Free Republic

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson gave new details during an interview this week about his decision to switch from the Democrat Party to the Republican Party. Johnson made the remarks during an interview on Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) “Verdict” podcast with co-host Ben Ferguson. Johnson highlighted his background growing up poor to working class parents and being raised in a family where faith was central to their everyday lives. He said that while his family was not political, they had a very strong sense of right and wrong and put a priority on treating others well, working hard, and following the...

For the first time in the state’s history, Republicans have a supermajority in Louisiana. Republicans now have a 70-vote supermajority and can override a veto by the state’s Democrat governor John Bel Edwards. On Friday, the longest-serving Democrat in the Louisiana state legislature Rep. Francis Thompson announced he was switching parties. Thompson has served in the legislature since 1975. This action by Thompson doesn’t come as much of a surprise as his voting record shows that the had been caucusing with the Republicans. Thompson gave a statement after announcing the switch, “Let me clear. Nothing has changed, there are values...

Early Thursday morning, President Trump teased a big announcement that would be made at his campaign rally in West Virginia later in the day. Like many things in Washington lately, the announcement leaked early and it was one liberals couldn’t stand: Jim Justice, the governor of the state, was changing his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. It’s rare for sitting governors to change their party affiliation, but that didn’t matter to ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News who ignored the news altogether. CBS was the only network in the Big Three to give the story any time....

Viral posts claim John McCain has quit the Republican Party. The facts: Sen. John McCain is still a Republican, despite fake stories that claim otherwise. A story posted on WashingtonFeed.com says: “Senator McCain has definitely renounced any affiliation with the Republican Party.” It quotes the Arizona senator as saying, “I am and always will be opposed to Donald Trump. In fact, I’ve decided that any party that supports supports [sic] him supports the worst America has to offer. For that reason, I’m leaving the GOP and Caucusing [sic] as an independent with the Democrats.” FactCheck.org works with Facebook to help...

Joe Baca, a longtime Democrat who represented San Bernardino County citizens for more than 30 years as a trustee for the San Bernardino Community College District, an assemblyman, state senator and congressman, is now a registered Republican. Baca, 68, of Fontana, changed his party affiliation on June 2, said Melissa Eickman, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Elections Office. Prior to making the switch, Baca had been a registered Democrat in San Bernardino County since January 1976, Eickman said. Baca said Friday he and his wife thought long and hard about the decision, which he said reflects his “core...

Former Alabama Democratic Rep. Artur Davis has turned in his Democratic Party card as he prepares to register for the GOP in Virginia. The switch was rumored for some time following his departure from Democratic politics in 2010. Davis left political circles after his unsuccessful run for governor in Alabama. He lost in the 2010 primaries, and generating hostility from some fellow Democrats who disliked his effort to avoid identity politics. The winning Democrat was trounced by the Republican candidate in the general election. “If I were to run [for office], it would be as a Republican … [because] wearing...

GRAND RAPIDS – Roy Schmidt’s filing deadline switch to the Republican party has been immediately embraced by GOP colleagues who credited the now-former Democrat from Grand Rapids with aligning for the people he represents and not a party platform. Schmidt, who served for 16 years on the nonpartisan Grand Rapids City Commission, said in a statement that his ideals and priorities remain the same. “I am a moderate dedicated as ever to representing the people of Grand Rapids, and will always fight for improving education, public safety and protecting children,” Schmidt said. He was not available for interviews on the...

Comes today word that John Alario, Louisiana’s Mr. Democrat for decades in the state legislature, says he might want to switch parties and become a Republican. Alario says he’s “pondering” a switch and will make a decision by year’s end. This is terrible news, and it ought to be denounced by the state GOP immediately. Alario has been in the state legislature since 1972. He was in the House of Representatives from 1972-2008, and from 1980-84 and 1992-96 he was Edwin Edwards’ hand-picked House Speaker. Term limits, for which Louisiana owes Sen. David Vitter an eternal debt of gratitude, drove...

The Louisiana House swung Republican Friday with state Rep. Noble Ellington’s defection from the Democratic Party. The move has both political and historical significance. “For the first time since Reconstruction, Republicans have a majority in the House of Representatives,” said House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown. “I’m very happy about that,” he said. Like legislatures across the nation, Louisiana’s Legislature is increasingly becoming Republican. Recent defections from the Democratic ranks in Louisiana include state Rep. Fred Mills, state Sen. John Alario, state Sen. John Smith, state Rep. Walker Hines and state Rep. Simone Champagne. Ellington’s switch gave Republicans the additional member...

