Join the (Grand Old) Party! Nearly Four Times as Many Democrats Have Become Republicans as Vice Versa.

Over the last 20 years, ⁢there has been a significant shift in‌ party ⁢affiliations among state ​lawmakers. Surprisingly, ⁤four times as many ⁤Democratic legislators‌ have switched to the Republican Party compared to⁣ the other way around.

According to a recent report by Politico, 83 Democratic ‍lawmakers have joined‌ the GOP since 1994, while ‍only 23 Republicans have become Democrats. ‌This year alone,⁤ five‍ legislators have made the switch from blue to red.

One of the most notable party switchers⁤ is Georgia state representative Mesha Mainor. In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, Mainor revealed that‍ she felt “crucified” and “abandoned” by the Democrats⁤ after⁣ supporting a school choice bill. The backlash she faced included racist slurs and threats, highlighting the toxic ​environment she experienced.

Other‍ prominent party switchers include North Carolina legislator Tricia Cotham, who gave the ⁣Republican Party ‍a veto-proof majority in the state legislature, and Louisiana state representatives ⁣Jeremy LaCombe and Francis Thompson. West Virginia lawmaker Elliott​ Pritt also made ‌the decision to switch parties.

There are ⁣even rumors of another West Virginia Democrat planning to​ switch. House Minority Leader ⁣Doug Skaff recently resigned his leadership position,​ potentially further shrinking the Democratic Party’s ranks in the‌ deep-red state.

These party switches ⁣coincide with ⁢a significant shift in the political landscape. Republicans are now outnumbering Democrats for ​the‍ first time since 1988, ‍according to a Gallup ​poll. Additionally, a New York Times report found that even millennials, who played a crucial role in Barack Obama’s victory in​ 2008, are starting to lean⁣ towards⁤ the Republican Party.

“More and more⁣ voters feel left behind by the Democratic Party,” stated West ⁣Virginia ⁢Republican Party chairwoman​ Elgine ⁤McArdle.

The party switchers echo this sentiment, with Thompson​ emphasizing that his “values and principles” remain unchanged. ‍Cotham⁤ expressed⁤ her disillusionment with the Democratic Party, stating that it has become unrecognizable and tends to vilify those with independent thinking⁢ and ⁣solutions.