GRAND RAPIDS, MI — U.S. Rep. Justin Amash plans to host a series of meetings Wednesday with constituents in Grand Rapids, Caledonia and Hastings, his office announced Monday.

Amash, who drew national attention after becoming first Republican in Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, will kick off the day at 9:30 a.m. at Rising Grinds Café, 1167 Madison Ave. SE, in Grand Rapids.

He will then head to Common Ground coffee shop, 1319 Fulton St. E, where he will speak to constituents at 10:45 a.m.

His remaining meetings Wednesday will be at: New Holland Brewing — The Knickerbocker, 417 Bridge St. NW, in Grand Rapids at noon; Railtown Brewing Company, 3595 68th St. SE, in Caledonia at 2:15 p.m.; and Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro, 105 E State St., in Hastings at 4 p.m.

Amash, who was elected in 2010 as a Republican but left the party in July to become an independent, represents the 3rd Congressional District in Congress. The district includes the city of Grand Rapids and a large portion of Kent County, part of Montcalm County, as well as Ionia, Barry and Calhoun counties.

Amash drew an onslaught of criticism from GOP loyalists in May when he became the first Republican in Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against Trump in the wake of U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into 2016 election interference. The investigation did not establish that Trump or any of his aides coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 election but left open the question of whether Trump obstructed justice.

Republicans began stepping forward following the remarks to challenge Amash in the August 2020 primary for the 3rd Congressional District.

On July 4 op-ed published in The Washington Post, Amash announced he was leaving the Republican Party. He wrote that the “two-party system has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions.”

Amash’s office has told MLive that the fifth-term congressman intends to run for reelection as an independent.

To date, five Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination in the August 2020 primary. In addition, four people are seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the seat.