(The Guardian) Citing many in the Republican party’s insistence that the 2020 election was stolen along with its stance on climate change, a Colorado state senator has defected to the Democratic party from the GOP, the Washington Post reports.
In a two-page letter explaining his decision, Kevin Priola declared there is “too much at stake right now for Republicans to be in charge” and, “Simply put, we need Democrats in charge.” Priola has been a Republican since 1990, and cited the January 6 insurrection as fundamentally changing his beliefs.
“I haven’t changed much in 30 years; but my party has,” he said. “I cannot continue to be a part of a political party that is okay with a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election and continues to peddle claims that the 2020 election was stolen.” He also cited the GOP’s resistance to address climate change even as Colorado deals with serious wildfires and drought conditions. “I believe it’s immoral to saddle the next generation of Coloradans with even worse impacts,” Priola said.
The defection won’t change the state of play in the Colorado senate, which Democrats control. The Post reports that Republicans are meanwhile hoping to regain the majority in the November elections. The top Republican in the senate, John Cook, said the lawmaker’s defection “will not change the trajectory of this election cycle, nor the outcome of this year’s fight for the state Senate”, and added that Priola’s constituents “may explore their options for new representation”.
In a two-page letter explaining his decision, Kevin Priola declared there is “too much at stake right now for Republicans to be in charge” and, “Simply put, we need Democrats in charge.” Priola has been a Republican since 1990, and cited the January 6 insurrection as fundamentally changing his beliefs.
“I haven’t changed much in 30 years; but my party has,” he said. “I cannot continue to be a part of a political party that is okay with a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election and continues to peddle claims that the 2020 election was stolen.” He also cited the GOP’s resistance to address climate change even as Colorado deals with serious wildfires and drought conditions. “I believe it’s immoral to saddle the next generation of Coloradans with even worse impacts,” Priola said.
The defection won’t change the state of play in the Colorado senate, which Democrats control. The Post reports that Republicans are meanwhile hoping to regain the majority in the November elections. The top Republican in the senate, John Cook, said the lawmaker’s defection “will not change the trajectory of this election cycle, nor the outcome of this year’s fight for the state Senate”, and added that Priola’s constituents “may explore their options for new representation”.
