Former Congressman Justin Amash, who briefly served as the Libertarian Party’s first and only sitting member of Congress toward the end of his career, lost his bid for the Republican Party’s U.S. Senate nomination in Michigan on Tuesday.
According to election results as of Wednesday afternoon, Amash came in second in a four-way race for the Republican nomination. Mike Rogers, who was endorsed by Republican former President Donald Trump earlier this year, ultimately earned over 550,000 votes, accounting for 63.2% of the total. Amash followed in second with 15.7%, while Sherry O’Donnell and Sandy Pensler received 12.1% and 9.1%, respectively.
| Candidate Name | Vote Total | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Rogers | 552,754 votes | 63.2% |
| Justin Amash | 136,960 votes | 15.7% |
| Sherry O’Donnell | 105,924 votes | 12.1% |
| Sandy Pensler | 79,270 votes | 9.1% |
| Write-ins | * | * |
“Thank you to my family and friends, to everyone who cast a vote for me, and to all our volunteers, donors, and supporters,” Amash said via X following his loss. “You were incredible. You were inspiring. You made a difference.”
Amash, who was first elected as a Republican in Michigan’s third congressional district in 2010, served five terms before stepping down in 2020. During the first half of his final term, Amash left the Republican Party to become an independent. Ten months later, he formally joined the Libertarian Party, becoming its first and only sitting member of Congress to date. Shortly thereafter, Amash declared an exploratory committee for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination, although he ultimately decided against running.
Amash left the Libertarian Party to rejoin the Republicans in early 2024, shortly after he announced that he would be exploring a run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
Because he actually believed what he wrote when he switched to independent, and then changed his mind later? And, there are many things that go into a decision to run or not run for president. It’s not all about whether it’s “hot iron” time or would help the party. He’s what, in his 40s? Nowadays that means he might have another 30 or 40 years to run for president, if that’s one of his life ambitions. In another 30 or 40 years, it may well be longer, or even much longer, than that, if that’s still a thing then.
“I believe Justin Amash could write the book on how to mess up a political career.” – NewFederalist
“In other words, the book on how to do the right thing as a legislator, and stand for freedom. Viva libertad carajo!” – Starchild
Not exactly… how to NOT strike while the iron was hot and get the LP presidential nomination when he was still relevant. I believe he would have done considerably better than Jo Jorgensen. Also, why switch to independent and then to Libertarian? He could have skipped the first step.
@NewFederalist
That’s very wise of you. And with many years of hard work and dedication, and lots of prayer, hopefully you might some day even realize that noble aspiration.
@Starchild
“The only “inconsistency” I can think of in Justin Amash has been changing his political affiliation. And that has been toward liberty, …”
Now that’s there IS a load of rubbish. The antisemitic fake-“christian” who supports murdering innocent children in the womb (anti-libertarian), also want to abolish the death penalty (anti-libertarian)… To name just one glaring example of his hypocrisy. The only thing Amash is consistent about is being anti-libertarian.
And you never answered my question last time, Starchild: Were those jackboots that pulled you out of your chair during Trump’s speech at the LNC and then proceeded to quite literally kick you out of the hall, Trump’s secret service goons or McArdle’s security arrangement for the convention? What about the ones who dragged Dan Reale away from the mic after he started swearing at McArdle?
“…Amash is perhaps the least principled, certainly the most inconsistent and arguably the most anti-libertarian member of Congress…”
What a load of rubbish. Not even members of Congress who disagree with him would say any such thing. Where’s the evidence for any such thing?
The only “inconsistency” I can think of in Justin Amash has been changing his political affiliation. And that has been toward liberty, with the exception of going back to the GOP to seek the opportunity of getting elected to the U.S. Senate. Which was only a first shot. With more statewide name recognition, he could do better next time.
“I believe Justin Amash could write the book on how to mess up a political career.”
In other words, the book on how to do the right thing as a legislator, and stand for freedom. Viva libertad carajo!
Wow! I sure wish I was as perfect as Nuna!
Lmao. Amash is perhaps the least principled, certainly the most inconsistent and arguably the most anti-libertarian member of Congress in my lifetime. Just because Rogers is also terrible, is no excuse for totalitarian clown Amash. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Justin Amash is a true advocate of liberty, who was one of the most principled, consistent, and non-partisan members of Congress. It’s too bad more voters in Michigan failed to recognize this. As George said, I hope he will return to the Libertarian Party and work to help build a stronger alternative to the left/right 2-party duopoly cartel.
I wish he had stuck with the Libertarian Party. Hopefully he will return in the future.
I believe Justin Amash could write the book on how to mess up a political career.
Justin Amash is a statist creep. Mike Rogers is also a statist creep.
Not a surprise.