Gary Johnson, the former two-time Libertarian presidential candidate who ran a gaffe-prone 2016 campaign, is officially running again, this time as the party’s nominee to become New Mexico’s junior senator.
Johnson, who served as New Mexico’s governor from 1995 to 2003, filed papers late Monday with election officials so he can contest the U.S. Senate seat against Democratic incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich and Republican Mick Rich, according to local reports.
Johnson’s entry into the race complicates Heinrich’s path to victory as the Democrat had been the favorite, per the Associated Press. An official announcement is expected soon, his campaign manager told the news wire service.
Johnson signaled in July he was considering replacing state Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn on the ballot after Dunn withdrew his candidacy, weighing the possibility of launching a late bid less than 100 days before Election Day.
Johnson governed New Mexico for seven years as a Republican, but deflected to the Libertarian Party in 2011.
[Also read: Gary Johnson says Trump marijuana reversal could doom re-election]
