Former Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson announced his candidacy for the United States Senate representing New Mexico this week.

Johnson, who served two terms as governor of the state, is challenging Democratic incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich and Republican Mick Rich.

His entry into the race raises the serious prospect of a third-party candidate, a Libertarian, breaking through the two-party political system and ending up in the U.S. Senate.

Johnson’s fiscally conservative and socially tolerant approach to issues would be an important contribution to the U.S. Senate.

But even if one doesn’t personally agree with Johnson’s worldview, a third-party candidate shaking up the political system in some way is sure to embolden anyone tired of the same old political games and templates from the Democratic and Republican parties.

After all, if we learned anything from the 2016 presidential race, it’s that Americans are increasingly tired of the political status quo.

President Trump’s rapid ascension is one indicator of this on the right, while independent Sen. Bernie Sanders’ bid for the Democratic nomination invigorated many on the left.

There is plenty to be dissatisfied with in the political establishment, regardless of political parties.

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Proposition 22 is vital for workers and California’s economic recovery At the federal level, Democratic and Republican administrations and congressional leadership are often indistinguishable. Both parties, once in power, have overseen an interventionist foreign policy, perpetual expansion of the federal government and general fiscal irresponsibility.

The two parties have proven incapable of resolving major issues, from illegal immigration to health care, instead favoring grandstanding to appeal to their base of support.

Perhaps it will take more outsiders, with more nuanced and principled approaches to issues, to break the inertia and break a status quo that most Americans are rightly unsatisfied with.

Frankly, Congress could probably use more libertarians. With the federal government as dysfunctional as it is, libertarians such as Johnson could help curb some of the excesses of both parties, while drawing needed attention to excessive spending and federal overreach with respect to civil liberties.