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.
The fact of his switching parties to become a Democrat suggests the local party folks got it right. ““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. The “years to come” for an 87 year old is where the problem lies. Even the voters in NJ aren’t obtuse enough to elect a guy who, if he is even around long enough for the election, will be hard put to fill out his term.
We can’t go by age alone, there are many – both, in history and currently – who are well over his age, who are VERY mentally and physically sound. I do not know the men, I would need a lot more information to “cancel” him. I hope YOU are not treated as you seggest, when/if you get to his age.
Sorry, meant “the man”
He seems to be pleading for the job so he’ll have something to do?! We should pay him so he’ll have something to do?! Party affiliation (and consequently his philosophy) are not considered? When his ability to serve was questioned, they were on to something.
Well the silver lining in all of this, is at 87 we won’t have deal with him for long.
If he’s still coherent, unlike someone else we know, let him stay on. Shouldn’t be forced to go to the dark side.
Besides showing his true colors he is signing onto a party that not long ago said “old white men” were the issue. Then they elected JB, the biggest issue of them all.
Jeez, if I were him at age 87, I would retire rather than become a spiteful TURNCOAT. There are other ways to serve a party, I’m sure.
Term limits,Term Limit’s, Term Limits
How sad this 87 year old career politician is clinging to elected office “to have something to do”. After 25 years in the NJ Legislature, his time is UP!
Indeed, as posted above, TERM LIMITS, TERM LIMITS, TERM LIMITS!