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.”
Fact Check: Is JD Vance ‘Shutting Down’ an Interstate Highway for a Marine Corps Event, as Gavin Newsom Claims?
Competition heats up for Nancy Pelosi’s seat
Jury awards $19M to bystanders wounded by Denver cop in 2022 shooting
‘The pandemic’s over’: GOP, Dem senators spar on camera over costly Obamacare subsidies
Bill Ackman jumps into NYC mayoral fight, says Sliwa must drop or ‘we are toast’
Execution set for twisted killer who taunted police with message in victim’s blood: ‘Catch me if u can’
Trump Announces Major News for ‘Rogue’ Ex-GOP Representative
Trump Ends Zelenskyy Press Briefing with an F-Bomb
White House Staffers Troll Far-Left HuffPost Over Question About Who Suggested Putin Meeting in Hungary: ‘Your Mom Did’
Texas teens arrested in killing of Marine veteran working as rideshare driver
Elise Stefanik Calls Mamdani a ‘Jihadist Communist’ in Response to NYT Hit Piece on His Critics
Fox Exclusive: Nationwide human trafficking bust targets Chinese organized crime networks
Zelensky surprised by Trump Truth post following meeting but agrees war must ‘stop where we are’
President Donald Trump commutes former New York GOP Rep. George Santos’ prison sentence
Louisiana man arrested for allegedly participating in Hamas Oct. 7 terrorist attack
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.