Independent Rep. Justin Amash has launched a committee to explore a third-party run for the presidency — a big step that, in actuality, means very little.
Don’t get me wrong: In a political climate marked by tribalism, Amash’s independence is refreshing, especially when that independence favors his brand of constitutionalism and practical politicking. Considering that this year’s options include a 77-year-old man who will not hesitate to adopt the far Left’s agenda once in office and a president whose pettiness routinely runs roughshod over any conception of thoughtful leadership, it’s nice to have another option.
But that’s all Amash is — an option. He’s not a winning candidate. Heck, he probably wouldn’t even be able to win reelection in his district, which could be part of the reason he’s going national. Better to launch a failed presidential bid than lose a House seat as a five-term incumbent.
The problem is that Amash is neither mathematically viable nor politically relevant, thanks to our electoral system. He won’t make a dent in the states with winner-take-all electoral vote counts, and few voters outside of principled conservative and libertarian circles will care about Amash’s ideological purity. He’ll be a candidate for the dissatisfied, for those unwilling for one reason or another to choose either Joe Biden or President Trump.
I wish this weren’t the case. I wish Amash had a serious chance and that his presidential bid was more than just a virtuous last stand. And perhaps his third party bid will help pave the road for future third-party candidacies — that, alone, might be enough reason to run for president. Our system’s two-party mindset clearly isn’t working, and forcing a third path might be the best way to reform it.
But I’m not holding my breath. Politics is, after all, a stage, and every politician is an actor, even the ones who claim otherwise.
