Pennsylvania Lawmaker Leaves Increasingly ‘Purist’ Democrat Party, Will Caucus With Republicans

Pennsylvania State Senator John Yudichak announced on Tuesday that he will be switching his political affiliation from Democrat to Independent due to a disconnect with an increasingly leftward-moving party.

“As an Independent, I will continue to put people above politics,” Yudichak said in a press release. “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.'”