Failed Libertarian Vice-Presidential Candidate to Challenge Trump in Republican Primary
Peter D'Abrosca
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The man whose name appeared on the Libertarian Party ticket next to former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson during the 2016 election said Monday he will challenge President Donald J. Trump in the 2020 primary.
“Ours is a nation built on courage, resilience, and independence. In these times of great political strife, when both major parties are entrenched in their ‘win at all cost’ battles, the voices of the American people are being ignored and our nation is suffering,” Bill Weld said in a statement.
Johnson and Weld got crushed in 2016. The pair did not even poll well enough to be allowed on national debate stages, and in an election during which Libertarians were expected to make headway, managed only 3.27 percent of the vote, or just over 4 million total votes.
“It is time for patriotic men and women across our great nation to stand and plant a flag. It is time to return to the principles of Lincoln — equality, dignity, and opportunity for all,” Weld’s statement continued. “There is no greater cause on earth than to preserve what truly makes America great. I am ready to lead that fight.”
CNN’s Manu Raju said that Weld plans to focus especially on the state of New Hampshire during the primary.
Weld was a Republican governor of Massachusetts who advocated for gun control in the 1990’s. He was also known for his gubernatorial administration’s push for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement an electric car mandate. He also endorsed Barack Obama for president in 2008.
He only rejoined the Republican Party again in February after his brief stint of Libertarianism.
From Republican, to endorsing a Democrat, to Libertarian, and back again, Weld is poised to add another chapter to his bizarre political career in 2020.
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