U.S. Rep. Justin Amash chose Independence Day to break with the Republican Party, decrying hyperpartisanship and saying he is “disenchanted with party politics and frightened by what I see from it.”
In an essay for the Washington Post, the fifth-term congressman representing the Grand Rapids area said the two-party system “has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions.”
“Today, I’m declaring my independence and leaving the Republican Party,” Amash wrote on the Fourth of July.
“No matter your circumstance, I’m asking you to join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties and rhetoric that divide and dehumanize us. I’m asking you to believe that we can do better than this two-party system — and to work toward it. If we continue to take America for granted, we will lose it.”
His decision had drawn condemnation by GOP leaders, and Amash had since attracted four challengers in the 2020 Republican primary, with the latest candidate, Peter Meijer, joining the race Wednesday.
The president was quick to react to the news on Twitter.
An aide to the congressman confirmed Thursday that Amash will refile to run as an independent for his current seat.
Amash has spoken out in recent months about his long-simmering frustration with partisanship in Washington, even leaving the House Freedom Caucus he helped co-found in 2015.
Elected in the 2010 tea party wave, Amash has ranked among the most conservative members of the House, opposing what he calls runaway government spending and casting votes based on his libertarian principles and conscience.
“Many would contend he left the Republican Party a long time ago, de facto, and all he’s doing is making it official,” said political analyst Bill Ballenger, a former GOP state lawmaker.
“It’s not as momentous as it might otherwise be if it were something you couldn’t see coming based on his behavior or record.”
The big question is what Amash does next — run for reelection to Congress as an independent or perhaps run for president.
“It appears to me that Justin Amash has little or no chance to return to Congress for the 3rd District of Michigan,” Ballenger said, referring to the challenges for independent and third-party candidates.
“Nobody can be sure what he’s going to do next, and he’s such a lone wolf that he’s not the kind of person you can see leading a movement. It’s not going to happen because Justin Amash has no following.“
David Dulio, a political scientist at Oakland University, said Amash’s GOP departure frees him from running in the crowded primary where Trump supporters might have sought to punish him.
“It’s usually much harder for an independent candidate to win in our system that, for all intents and purposes, is a two-party system,” Dulio said.
“Having said that, Amash will have the benefits that come with being an incumbent, and those will be helpful. He has a strong base of support in that district and that might be enough to carry him over the finish line.”
In the meantime, it’s unclear whether Amash will remain part of the House Republican caucus, said Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
“Presumably, the leadership won’t want him anymore. If he is not in one of the two-party caucuses, I don’t think he will have any committee assignments,” he said.
Amash sits on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Kondik said he revised UVA’s Crystal Ball rating for Michigan’s 3rd District from “likely” Republican to toss-up based on Amash’s announcement Thursday.
“That rating is basically operating on the assumption he runs for another term. In the case he does not — and maybe at this point he may run for president — we would rate the race as ‘leans Republican,'” Kondik said.
“It is a competitive district on paper although it’s also one that Republicans should win in most circumstances. This is an odd and unclear circumstance, though.”
In his essay, Amash, a former state lawmaker from Cascade Township, noted that both his immigrant parents were Republicans, and that he had supported GOP candidates and was elected to office as one.
“The Republican Party, I believed, stood for limited government, economic freedom and individual liberty — principles that had made the American Dream possible for my family,” Amash wrote.
But he says that Americans have let elected officials disregard the separation of powers, federalism and the rule of law, resulting in the consolidation of political power. He said congressional leaders expect lawmakers to act “in obedience or opposition to the president and their colleagues on a partisan basis.”
“The parties value winning for its own sake, and at whatever cost,” Amash wrote. “Modern politics is trapped in a partisan death spiral, but there is an escape.”
Bill Kristol, a political analyst, regular conservative voice on political talk shows such as ABC News’ “This Week” and co-founder of the now defunct conservative magazine The Weekly Standard, tweeted his views on Amash’s decision:
“But we owe it to future generations to stand up for our constitutional republic so that Americans may continue to live free for centuries to come,” Amash said.
