Republican party freed by Iowa

The oldest Republican of the Iowa legislature announced that he was switching to the Democratic Party, citing increasing discomfort over Republicans' stance on many high-profile issues and his refusal to support President Trump in the 2020 elections.

Representative Andy McKean said Tuesday that the Capitol was much more partisan than in its first election in 1978 and that the Republican party had changed.

"I think the party has gone very sharply to the right," McKean said. "And that worries me. It's a little further than I would like to be."

McKean also said that he did not like what he saw at the national level.

"With the 2020 presidential election looming on the horizon, as a Republican, I have the feeling that I must be able to support the flag bearer of our party," he said. McKean. "Unfortunately, it's something I'm unable to do."

He said he believes the country "will soon pay a heavy price" for Trump's policies and rhetoric. "Unacceptable behavior must be called for what it is," McKean said at a press conference in Des Moines.

This reduces the party's division in the House of Representatives of Iowa to 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats.

McKean said it was a gradual decision and that no event had convinced him to make the change. He stated that he considered himself a moderate politician and that he thought he had a place in the Democratic Party.

Todd Prichard, leader of a Democratic minority in the House, said the Democrats in the House welcomed Mr. McKean because he shared their goal of "advancing the state."

"He brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the position," Prichard said. "And having him in the Democratic Caucus team is really a big thrill for us."

The President of the Republican House, Linda Upmeyer, said in a statement that she respected McKean's decision. "This will not prevent us from going ahead with the conservative program that Iowans has entrusted to us," Upmeyer said.

Jeff Kaufmann, president of the Republican Party of Iowa, said in a statement that McKean had cheated his constituents. "When the McKean representative ran in 2016, he had no problem winning the victory over President Trump," Kaufmann said. "He is about to feel the opposite wind of Trump's support in District 58."

McKean said that he would most likely be running for the Democratic reelection in 2020.