he will join Trump and Clinton in the presidential debates this fall.
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