Amash Won’t Run For President, Calls Process ‘Humbling And Awesome’

By Susan J. Demas, Michigan Advance

The will-he-or-won’t-he dance is over.

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Cascade Twp.) took to Twitter Saturday afternoon to tell supporters he won’t seek the Libertarian Party nomination for president this year.

Amash said he’s spent almost three weeks “assessing the race, appearing in media, talking to delegates and donors, watching the Libertarian Party’s convention plan unfold, and gathering feedback from family, friends, and other advisers.

“After much reflection, I’ve concluded that circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate,” he continued. “This was a difficult decision for me, especially having seen grassroots supporters put so much effort into this campaign. It’s been humbling and awesome.”

Amash added that he believes that a “candidate from outside the old parties, offering a vision of government grounded in liberty and equality, can break through in the right environment.” But he noted the challenges of campaigning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amash was elected to the 3rd Congressional District in West Michigan in 2010 as a Republican during the Tea Party wave. He left the GOP in July 2019 after breaking with the GOP over his support for President Donald Trump’s impeachment.

He’s now the only Libertarian member of Congress and said he remains “invested in helping the party,” even though he won’t run for president.