U.S. Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, a former Republican who backed the impeachment of President Donald Trump, is officially not running for reelection.
Amash had suspended his congressional campaign in February and later explored seeking the Libertarian Party’s nomination for president.
Thursday was Michigan’s deadline to run as an independent, though some were also holding out hope he might seek the Libertarians’ nomination at a state convention Saturday.
“I love representing our community in Congress. I always will,” Amash tweeted. “This is my choice, but I’m still going to miss it.”
Amash, 40, initially became an independent a year ago after becoming disenchanted with partisan politics.
In April he blasted President Trump’s claim of “total authority” over states’ ability to reopen the country in the wake of the coronavirus, declaring that he is “flat-out wrong.”
“Americans who believe in limited government deserve another option,” Amash tweeted.
He has represented Michigan’s 3rd Congressional district in the western part of the state since 2011.
