# Justin Amash considers third-party run ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 14, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741 "2020-04-14T03:24:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/1 "2020-04-14T03:24:03Z")
Not a trace of a hint of a chance he could win (I don’t think???), but . . . Could he be the Republicans’ Ralph Nader this time around? ETA: [Amash teases possibility of third-party presidential bid](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/492632-amash-teases-possibility-of-third-party-presidential-bid) ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/2 "2020-04-14T03:25:02Z")
He won’t get any Republicans to vote for him ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/3 "2020-04-14T03:25:20Z")
[Link for reference.](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/492632-amash-teases-possibility-of-third-party-presidential-bid) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/4 "2020-04-14T03:25:40Z")
Not even some Never-Trumpers? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/5 "2020-04-14T03:26:24Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > He won’t get any Republicans to vote for him He absolutely would in Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/6 "2020-04-14T03:26:42Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [Link for reference.](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/492632-amash-teases-possibility-of-third-party-presidential-bid) Surprise! Look at Post #1 again! I beat you to it! 😃 (Interesting that we chose the same link, out of the dozens that Google turns up.) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/7 "2020-04-14T03:27:14Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > He won’t get any Republicans to vote for him Of course not, some of what he’s saying is sensible. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/8 "2020-04-14T03:28:48Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Surprise! Look at Post #1 again! I beat you to it! 😃 Voodoo! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/9 "2020-04-14T03:31:54Z")
Wow. This board is ALIVE! Seven responses in just two minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/10 "2020-04-14T03:34:26Z")
Okay… If he might become Trump’s Ralph Nader, what has to happen? He would have to get enough of Trump’s votes in any one state to throw the election in that state to Biden, that would have otherwise gone to Trump. Is that even something we could dare to hope for? ETA: So, could that happen in Michigan? (Or, he could snag a few electors in those two states with proportional electors?) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/11 "2020-04-14T03:57:05Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Okay… If he might become Trump’s Ralph Nader, what has to happen? > > He would have to get enough of Trump’s votes in any one state to throw the election in that state to Biden, that would have otherwise gone to Trump. Is that even something we could dare to hope for? ETA: So, could that happen in Michigan? > > (Or, he could snag a few electors in those two states with proportional electors?) There are a lot of people in west Michigan (Grand Rapids area on westward) who would be happy to have a normal, traditional conservative to vote for. That area, which is where he’s from, is full of religious conservatives who are actually horrified by Trump. Trump’s personal life, his mistreatment of cultural and political norms, his mistreatment of immigrants and refugees, his crude ways. If Amash could pull enough votes from Trump in Kent and Ottawa Counties, that would be the finishing move on Donald in this state, and I think he could. I don’t know if Amash could do much in any other state, but he could definitely do some damage against Trump in the portion of Michigan that otherwise leans red. For other states, it would depend on how much the never-Trump conservatives would be willing to fund his campaign, and I’m not convinced the money would be there for him. So my hot take: This would help Biden win Michigan, but not much else. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/12 "2020-04-14T05:28:47Z")
I don’t see him having too much of an effect one way or another. The only people who would vote for him are people who are disgusted with Trump but can’t bring themselves to vote for a Democrat. Without Amash on the ballot those people would probably either not vote, vote Libertarian, or write in Donald Duck. Those few who would hold their nose are probably about equally like to hold it voting for Biden as holding it voting from Trump. This is a very different situation from Nader, who being far to the left of Gore was drawing votes strictly from his constituency. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/13 "2020-04-14T07:59:54Z")
We have 2004 in recent memory as an election where third parties definitely were not a factor after being one in 2000. Plus, third parties on the right just haven’t had the appeal as those on the left, probably due to the older demographics on the right. Gary Johnson drew protest votes but took them from Hillary as well as Trump. I assume the weird anti vax stuff hurt Stein a bit with Bernie Bros determined to vote against Hillary. So, no, I don’t think Amash will amount to much. And, from the early rumblings I’ve seen from the Greens they appear to be even nuttier this time around. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/14 "2020-04-14T13:30:14Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > He absolutely would in Michigan. He appears to be running solely to spoil Trump. Couldn’t he pick and choose which states to appear on the ballot in? Could he only run in Michigan to take these votes away? I worry that his candidacy is too unpredictable on a nationwide level. But, maybe if he can siphon off a state like Michigan it makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/15 "2020-04-14T13:58:41Z")
I think some states have already had the deadline for 3rd party ballot access. He could be an official write in candidate which means they would count his votes. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/16 "2020-04-14T14:27:38Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Not a trace of a hint of a chance he could win (I don’t think???), but . . . > > Could he be the Republicans’ Ralph Nader this time around? I would worry more that he would pick up GOP voters who might go for Biden because they can see that Trump is a dumpster fire, but can view Amash as an alternative. There won’t be many of those, but every vote is vital. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/17 "2020-04-14T14:49:51Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Could he be the Republicans’ Ralph Nader this time around? > > ETA: [Amash teases possibility of third-party presidential bid](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/492632-amash-teases-possibility-of-third-party-presidential-bid) Another Ross Perot, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/18 "2020-04-14T15:09:39Z")
If he runs, I’ll give him a look. I’m going third party anyway, so if he’s pro-gun and otherwise acceptable…maybe. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/19 "2020-04-14T16:58:02Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > If he runs, I’ll give him a look. I’m going third party anyway, so if he’s pro-gun and otherwise acceptable…maybe. I’m so glad your little hobby is more important to you than America’s continued deterioration into a banana republic. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741/20 "2020-04-29T00:24:43Z")
Looks like he is running , he has a website now. [https://amashforamerica.com/](https://amashforamerica.com/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justin-amash-considers-third-party-run/851741.md?page=2)