Former Libertarian Congressman Justin Amash announced Thursday that he is exploring a run for the United States Senate out of Michigan, but possibly not as a member of the Libertarian Party.
Justin Amash was initially elected to Congress as a Republican in 2010 and served for several terms. However, on July 4, 2019, Amash officially left the Republican Party and became an independent for roughly a year before joining the Libertarian Party. As a Libertarian, Amash became the party’s first and only member of Congress before leaving office at the end of his 2020 term.
Now, Amash is considering a return to politics at the encouragement of his supporters, who are urging him to run for the Senate, but in the Republican primary.
“I’ve been humbled in recent weeks by the many people who have urged me to run for Senate in Michigan and to do so by joining the Republican primary,” Amash posted on the social media platform X Thursday morning. “They see what I see: contenders for the seat who are uninspired, unserious, and unprepared to tackle the chief impediment to liberty and economic prosperity—an overgrown and abusive government that strives to centralize power and snuff out individualism.”
“Today I’m launching the Justin Amash for Senate Exploratory Committee as I consider entering the race,” he ultimately announced.
Although Amash hasn’t explicitly stated that he has or would be rejoining the Republican Party, he believes that Michigan needs a “principled, consistent constitutional conservative” in the Senate. Additionally, Amash outlined several key policy positions for an ideal candidate, including advocating for sound money and free speech, safeguarding individual rights, opposing the surveillance state, and challenging the “bipartisan oligarchy.”
At least six Republicans have already announced their interest in running for the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Debbie Stabenow. This includes Peter Meijer, who succeeded Justin Amash in Congress.
Readers of Independent Political Report can view the full post made by Justin Amash on X below:
https://twitter.com/justinamash/status/1748012374865412458
Can any Libertarian blame him for not wanting to run as a Libertarian in the state of Michigan? He’s a politically experienced, conservative-leaning, pragmatist libertarian doing the most strategically sound thing he can do. Can’t fault him for that. The LP in general is a mess.
If he ran as an LP over 2-3 cycles he could win…if not, running as a Democrat could make more sense strategically…
I guess this should come a no big surprise. If he could join Rand Paul in the Senate that would be a net positive in my opinion. The reality simply is winning a Senate seat as a Libertarian is just not likely.
It doesn’t help that the Libertarian Party of Michigan is in shambles with two groups claiming to be the state central committee.
“Shock me” that Amash would go back to the GOP said nobody who’s watched his peregrinations of the last few years.
“Shock me” that he actually thinks he could win the GOP primary, basically forgetting why he left the GOP, also said nobody.