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Justin Amash Launches Presidential Bid as Libertarian

Justin Amash Launches Presidential Bid as Libertarian

(Bloomberg) -- Representative Justin Amash launched an exploratory committee on Tuesday for a possible Libertarian presidential campaign.

Amash, a conservative member of Congress and vocal opponent of President Donald Trump, left the Republican Party and became an independent in 2019. He launched a website on Tuesday and tweeted, “Let’s do this.”

“We’re ready for an honest, principled president who will defend the Constitution and put individuals first,” the tweet said.

Amash, 40, represents the part of Michigan that includes Grand Rapids. The state is a key battleground for the 2020 presidential campaign. Trump won Michigan over Hillary Clinton in 2016 by only 0.23%, the narrowest margin in state history.

Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden are expected to compete heavily for the state. Its governor, Gretchen Whitmer, is a possible contender to be Biden’s running mate.

Amash is known as one of the most conservative members of Congress, but he voted for Trump’s impeachment in December.

Third-party candidates rarely perform well in presidential general elections, but can split the vote, taking support away from one of the major-party candidates.

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