Rep. Justin Amash, who is now an independent, said that while he still plans on running for his Michigan seat, he is not ruling out a Libertarian or independent presidential run in 2020.
Amash, 39, said he is confident that he can be reelected as an independent, to which CNN host Jake Tapper replied by probing about possible presidential aspirations.
“I still wouldn’t rule anything like that out,” answered Amash.
“I believe that I have to use my skills, my public influence where it serves the country best and I believe I have to defend the Constitution in whichever way works best and if that means doing something else, then I do that. But I feel confident about running in my district, I feel a close tie to my community, I feel — I care a lot about my community and I want to represent them in Congress,” he added.
Regarding a timeline for such a decision, Amash said a presidential campaign was “not on my radar right now.”
Amash announced he was leaving the Republican party on Independence Day, saying, “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.”
Amash said he used to believe the GOP stood for “limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty.”
Amash was the first Republican to say the House of Representatives should begin the impeachment process against President Trump after reading the Mueller report.
