He may have missed the boat when it came to getting a spot at one of the presidential debates – but Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson did reach a significant milestone this week: he got his first endorsement from a sitting U.S. Member of Congress, Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia.
Rigell is one of a handful of conservative Republicans buck his party and announce plans to vote against Trump. However, ditching his party may not be as daring for him as it is for others since Rigell announced that he won’t seek reelection at the end of his term.
In his endorsement video, Rigell makes his case for Johnson clear, “I’m a lifelong Republican, but I’m not voting for Donald Trump – and I’m certainly not voting for Hillary Clinton,” he says. “I believe this is the most important of my lifetime – and I’m 56-years old.”
He then explains his stance that many Americans this cycle can find sympathy for: “The two national parties have given us two candidates that are deeply flawed and I believe aren’t qualified in judgement and temperament, and character, to hold our nation’s highest elected office.”
“But we don’t have just two choices,” he continues, “We have a third choice – a better choice. The key is to realize the truth and recognize the truth: we don’t have to live this way.”
Rigell then goes on to praise Johnson’s record as a two term Governor of New Mexico – and a popular one at that. “I don’t trust the Republican nominee Donald Trump and I don’t trust the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton,” he says. “I do trust, with not only my future, but my children and grandchildren’s future, Governor Gary Johnson to lead our great country.”
The Libertarian ticket is undoubtedly happy for the big endorsement – but it probably would have been helpful to have before the debates were over.
Rigell is one of a handful of conservative Republicans buck his party and announce plans to vote against Trump. However, ditching his party may not be as daring for him as it is for others since Rigell announced that he won’t seek reelection at the end of his term.
In his endorsement video, Rigell makes his case for Johnson clear, “I’m a lifelong Republican, but I’m not voting for Donald Trump – and I’m certainly not voting for Hillary Clinton,” he says. “I believe this is the most important of my lifetime – and I’m 56-years old.”
He then explains his stance that many Americans this cycle can find sympathy for: “The two national parties have given us two candidates that are deeply flawed and I believe aren’t qualified in judgement and temperament, and character, to hold our nation’s highest elected office.”
“But we don’t have just two choices,” he continues, “We have a third choice – a better choice. The key is to realize the truth and recognize the truth: we don’t have to live this way.”
Rigell then goes on to praise Johnson’s record as a two term Governor of New Mexico – and a popular one at that. “I don’t trust the Republican nominee Donald Trump and I don’t trust the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton,” he says. “I do trust, with not only my future, but my children and grandchildren’s future, Governor Gary Johnson to lead our great country.”
The Libertarian ticket is undoubtedly happy for the big endorsement – but it probably would have been helpful to have before the debates were over.