Republicans and former party members hoping President Trump won’t win reelection in the fall are seething over Michigan Rep. Justin Amash’s decision to launch a presidential exploratory committee, fearing a Libertarian Party bid will throw November’s contest in the incumbent’s favor.
Joe Walsh, a former Illinois congressman who left the GOP in February after unsuccessfully trying to mount a primary challenge against Trump, ripped Amash’s announcement as “a terrible idea.”
Walsh, who like Amash was swept into Congress in 2010 on the back of the tea party movement, cited 2016 exit poll data that indicated he has no hope of winning in 2020 “but he can siphon enough votes from the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, to hand the election to Trump.”
“If Amash gets the Libertarian nomination and stays in until the end, he could wind up going in the books as the guy who voted to impeach Trump one year, then tipped the election to him 11 months later,” he wrote Wednesday morning, offering to establish another party with Amash after November.
Amash’s decision similarly rattled fellow Never Trump Republicans, such as lawyer George Conway and academic Tom Nichols.
“I admired how @justinamash stood up for the rule of law in Trump’s impeachment. And needless to say, my views align more closely with Amash’s than Biden’s. But the only real effect Amash could have in this campaign is to enhance Trump’s chances,” George Conway, the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, tweeted.
I admired how @justinamash stood up for the rule of law in Trump’s impeachment. And needless to say, my views align more closely with Amash’s than Biden’s.
But the only real effect Amash could have in this campaign is to enhance Trump’s chances.
This is a terrible idea. https://t.co/lAimU4KEoB
— George Conway, Noble Committee Chair (@gtconway3d) April 29, 2020
Nichols added Amash could stop Biden taking the state, seen as crucial for the two-term vice president and Delaware’s 36-year senator to clinch the 270 electoral votes he needs for the White House.
He can take enough votes from Biden to tip Michigan to Trump. 16 EVs. https://t.co/eRxhwc9lRR
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) April 29, 2020
Democrats, such as 2020 White House hopeful Andrew Yang and former Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, also vented their concerns Wednesday morning.
“I like Justin. I love democracy. But I do think a 3rd party run increases the chances of Trump’s re-election,” Yang tweeted.
I like Justin. I love democracy. But I do think a 3rd party run increases the chances of Trump’s re-election. https://t.co/UJMNWK48P6
— Andrew Yang??? (@AndrewYang) April 29, 2020
McCaskill, now an MSNBC analyst, told the outlet, “We do not have room for error” this cycle.
“This is time for everyone to be united that believes that Donald Trump is a very bad president for the country we love,” she said.
Amash, 39, announced late Tuesday he had formed a committee to look into a possible third-party White House bid, a prospect he had teased for months. He must also secure the Libertarian Party’s nomination. Libertarian Party leaders will meet this weekend to discuss when they will hold their convention, which was originally scheduled for May but postponed because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
A co-founder of the hard-line conservative House Freedom Caucus, he later voted in favor of the two articles of impeachment against Trump.
“We’re ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I’m excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president,” Amash tweeted Tuesday.
We’re ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I’m excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 29, 2020
