Gary Johnson Will Seek Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination

Saying the Republican Party's "primary process was not fair and open," Gary Johnson announced Wednesday that he will seek the Libertarian Party nomination for president.

"Frankly, I have been deeply disappointed by the treatment I received in the Republican nomination process. I had hoped to lay out a real libertarian message on all the issues in the Republican contest. The process was not fair and open," the former New Mexico governor said in a statement.

Johnson said, "The Libertarian Party nominee will be on the ballot in all 50 states -- as they were in 2008, and will offer a principled alternative to the Republican and the Democrat."

As for libertarian-leaning Ron Paul, the former two-term governor added, "I believe this election needs a true libertarian voice. While Ron Paul is a good man and a libertarian who I proudly endorsed for president in 2008, there is no guarantee that he will be the Republican nominee.

"I am excited by this challenge. I am liberated. And I am committed to shaking up the system as it has never been shaken up before. The tired old two-party system has failed America."

Libertarian Party executive director Carla Howell welcomed Johnson to the fold.

Noting that Johnson "vetoed more bills than all other governors in the country combined, stopping the expansion of big government," Howell praised the former governor's agenda for a "substantial reduction in federal spending."

Howell said, "The Libertarian Party will be on the ballot in nearly all, if not all, 50 states -- including Virginia. At least 99 percent of the population of voters in the United States will have the opportunity to vote Libertarian."

The party's nominating convention will be held in Las Vegas May 4-5.