A Democratic state senator in Pennsylvania who represents a district that flipped to President Trump in 2016 said he plans to become an Independent and caucus with the state’s Republicans because he’s tired of “purist” politicians and felt a disconnect with an increasingly liberal party.
“As an Independent, I will continue to put people above politics,” state Sen. John Yudichak, who represents Pennsylvania’s 14th senatorial district in the northeastern part of the state, said. “I will continue to support Democratic ideas as well as Republican ideas when it is clear that they serve the greater good and help government work for people rather than the narrow interests of partisan purists.”
Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa said Democrats were “extremely disappointed” by Yudichak’s decision to turn away from their “big tent” values.
Yudichak responded that the Democrats’ “tent is shrinking every day.”
Southern Poverty Law Center pleads not guilty as CEO vows to fight fraud case
Bipartisan lawmakers want to strip Big Tech’s legal immunity that can shield social media companies
Breaking: US Launches Strikes on Two Iranian Targets
Israeli Military Investigating After Soldier’s Picture with Mary Statue Draws Outrage from Catholic Officials
FIRST ON FOX: Top Republicans take abortion pill fight to Supreme Court, citing coercion and safety risks
Starmer fears Reform UK, Green Party gains in British election blitz
Lawyer handling key Trump litigation to depart DOJ later this month
Substitute teacher whose sobbing mugshot went viral reaches plea deal in sex case involving student
Six underage girls recovered in sweeping operation targeting notorious trafficking corridor
Man accused of Ilhan Omar liquid attack pleads guilty, may face 14-month sentence
Four States Are Now Monitoring Potential Hantavirus Cases
Examining the Self-Imposed Ignorance of Those Afflicted with TDS
Results vs resistance: Collins and Platner draw battle lines in Maine Senate race
Tennessee passes new map as Democratic politicians protest with airhorns
Left-wing local leader torched after griping about American flags, pushing ‘more relatable’ replacement
The Republicans will likely have a 29-21 majority next year with the Yudichak and a January special election in a solidly Republican district.
“This is unique,” Yudichak said. “I’m an independent. I’m going to be fiercely independent. I’ve been independent by nature, now it’s going to be by party.”
Yudichak won re-election to a third term in 2018 in the district without any challengers.
He said his stances on issues won’t change and he’ll continue to support some of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s policies.
Democrats picked up six seats in the state in 2018, causing the party to look at potentially getting the majority for the first time in almost 30 years.
Story cited here.
