Justin Amash Launches Bid For Presidency As Libertarian Candidate

After an exhausting primary season which saw over two dozen candidates run for president and drop out, another challenger has entered the field.

Justin Amash, a former Republican and currently Independent congressman from Michigan, announced Tuesday that he is launching an exploratory committee to seek the Libertarian nomination for President.

Today, I launched an exploratory committee to seek the @LPNational’s nomination for president of the United States. Americans are ready for practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people.

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 29, 2020

Amash was elected to congress as a Republican but faces stiff primary challenges going into this election cycle. He has often broken with Republicans in Congress and notably voted for Trump's impeachment. He also has stuck to his traditionally Libertarian views of limited government and was one of the only members of Congress to vote against an anti-lynching bill in February.

Though Amash has little chance of winning the election, if he gains support akin to that of Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate who won 3% of the popular vote in the 2016 election, his presence could harm either Donald Trump's or Joe Biden's election chances, depending on if he siphons Republican votes away from Trump or progressive votes away from Biden.

Biden supporters proved the most perturbed by the announcement on Twitter following the announcement, with many fearing Amash would split the liberal vote.

Justin Amash opposes background checks, is anti-abortion, opposes Dreamers, and is a Koch/Heritage style libertarian. That Dems think he will take more of THEIR voters than Trump’s tells you everything about how the entire Dem party has collapsed to just Never Trump.

— Krystal Ball (@krystalball) April 29, 2020

Gym Jordan and Devin Nunes might be two of trumps biggest kiss asses in congress but neither of them is working as hard to re-elect trump as Justin Amash is now.

— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) April 29, 2020

Congressman, Biden is the only choice for this election. You will siphon votes in Michigan from him while having no realistic path to victory. Also, have you accepted any money from Koch, Devos or either of their pacs, businesses, or orgs? Have they personally given you money?

— Andrew C Laufer, Esq (@lauferlaw) April 29, 2020

The only candidate who can beat Trump is the Democratic Party nominee, full stop. A vote for anyone else is effectively a vote for Trump. You have to know this, justinamash</a>. Please do the right thing.<br><br>via <a href="https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">WalshFreedom https://t.co/BEP1VjcW5H

— Mollie Katzen (@MollieKatzen) April 29, 2020

Whether Amash enters the race, nevermind whether he gains any significant amount of support, remains to be seen.