SMYRNA, GA. | A former Republican candidate for governor is backing the Libertarian candidate on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Dalton Mayor David Pennington lost a long-shot bid to replace Gov. Nathan Deal as the partys nominee in May, earning about 17 percent of the primary vote. He attacked the governors fiscal policy during the campaign, appealing to conservative voters.

Libertarian candidates could play a role in both the race for governor and Georgias open U.S. Senate seat. A candidate must earn more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.

On Friday, Pennington endorsed Andrew Hunt and says voting for a third-party candidate isnt a waste. Pennington says he wont tell anyone else who to support and expects people to vote their conscience.

Hunt faces Deal and Democrat Jason Carter.

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Former Republican gubernatorial candidate endorses Libertarian in three-way race