Virginia’s Rep. Rigell endorses Libertarian Johnson

Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va., became the third sitting Republican member of Congress to publicly state he will break with party orthodoxy and vote for someone other than GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Libertarian candidates have struggled for legitimacy on the national stage, and The Times suggested Rigell’s endorsement could boost Johnson, the former Republican governor of New Mexico.

Rigell, R-Virginia Beach, had said before that he couldn’t back Republican nominee Donald Trump, but he told The New York Times Friday that he’d also made a decision to vote for Johnson.

Later in the week, Republican Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger also said he wouldn’t back Trump.

Rigell, who is retiring after this term, had previously stated that he would not vote for either Trump or Hillary.

‘Given the fact that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, I think, are two of the most polarizing figures in American politics today, where is the third choice?’ the ex-car dealer asked The New York Times in April.

And major GOP donor Meg Whitman announced earlier this week she’ll support Clinton over Trump as well.

He said in March he would not vote for Trump, telling fellow Republicans in a letter that Trump’s judgment, temperament and character point to “a reckless, embarrassing and ultimately risky presidency”.

Rep. Adam Kitzinger of IL also said he would not vote for Trump, although he would not say which candidate he will support instead. “I’m going to vote for the Libertarian candidate”.

Johnson, the Libertarian candidate and a former Republican governor of New Mexico, has been appealing to Republicans who are angry about Trump’s rise through the party.

Saturday’s rally was the Libertarian ticket’s first campaign rally in Utah.