Amash launches GOP Senate bid in Michigan

Former Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.) announced Thursday that he’s launching a long-shot bid for retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D-Mich.) seat.

Amash left the Republican Party in 2019 following his criticism of former President Trump to become an independent and later a Libertarian, however he is running in the GOP primary for the Senate seat. He voted to impeach the former president during Trump’s first trial in 2019.

“Regardless of who wins the White House and Congress, the United States will remain deeply polarized,” Amash wrote in a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, as he announced his candidacy.

“What we need is not a rubber stamp for either party, but an independent-minded senator prepared to challenge anyone and everyone on the people’s behalf — someone focused not on extending federal power so Republicans or Democrats in Washington can achieve their political ends, but on ensuring that Americans have the personal and economic freedom to pursue their own ends,” he added.

Amash’s bid throws an unexpected curveball into the GOP primary, though the Independent is unlikely to win.

The Senate Republicans’ campaign arm has rallied around former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), but former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) — known for his vote to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol — is running as well.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), actor Hill Harper and businessman Nasser Beydoun are running on the Democratic side.

Democrats in the Great Lakes State welcomed Amash’s entry into the GOP primary.

“Michigan Republicans’ brutal infighting is getting nastier by the day,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said in a statement.

“Their caustic showdown will leave them with a badly damaged nominee who is out of touch with Michigan families,” she continued. “Amash has an extensive record of leaving Michiganders behind: supporting dangerous abortion bans, vowing to gut health care access, and backing the 2017 tax giveaway to the wealthy and large corporations.”

Michigan is one of a handful of critical battleground states that will determine who wins the presidency.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report sees the Senate race there as slightly more favorable for Democrats, rating it “lean Democrat.”

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