Rep. Justin Amash, 'the loneliest member of Congress,' quits the GOP

Justin Amash in Michigan
(Image credit: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Michigan Rep. Justin Amash is really taking this whole Independence Day thing to heart. The congressman announced in a Washington Post op-ed Thursday that he is leaving the GOP to become an independent.

"Today, I am declaring my independence and leaving the Republican Party," Amash, a libertarian, wrote in a column that denounces the two-party system as an "existential threat to American principles and institutions." He said party loyalty has eclipsed Congress' true purpose of serving the American people, and called upon readers to "join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties and rhetoric that divide and dehumanize us."

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Recently, CNN dubbed Amash "the loneliest member of Congress," and Amash himself told Vox that "a lot of the people who once stood with me are no longer there."

So, what does his departure mean? As Reason notes, Amash was facing a tough upcoming primary challenge for Michigan's third congressional district. His new affiliation means he can try to run for re-election as an independent. But there's also lingering speculation that he could launch a 2020 challenge against Trump. Unless or until he rules this out, Reason writes, the coming months "will be a festival of guessing, gamesmanship, and gossip." Oh, goodie.

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.