Rep. Justin Amash Leaves GOP, Claiming That Partisanship Is Destroying American Politics

Rep. Justin Amash (I-Michigan) announced in a Washington Post op-ed that he was leaving the Republican Party, citing political polarization, two-party politics, and a general deterioration of American values.

Amash stated how even though he and his immigrant Palestinian parents were ardent supporters of the Republican Party and the American Dream, he believes that “the two-party system has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions.”

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He went on to lambast the current state of politics, arguing that “Americans have allowed government officials, under assertions of expediency and party unity, to ignore the most basic tenets of our constitutional order: separation of powers, federalism and the rule of law. The result has been the consolidation of political power and the near disintegration of representative democracy.”

The Michigan representative has been at odds with his party recently, especially over the issue of President Donald Trump. Amash was the only GOP member to advocate for the impeachment of Trump, remarking that it was impossible to read the Mueller report and not conclude that the president had obstructed justice. So far Amash’s rebellion has worked well for him, as he seems to retain the support of his constituency, unlike other GOP critics of Trump who rapidly declined in popularity after coming out against the president.

“Modern politics is trapped in a partisan death spiral, but there is an escape,” wrote Amash.

He then stated that he was “declaring [his] independence and leaving the Republican Party.” The now Independent lawmaker continued on to request that the American people follow him in his exit from partisanship. “No matter your circumstance, I’m asking you to join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties and rhetoric that divide and dehumanize us. I’m asking you to believe that we can do better than this two-party system — and to work toward it. If we continue to take America for granted, we will lose it.”

Article by Daniel Knopf