Justin Amash Announces He is Running for President
Congressman Justin Amash of Michigan isn’t new to stirring the political pot. As a former Republican, he often attempted to combat the establishment politics, instead opting to “uphold the Constitution,” even if his own party got in the way. Recently, he declared he would no longer affiliate with the Republican Party on July 4th, 2019. As of April 28, 2020, Amash announced he will be seeking the Libertarian nomination to be their candidate for President in the fall, officially changing his party affiliation to the third party. He is the first Libertarian to be in Congress.
Amash is the son of immigrant parents. His father and mother immigrated from Palestine and Syria (respectively) to the United States. Growing up, Amash attended a Christian school in Michigan and would continue to pursue a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan. He then attended University of Michigan Law School, earning his J.D. in 2005. He worked briefly as an attorney but switched to being a legal consultant for his father’s business, Michigan Industrial Tools Inc. (also known as Tekton Inc.). In 2008, he was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives.
Amash presents his platform as “Limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty,” which is why Libertarians were unsurprised to hear his announcement last night. He was elected to Michigan’s Third District in 2010 and has served on the Committee on Oversight and Reform (COR) and chairs the House Liberty Caucus. He has expressed opposition to many bills which would infringe on Americans’ civil liberties, including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). In addition to civil liberties, Amash notes that one of the greatest threats to our national security is the federal government’s overspending and debt. He has criticized both parties for their spending and budgets, authoring one of the most popular (by the public, not by politicians) budget proposals.
With his announcement of his Presidential run, Democrats and Republicans are worried that he may pull votes away from their candidates. Should Amash receive the Libertarian nomination in May, these worries will only grow stronger. Since his announcement, hundreds of people have tweeted their support or joined Facebook groups devoted to his campaign. Many posts have reflected both Biden supporters and Trump supporters may be switching their intended vote choice. Is this a reflection that third-parties shouldn’t be allowed to enter the political market? Or is it a reflection that Americans are not satisfied with scandal ridden candidates?
Check out his campaign page here: https://amashforamerica.com/
Written By- Jacky Anderson