Libertarian Party Nominates Gary Johnson For President

On Saturday, May 5, 2012, the Libertarian Party nominated former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson for President of the United States. Governor Johnson won the nomination on the first ballot obtaining 419 of the 595 votes cast for an impressive 70.420% of the total vote. R. Lee Wrights of Texas came in second with 152 votes (25.546%), Jim Burns of Nevada was third with 12 votes (2.017%) and Carl Person of New York came in last with 3 votes (.504%). There were six write-in votes (1.008%) for other candidates not formally listed on the ballot and three people voted for None Of The Above (.504%).

Addressing the delegates immediately after obtaining the Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination, Governor Johnson said, in part:

I humbly accept the nomination. Thank you very much. I am going to make a pledge to all of you. None of  you are going to regret what happened here today...The goal needs to be to actually win in November.

In a show of party unity, R. Lee Wrights, who was Gary Johnson's closest challenger, told the delegates, "Let's get this guy elected!"

Dr. Tom Stevens, State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, said:

Gary Johnson is going to be a great spokesperson for libertarian principles and I expect we will all be proud of how he conducts his campaign as the Presidential Nominee of the Libertarian Party.

Delegates from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania gave Governor Johnson 75% of its total vote. In announcing the count to the National Convention in my capacity as Pennsylvania Delegation Chair, I made the following statement:

"Mr. Chairman. The Delegates from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, and the State that proudly kicked Rick Santorum's ass out of the Senate casts 2 write-in votes for Sam Sloan, 1 vote for Lee Wrights & enthusiastically casts 9 votes for the next President of the United States, Gary Johnson."

I was also pleased to learn that Kate, Gary Johnson's fiance, is originally from Pennsylvania so if there is a White House wedding, as Gary Johnson predicts, I expect we may be able to get a few invitations to attend.

The Libertarian Party National Convention was held from May 3-6, 2012 at the Red Rock Casino, Hotel & Spa located in Las Vegas, Nevada.