With three months until Election Day, New Mexico Libertarians might get a candidate with some name recognition on the ballot: former Gov. Gary Johnson.
Johnson, a former presidential candidate, confirmed Friday he’s considering entering the race for Sen. Martin Heinrich’s seat, according to local reports. Current candidate Aubrey Dunn, the state’s land commissioner, reportedly plans to withdraw from the race.
Democrat Heinrich, the state’s junior senator, is running for re-election against Republican Mick Rich.
In a statement to the Albuquerque Journal, Johnson said, “If the opportunity arises to run for the Senate, I will give it serious consideration,” the Journal reported. “To be clear, though, I will not run unless I believe I can win.”
The report notes Libertarian Party leaders would still have to vote to officially make Johnson their nominee, but that would likely be a formality.
Johnson governed New Mexico for seven years as a Republican, but ran for president in both 2012 and 2016 as a Libertarian.
