And How Far Would He Go?

By Elias J. Atienza

Representative Justin Amash (R-MI) hinted at a 2020 run during his speech at the Young Americans for Liberty National Convention. As one of the few libertarian Republicans in elected office, Amash is looking to continue the movement Ron Paul inspired.

Amash is one of the few remaining left in the Never Trump movement and is actively looking to back someone besides the Republican nominee.

Rare called him “the most high profile libertarian Republican in Congress after Senator Rand Paul” and one of the “two congressmen who are generally considered the most beloved by the Ron Paul-inspired liberty movement.”

It’s important that we have a strong libertarian voice running for president. And it’s important that we win. So, yes,” he told Rare in February when asked if he would run for President.

Amash ran for office back in 2010, winning 60% of the vote and became one of the youngest Representatives in Congress. He has won reelection twice, defeating his opponents by a wide margin. He is currently facing reelection against Douglas Smith who he will face in the general election.

And how would Amash do in the Republican primary? Ron Paul did well in 2012 though Rand Paul didn’t, dropping out after Iowa. Would an Amash run do better in courting libertarians and libertarian-leaning Republicans? It’s unknown considering that Senator Paul may run in 2020 as well.

If Amash were to run for the 2020 Republican nomination (that is assuming Donald Trump doesn’t win the presidency or proves to be an unpopular president) he would be likely be facing the same opponents who ran in 2016. Opponents such as Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) and maybe even Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) might jump into the race.

In any case, an Amash run would instantly receive much media attention. He’s young, he’s a minority (Arab-American), and a firebrand. He got national media attention when he organized a bipartisan group of Representatives in an effort to defund the NSA’s mass surveillance program. There’s also a website dedicated to drafting him for a 2020 run.

Amash would certainly be able to capitalize on the libertarian movement. The question is: how far will he go? Would he wind up short like the Pauls did? Or would he go all the way to the White House?