Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson may not have had the poll numbers to make the first debate, but he's been racking up endorsements nonetheless.

The Chicago Tribune and the Detroit News, both of which have spent decades almost exclusively backing GOP candidates, published editorials this week encouraging readers to forgo voting for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and support Johnson instead.

"We recognize the Libertarian candidate is the longest of long shots with an electorate that has been conditioned to believe only Republicans and Democrats can win major offices," the Detroit News wrote Thursday. "But this is an endorsement of conscience, reflecting our confidence that Johnson would be a competent and capable president and an honorable one."

Johnson, a former two-term governor of New Mexico, has nowhere near Clinton and Trump's polling numbers. RealClearPolitics data shows that when he goes up against the two major party candidates he has about 7.2 percent support to Trump's 41 and Clinton's 43.9. He's also had a few recent gaffes, like when he appeared not to know what the Syrian city of Aleppo was and couldn't name a foreign leader he liked.

But, as the Tribune noted, the electorate has grown dissatisfied with its top two choices for president — and Johnson's campaign has been thriving.

"Taken together, Trump and Clinton have serious flaws that prevent us from offering our support to either of them," it wrote. "Every American who casts a vote for [Johnson] is standing for principles — and can be proud of that vote. Yes, proud of a candidate in 2016."

Johnson's getting support from more than just newspapers. See a few other notable figures who have declared they're voting Libertarian this November, with each person's name linked to his or her endorsement:

• Melissa Joan Hart, actress

• Marvin Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush

• Raven Symone, talk show host and actress

• Drew Carey, comedian

• Jesse Ventura, former Minnesota Governor

• Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va.

• Danny Jones, mayor of Charleston, West Virginia

• Chris Long, football player

• John Mackey, co-CEO of Whole Foods

• Patrick Byrne, CEO of Overstock