Former Michigan Rep. Amash launches bid for open Senate seat, Libertarian will run as Republican

Former Michigan GOP Rep. Justin Amash on Thursday officially announced his bid for an open U.S. Senate seat in his state. 

"After thoroughly evaluating all aspects of a potential campaign, I’m convinced that no candidate would be better positioned to win both the Republican primary and the general election," Amash wrote on the social media platform, X. "That’s why, today, I’m making it official: I’m joining the race for United States Senate in Michigan."

Amash left office in 2021 and joined Libertarian Party while he was still in office. But in his announcement, he made it clear he would run as a Republican. 

He is running for the seat of retiring Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow. 

In his announcement, Amash took a shot at fellow GOP Senate candidate, former Rep. Mike Rogers. 

"The advantage is ours in this battle, but that doesn’t mean victory will be easy. Mitch McConnell’s handpicked candidate, Mike Rogers, has built his career on expanding the power of the state at the expense of individual liberty, and the establishment will stop at nothing to get him elected," he wrote. 

Among the top Democrats vying for the open seat is Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin.