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right Republican Party. “Are you uncomfortable remaining a member?” one reporter asked Scott after U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., was dumped from GOP leadership this month for repudiating former President Donald Trump. Scott’s response: “The big tent we talk about a lot within the party doesn’t appear to exist, and I think that’s really unfortunate. All I can do is continue to serve the people in a manner that is reputable, open and welcoming.” But 20 years ago this week, another Vermonter did something explosively different. On May 24, 2001, then U.S. Sen. James Jeffords walked into a press-packed Burlington...

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Friday that Donald Trump should resign the presidency immediately and that if the Republican Party cannot separate itself from Trump, she isn’t certain she has a future with the party. “I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage,” Murkowski, R-Alaska, said during an interview from her small Capitol office, steps away from the Senate chambers that were invaded by pro-Trump rioters on Wednesday......"

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords, an independent who triggered one of the most dramatic upheavals in Senate history when he quit the GOP four years ago, intends to retire at the end of his term next year, The Associated Press learned Wednesday.Jeffords will make the announcement Wednesday afternoon in Burlington, multiple sources in Vermont and Washington told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity.No calls to Jeffords' press secretary or staff were returned Wednesday morning.Jeffords, 70, has been adamant in saying he will seek re-election, but there have been increasing concerns voiced about his health...

AUGUSTA — Sen. Arthur Mayo of Bath, newly re-elected to a second term, said Tuesday he had switched his party registration from Republican to Democrat. "It's a change in affiliation. It's not a change in philosophy," said Mayo, whose move across the political aisle boosts the Democratic Senate majority in the new Legislature to 19-16. Characterizing himself as a long-standing "liberal Republican," Mayo said "it has been increasingly difficult in the Senate Republican caucus" for someone with his political philosophy. Mayo said he believed the Republican Senate bloc has "moved to the right" and that at least some of his...

Jeffords appearance at Kirk fund-raiser angers GOP 05/20/2002 Associated Press HOUSTON - Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, who is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, angered Republicans by inviting U.S. Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont, an independent, to attend a $5,000-per-person Houston fund-raiser Sunday. Republicans say it is inappropriate for Mr. Kirk to invite Mr. Jeffords to campaign on his behalf because the Vermont senator was responsible for President Bush's biggest political setback when Mr. Jeffords left the Republican Party, giving Democrats control of the Senate last summer. "He is here helping to raise money for Mr. Kirk,...