Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, a self-described libertarian Republican, has endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz for president.
Following in the footsteps of fellow House Freedom Caucus member Raul Labrador, Amash switched his allegiance to Cruz after Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul exited the 2016 race.
“It’s easy to withdraw from politics when the positions and priorities of the candidates do not precisely mirror our own. But we owe it to our beliefs to find constitutional conservative political allies who not only respect our philosophy but also fight for our views to be heard,” Amash wrote in an op-ed. “We have found such an ally in Sen. Ted Cruz. Ted is not a libertarian and doesn’t claim to be. But he is a principled defender of the Constitution, a brilliant strategist and debater who can defeat the Democratic nominee in the general election, and the only remaining candidate I trust to take on what he correctly calls the Washington Cartel.”
Amash argued that Cruz is uniquely qualified to pick Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s replacement, and that the senator is most capable of fighting for America’s constitutional system that he described as under threat. The libertarian congressman noted that he does not always agree with Cruz on foreign policy or civil liberties issues, but the two have found common ground on opposition to cronyism and corporate welfare.
Former Paul supporters and similarly minded Republicans could be crucial in Cruz’s effort to build a coalition capable of winning the GOP presidential nomination. While Cruz has courted Paul supporters early and often, Paul’s vituperative attacks on Cruz before quitting the race have likely blocked some in-roads Cruz may have otherwise made.
Amash’s endorsement comes the same day as Nevadans caucus for the GOP. The Silver State is known for having a libertarian vein running through its politics, evidenced by its permissive attitude toward prostitution and gambling.
Cruz ranks second in the Washington Examiner‘s newest GOP presidential power rankings.