“Preserving liberty means telling the Republican Party and the Democratic Party that we’ll no longer let them play their partisan game at our expense.”
mburke@detroitnews.com
I honestly get how Justin Amash believes in remaining true to the U.S. Constitution and his sacred Oath of Office. But, he has sadly chosen the wrong hill/issue to die on.
I had been a huge supporter of Justin Amash, and even though I don’t reside in his district I donated to all of his congressional campaigns, but no longer.
I am now greatly concerned with whether or not his accusations are really based on his families business dealings with China.
“In his 2017 financial disclosure forms (pdf here), Representative Amash reports income of between $100,000 to $1,000,000/yr. for his ownership stake in Michigan Industrial Tools. Michigan Industrial Tools is the parent company, manufacturing in China, that produces Tekton Tools, Justin Amash’s Michigan family business.”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/05/figures-trump-hating-rep-justin-amash-holds-personal-business-interests-in-china/
May 20, 2019
BILL A GREAT READ!!
Bill: You are probably right about Amash’s slim chances of winning in my old CD when I lived ih Micfhigan. But, Amash is moving in the same direction as a lot of Americans are doing–to “Independent” or “Unaffiliated” status. The two political parties still control the nomination process with very few changes on the horizon. What puzzles me these days about the reality of “independence” is in the behavior of the voter–does he/she split their tiockets. Yet, ticket-splitting is decreasing. Any anwers to that?
Mr. Ballenger’s point that “Justin Amash has no following, makes no sense.” If, he didn’t have a following, how did he get elected five terms?
I can’t vote for Congressman Amash, since he’s not in my district, but I do admire his courage, because in essence he’s right. Someone has to start the avalanche, why not Amash? A leader can be quite persuasive, who has a righteous cause.
Bill:
Great article.
I do not hold with many opinions held by Mr. Amash, but I congratulate him for opposing the irrational incumbent President.
Annie and i are moderate Republicans, probably in name only, and we welcome the opportunity to vote for an Independent. The problem, of course, is where will he get the money to run when donors like the DeVos family have abandoned him
If Amash were smart, he would affiliate with the Constitution Party (Its called the Taxpayers Party in Michigan) This party is most closely aligned with his voting record and beliefs. If not, then the Libertarian Party would also welcome him. Until the stranglehold of the two-party system is broken, this country will continue to be headed down the path to destruction. Actually though, if the truth be known, we really have only a one-party system today. Each supposed major party always whines, wails, and moans that they are superior and different then the other, but outside of judicial appointments (some of the time–remember Harry Blackmun and Anthony Kennedy) there isn’t a dimes worth of difference between the two. Government continues to get bigger, more intrusive, and takes away more freedoms as time goes on.
I say “Good Riddance” to Mr. Amash. Do you know what a leader with no followers is?…. “Lost”!
Bill Ballenger Interesting thoughts. I’ve sat and ate a meal with Amash. He didn’t know me at the time and invited me to his table at one of the state conventions. And from what I can tell, he has excellent constitute services. He neither seemed strange or a loner to me at all.
And I’d hazard to guess more of trump’s original “followers” district wise, have abandoned him then Amash. If Amash is anything, it’s consistent. If you are surprised now by his behavior you never knew him.
Donald Trump’s vicious moronic attack on the health morals safety and general welfare of this country will go down in infamy as the worst distractive president that this country has ever known. Anyone whether they be democrat republican independent libertarian socialist who believes in liberty and justice for all would take the same position as this patriotic congressman hopefully more Republicans will stand up to this tyranny will fight for what is right and will speak out .We are a government of law not a government of men and women.I applaud this congressman’s tenacity and hopefully there will be others like him and like Senator Romney.. Bill thanks for giving this patriot some notoriety and even though I disagree with some of his concepts I certainly applaud his patriotic tenacity and leader ship .