Topeka — State Sen. Chris Steineger of Kansas City, Kan., on Friday left the Democratic Party to join Republicans, saying his fiscal beliefs were more in line with the GOP and that he could better serve his district by teaming up with the majority party. "Most people tell me they want me to do what is best for the community, not a political party. By joining the Republican majority in the State Capitol, I am better able to deliver value and service to the people of Wyandotte County. Our voice in Topeka is stronger by being in the majority," said...

Most people only expected hardball efforts to get party switchers in the Senate if it wound up closely divided, either 50-50 or 51/49 in either direction. However, Fox reports today that Senate Republicans have greeted special-election victor Joe Manchin (D-WV) with a big push to get him into the GOP caucus. And they may well have found a way to convince him to join the minority: Republicans are making some big promises to try to lure West Virginia Senator-elect Joe Manchin to cross the aisle.Aside from his pick of committee assignments (likely the Energy and Natural Resources Committee), Manchin might...

JACKSON, Miss. — A Mississippi House member has switched from Democrat to Republican. The Clarion-Ledger reports that Rep. Scott Bounds announced his decision during a news conference Monday at Republican Party Headquarters in Jackson. Bounds noted his "conservative philosophical and policy beliefs" as the reason for his change. With Bounds, there will be 50 Republicans in the House, and the chamber will have 72 Democrats. Bounds is from Philadelphia and has been in the Legislature since 2004.

ASH, N.C. -- Brunswick County Sherriff John Ingram announced in an emailed statement today that he is shifting his political affiliation to the Republican Party. Ingram could not be immediately reached for comment. "Though my career in law enforcement as a Democrat has brought me to this place in time," Ingram said in the statement, "it is my humble choice to live as my conservative principles and discipline desire."

I love videos like this, NY Republican turned Democrat has an idea: announce her candidacy for legislature, but do it in front of the County Republican Headquarters and invite friends and supporters, what a great idea... She won't do this again...

Lifelong Republican, Marine veteran and former congressman Pete McCloskey has left the GOP and registered with the Democratic Party. McCloskey says he is disgusted with the "succession of ethical scandals, congressmen taking bribes and abuse of power by both the Republican House leadership and the highest appointees of the White House." "A pox on (Republicans) and their values," he wrote. As a Republican, McCloskey served in the House of Representatives from a San Mateo County congressional district from 1967- to 1983. He was a brief presidential hopeful when he ran on an anti-war platform against Richard Nixon in 1972. But...

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. (AP) - Democratic state Senator Don McLeary of Humboldt switched parties this afternoon to the Republicans. The change will give Republicans an edge of 18-to-15 in the Senate. McLeary said it was a hard decision, but his heart tells him it's the right one. McLeary is the only person to file for candidacy in the his district, which covers Madison, Gibson and Carroll counties. He said it's not titles that are important, but actions.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Rep. Sheri McInvale, who became a Democrat four years before being elected to the House in 2002, is a Republican again. McInvale announced Tuesday she is switching parties - a decision that was met with cheers and applause by a large crowd of Republicans at her press conference, including Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and Republican Party of Florida Chairman Carole Jean Jordan. "We love seeing those who find that their philosophy is attune to our philosophy," said Jennings. "We're proud of you seeing the light." Jordan gave McInvale a big hug and said, "Welcome, welcome, welcome," after...

AP) A Democratic state legislator announced Tuesday she has quit the party, leaving the Maine House evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Barbara Merrill's defection will give the two major parties 73 seats each when the 2006 session opens on Wednesday. Merrill becomes one of four unenrolled or independent members. One Green Party member also serves in the 151-seat chamber. The Democrats have held a majority in the Maine House for three decades, except for a brief period in 1996 when the Republicans gained the edge. The Democrats maintain control of the state Senate, with 19 of the 35...

McLennan County Judge Jim Lewis announced Wednesday that he will run for re-election as a Republican, cutting a long-time bond with the Democratic Party as he seeks a fifth term. "I've been a conservative the whole time," Lewis said after announcing his re-election bid before a crowd of more than 60 supporters at the McLennan County courthouse. "I'm a very conservative person and I just thought that was best for the county, best for me and best for my family." His decision sends Democrats scrambling to find a candidate to win the position they have held for more than a...

CANTON - Van Zandt County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Ronnie Daniell announced that he is switching parties and will run as a Republican in 2006. Daniell ran for office in 2003 on the Democratic ticket. He said his change of heart comes from his disappointment in certain leaders of the Democratic Party. "It's just very simple: I'm a person who believes in trying to be a peacemaker," he said. "With the leadership I've noted in the national and local party, I cannot in good conscience follow that party." Daniell said he has been considering the switch for awhile,...