Gary Johnson Bio
Gary Earl Johnson (born January 1, 1953) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 29th Governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003. A member of the Republican Party during his governorship, he joined the Libertarian Party in 2011 and went on to become the party’s presidential nominee in 2012 and 2016. Johnson is widely recognized for his libertarian views on civil liberties, drug policy reform, and limited government.
Before entering politics, Johnson built a successful construction business in New Mexico. Known for his frequent use of the gubernatorial veto and his anti-tax stance, he became a prominent advocate for fiscal conservatism. He later campaigned for the United States Senate in New Mexico in 2018 as a Libertarian, finishing third in the race.
Early Life and Background
Gary Earl Johnson was born on January 1, 1953, in Minot, North Dakota. He is the son of Lorraine B. Johnson (née Bostow), who worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Earl W. Johnson, a public school teacher and a World War II Army veteran. Earl W. Johnson served with the 101st Airborne Division, participated in the Invasion of Normandy, and fought at the Battle of Bastogne, earning three Purple Hearts during his military service.
In 1971, Johnson graduated from Sandia High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was a member of the school track team. He then attended the University of New Mexico from 1971 to 1975 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science. While at the university, he joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and met his future wife, Denise Simms, who was also a student there.
Path to US Politics
During his college years, Johnson worked as a door-to-door handyman to earn money, and the experience inspired him to launch his own mechanical contracting business, Big J Enterprises, in 1976. The company grew rapidly after securing a major contract tied to Intel’s expansion in Rio Rancho, eventually reaching $38 million in revenue. By the time Johnson sold the company in 1999, it had grown into one of New Mexico’s leading construction firms, employing more than 1,000 people.
Johnson’s success in business gave him the financial resources and confidence to enter public service. In 1994, he made his first run for political office, campaigning for Governor of New Mexico on a platform of tax cuts, job creation, controlled government spending, and a tough stance on crime. His campaign slogan was “People before Politics,” and he spent $500,000 of his own money to support his candidacy.
Gary Johnson Career
Early Career (1994-1998)
Gary Johnson entered politics in 1994 when he ran for Governor of New Mexico as a Republican. Despite being advised by established party figures to seek a state legislative seat instead, he pursued the governorship directly. He won the Republican primary by defeating state legislator Richard P. Cheney by 34% to 33% in a competitive field that also included John Dendahl and former Governor David F. Cargo.
In the general election, Johnson won a three-way race with just under 50% of the vote, defeating Democratic incumbent Bruce King and former Lieutenant Governor Roberto Mondragón, who ran as the Green Party candidate. His victory came during the 1994 Republican Revolution, even though New Mexico’s voter registration at the time was 2-to-1 Democratic.
Governorship Breakthrough (1995-2003)
As Governor of New Mexico, Johnson quickly established himself as a strict fiscal conservative. During his first six months in office, he vetoed 200 of 424 bills passed by the legislature, a national record representing 47% of all legislation. He also used his line-item veto power extensively on the remaining bills. In his first budget proposal, Johnson called for a wide range of tax cuts, including a repeal of the prescription drug tax, a $47 million income tax cut, and a six-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax cut, though only the gasoline tax cut was approved by the legislature.
Johnson won reelection in 1998, defeating Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez by 55% to 45%. He became the first New Mexico governor to serve two successive four-year terms after term limits were expanded in 1991. During his second term, he made school voucher reform a central issue, proposing the first statewide voucher system in the country in 1999. Although the proposal did not pass, his advocacy helped shape the national debate over school choice.
Libertarian Party Era (2011-Present)
After leaving office in 2003, Johnson remained active in public policy discussions and gradually moved toward the Libertarian Party. He formally joined the Libertarian Party in 2011 and won the party’s presidential nomination in May 2012. His 2012 campaign emphasized reducing the United States public debt, balancing the federal budget, protecting civil liberties, promoting military non-interventionism, replacing the income tax with the FairTax, and ending the war on drugs. He received about 1.3 million votes, or 1% of the national total, more than all other minor candidates combined that year.
Johnson ran again for President in 2016 as the Libertarian nominee, choosing former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld as his running mate. He received nearly 4.5 million votes, or 3.3% of the total, the highest national vote share for a Libertarian candidate in history and the best showing for a third-party presidential candidate since 1996. In 2018, he ran for the United States Senate in New Mexico as a Libertarian and finished third with 107,201 votes, or 15.4% of the statewide vote, behind Democratic incumbent Martin Heinrich and Republican Mick Rich.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Johnson’s governorship was his handling of the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire, which devastated parts of New Mexico, including Los Alamos. His active role in coordinating the response earned praise from The Denver Post and Democratic Congressman Tom Udall. Johnson is also widely remembered for his extraordinary use of the veto pen, setting state and national records by vetoing more bills than the other 49 contemporary governors combined during his time in office.
Gary Johnson Career Wins
Gary Johnson’s political career includes two successful gubernatorial elections in New Mexico and two Libertarian presidential nominations. His wins and high-profile candidacies established him as the most successful Libertarian candidate in modern American politics.
Governor of New Mexico Highlights
Johnson won the Governor of New Mexico race in 1994, defeating Democratic incumbent Bruce King with just under 50% of the vote. He followed that with a 1998 reelection victory over Democratic challenger Martin Chávez, winning 55% to 45%. These two wins made him the first New Mexico governor to serve two successive four-year terms after the state expanded its term limits in 1991.
Other Wins and Achievements
Beyond his gubernatorial wins, Johnson secured the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination in both 2012 and 2016, and the Libertarian nomination for the 2018 United States Senate race in New Mexico. His 2016 presidential ticket with Bill Weld earned nearly 4.5 million votes, setting a record for the Libertarian Party and making it the strongest third-party showing since 1996.
Gary Johnson Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Gary Johnson is the son of Earl W. Johnson, a public school teacher and decorated World War II veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, and Lorraine B. Johnson (née Bostow), who worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His father’s military service and his mother’s work in federal service gave the family deep roots in public service, which influenced Johnson’s later decision to enter politics.
Personal Life
Johnson married his college girlfriend, Denise “Dee” Simms, in 1977, and the couple had two children before divorcing in 2005. Dee Johnson, who served as First Lady of New Mexico and advocated against smoking and for breast cancer awareness, passed away in December 2006. Johnson has a son, Erik, and a granddaughter, Cora. He became engaged to Kate Prusack in 2009.