TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas Libertarians say the growing popularity of their party’s presidential candidate could help them land enough votes two years from now to gain major party status in the state.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Kansas Libertarian Party leaders acknowledge none of their candidates in state and federal races has much of a chance of winning this year. But they say that could change in future races if the party can gain momentum as voters look for alternatives to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson has been polling around 9 percent nationally, which Kansas chairman Rob Hodgkinson hopes will help swell the ranks of the state party.

The Libertarians would gain major party status in Kansas if they receive 5 percent of the vote in the 2018 gubernatorial race.

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