The Libertarian National Convention went to a second ballot Sunday after former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson fell just five votes short on the first ballot of gaining the majority in his bid for the party’s presidential nomination.
Mr. Johnson, the 2012 Libertarian presidential candidate, received 49.5 percent of the vote on the first ballot, or 458 votes. He was trailed by consultant Austin Petersen with 21.3 percent, or 197 votes, and cybersecurity entrepreneur John McAfee with 14.2 percent after taking 131 votes.
Also scheduled to appear on the second ballot were small-business owner Darryl Perry and anesthesiologist Marc Feldman, both of whom received less than 10 percent of the delegate total in the first ballot.
Mr. Johnson received 1.27 million votes in the 2012 presidential race, the most ever by a Libertarian candidate, and has polled in double digits against the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees for president.
The convention is being held at the Rosen Centre Hotel & Resort in Orlando, Florida.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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