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.”
Woman wearing burka escorted out of Florida county meeting after playing call to prayer recording
Manhattan 9/11 Memorial Desecrated by Anti-Second Amendment Radical
Dem AG’s ‘too many golf courses’ remark goes viral as critics tee off
Police Arrest 3 They Say Planned to Carry Out Mass Shooting at Georgia High School
Fifteen charged in DC drug bust for transnational meth and GBL trafficking ring
Dueling rallies thrust deep-red Lone Star town into the center of the political universe
FBI reports 67% jump in violent crime arrests under Trump compared to Biden’s final months
Mary Peltola and ‘Decoy Dan’ Sullivan face collusion accusations as DOJ investigates Alaska Senate campaign
Hochul reveals which election result would make her job ‘a lot easier’ — and it’s not her own
DOJ fires back at Dem AG over Election Day guidance telling officials when to call cops on federal agents
Breaking: Evidence Indicates Democrats Intentionally ‘Stacked’ the Ballot in Key Senate Race
Judge overseeing Maduro case dies at 92
How House Democrats revamped their college outreach in a bid to win back youth voters
Former Federal Immigration Judge Has Tough News for ‘Ilhan Omar’ – A Statute of Limitations Won’t Save Her
Rubio called back to the campaign trail after Texas visit
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.
