Rep. Justin Amash, L-Mich., Who briefly considered running for president earlier this year, does not intend to seek reelection, a senior aide said Thursday, according to a report.
“He has not been campaigning for any office and does not plan to seek the nomination for any office,” adviser Poppy Nelson told The Detroit News.
Amash, a five-term congressman and outspoken critic of President Trump, left the Republican party last year, became independent, and joined the Libertarian party in April. He is the first libertarian in Congress.
JUSTIN AMASH FORMULATES THE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE POSSIBLE WHITE HOUSE WORKS AS A LIBERARY
“I love to represent our community in Congress. I always. This is my choice, but I’m still going to miss it, ”Amash tweeted Thursday in apparent confirmation. “Thank you for your trust.”
Amash was the only Republican who supported Trump’s impeachment and, as an Independent, voted in favor of impeachment articles against the president last year.
Amash helped found Freedom Caucus and is one of the most conservative members of Congress, but left the Republican Party and Freedom Caucus last July, alleging that politics is on a “partisan death spiral.”
He formed an exploratory committee for a presidential bid shortly after joining the Libertarian Party in April, but abandoned the idea after five weeks.
“After much reflection, I came to the conclusion that the circumstances do not lend themselves to my success as a presidential candidate this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate,” Amash tweeted in May.
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The deadline for the presentation of libertarian candidates in Michigan is Monday, according to The Detroit News.
“You can definitely quote me saying we hope he runs again,” Jim Turney, a former president of the national Libertarian Party, told The Detroit News. “I feel pretty sure that that applies to all members of the Libertarian Party, no matter where they live.”
