Gary Johnson to Ditch GOP for Libertarians

Gary Johnson, the gay-friendly former governor of New Mexico, has decided to drop out of the Republican presidential race and seek the Libertarian Party's top slot.

In a recent interview with The Advocate, Johnson, who has garnered little Republican support and appeared in only two debates, said he would be open to seeking the Libertarian presidential nomination. Politico now reports that a Johnson campaign source says he will definitely make the move from Republican to Libertarian, with an official announcement to come next week at a press conference in Santa Fe.

Johnson "began flirting with the Libertarians when it became clear that he was gaining no traction in GOP primaries," Politico notes. He had maintained his membership in the Libertarian Party, paying dues even while holding the governor's office as a Republican.

Unlike leading Republicans, Johnson favors marriage equality. "As I have examined this issue, consulted with folks on all sides, and viewed it through the lens of individual freedom and equal rights, it has become clear to me that denying those rights and benefits to gay couples is discrimination, plain and simple," Johnson said at a GOProud online forum. He also supports abortion rights and wants to repeal drug laws.