Trump Republican Switching Parties Amid Primary Challenge
A New Jersey state senator and Trump Republican announced his plans to leave the GOP and register as a Democrat after party leaders questioned his fitness for office.
Samuel Thompson, 87, announced Monday that he will seek re-election as a Democrat.
“The betrayal by so many of my friends — that was too much for me,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I am not leaving my party. My party leadership has left me.”
“It is my life. It gives me something to do every day when I wake up to get there and help people. The alternative is sit at home and just wait to die? I have to be active,” he said according to the Inquirer. “I think I’m doing a public service.”
Thompson decided to leave the GOP after state party leaders opted to support another candidate, citing concerns over Thompson’s age.
Middlesex County Republican Chairman Rob Bengivenga said that although he considered Thompson a friend and mentor and wanted him to be part of the party’s future, leaders decided to support another candidate for state Senate.
“I was hoping the Senator would embrace it and work together as a mentor and advisor for the years to come,” he said in an emailed statement to the Inquirer.
Thompson’s departure would expand the Democrats’ edge in the state Senate from 24 to 25 seats in the 40-member chamber.
Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy welcomed Thompson’s decision to join the party, calling him a “tireless public servant,” the outlet stated.