Here’s Why Gary Johnson Says He Voted for George McGovern in 1972

Johnson Cast Vote for Liberal Icon McGovern

by Josh Guckert

In an interview at the Detroit Economic Club, Gary Johnson revealed that his first vote for president was for Democrat George McGovern. Johnson stated that this was due to McGovern’s fervent opposition to the Vietnam War.

Of course, Johnson’s vote didn’t do much to help out the Democratic nominee. Not only did he lose Johnson’s home of New Mexico by 25 points, he lost the national popular vote by almost the same margin. The only state McGovern won was the Democratic stronghold of Massachusetts, in addition to a victory in Washington, D.C.

Notably, 1972 was the first presidential election for the Libertarian Party. Though the LP won its only electoral vote to date thanks to a faithless elector, the ticket of John Hospers and Theodora Nathan only won 3,674 popular votes.

The LP did not appear on Johnson’s New Mexico ballot, earning ballot access in only Colorado and Washington. The only “third option” for Johnson in New Mexico was the Independent ticket of John G. Schmitz and Thomas J. Anderson. That ticket earned over 2% of the vote in New Mexico and almost 1.5% nationally. No other candidate earned more than 0.11% of the federal popular vote.

Watch one of McGovern’s 1972 ads below: