Rep. Justin Amash announced on Saturday that he will no longer be seeking the Libertarian Party’s nomination for the office of President of the United States. Explaining his reasons for the announcement, Amash posted on Twitter that “circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year”.
The announcement comes three weeks after Amash, who was formerly in the Republican Party, launched an exploratory committee to seek the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination for the 2020 election.
Amash also said that this decision was “difficult,” adding that the experience, particularly the grassroots support he received, had been “humbling and awesome.”
Shining a light on his thought process and concerns regarding the viability of the Libertarian Party, Amash said there was “lingering uncertainty regarding ratification of online voting, the feasibility of 50-state ballot access and related legal challenges, and unity after the nomination have also weighed heavily on me.” If the party was to maximize its potential, it had to “address these issues.”
While voicing some concerns about the party’s prospects, he did indicate that conversations solidified his “belief that the Libertarian Party is well positioned to become a major and consistent contender to win elections at all levels of government.”
Amash also took the opportunity to reinforce his belief 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.”
On the problems in the current environment, the representative from Michigan made reference to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, how people feel very uncertain about their futures, and how difficult fundraising may prove to be in an era of social distancing.
There is no doubt that he will continue his withering commentary on the presidency of Donald Trump. Amash’s problems with the GOP became clear shortly after number 45’s inauguration. His leaving the Republican Party came when he indicated that he would support the impeachment efforts of the Democratic Party.
Chris Hattingh
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