Rep. Justin Amash, a former Republican-turned-Libertarian congressman from Michigan announced on Tuesday that he is assembling a presidential exploratory committee for running as a Libertarian Party candidate against President Donald Trump.
“Americans are ready for practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people,” Amash said in a statement. “We’re ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I’m excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president.”
While third-party candidates traditionally have low prospects of faring well in national elections, they often take votes away from the main Democratic and Republican contenders, though in Amash’s case it is not clear whether he would be gaining disenfranchised Republican voters or reluctant supporters of presumptive nominee Joe Biden.
Amash touted the benefits of breaking up the two-party state on Twitter writing, “The best check we can have on the destructive partisanship of Democrats and Republicans in Congress is a president who’s not from either of those parties.”
Amash left the Republican Party due to his contempt for Trump. As of Friday, he is officially the only Libertarian member of Congress.
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“Today, [Amash’s] paperwork was accepted by the US House Clerk, making him the first Libertarian in Congress,” tweeted the Libertarian Party. “We look forward to more members leaving their old parties that only care about scoring cheap political points – and not about the American people.”
