More evidence of Republican exodus as GOP sheds 407 voters in Hillsborough
Donald Trump has only one thing on his mind — overturning the election. Image via AP.

trump
County by county, Republicans are abandoning their party.

A total of 407 Republican voters in Hillsborough County left the party after President Donald Trump supporters sieged the U.S. Capitol Wednesday.

From Wednesday to Friday, as of 1:39 p.m., 249 former Republican voters changed their affiliation to no party while another 91 swapped to the Independent party, 52 to the Democratic Party, eight to the Libertarian Party of Florida and seven to the Constitution Party of Florida.

That ads to the 290 Pinellas voters who had changed their party affiliation from the Republican Party as of Friday in Pinellas County and 128 who had done so in Pasco County.

Similar trends were seen in Duval County, home to the Republican rich Jacksonville.

Like other counties, the sudden uptick in voter registration changes was unique to Republicans. In the same time frame in Hillsborough County, only 61 Democrats and 55 no party affiliated voters had changed their affiliations.

That makes it difficult to argue the anomaly was related to anything other than Wednesday’s insurrection.

The Republican Party has found itself in crisis since a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, breached barricades and police lines, broke windows and ransacked offices. Trump immediately came under fire after, for hours, he remained silent on the insurgence. When he finally did respond urging rioters to go home, the President’s message was seen more as fueling the insurrection than quelling it with one video message beginning with continued false claims of a stolen election and ending by telling insurrectionists, “we love you” and calling them “very special.”

In the days since, the President has been indefinitely banned from Facebook and permanently banned from Twitter over threats of further inciting violence.

Democrats and even some Congressional Republicans have since called for Trump’s removal from office either by invoking the 25th Amendment or through an expedited impeachment process, which has more support now than Trump’s first impeachment early last year. Articles of Impeachment could be brought to the House floor as early as Monday.

Janelle Irwin Taylor

Janelle Irwin Taylor has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in Tampa Bay since 2003. Most recently, Janelle reported for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. She formerly served as senior reporter for WMNF News. Janelle has a lust for politics and policy. When she’s not bringing you the day’s news, you might find Janelle enjoying nature with her husband, children and two dogs. You can reach Janelle at [email protected].


6 comments

  • Sonja Fitch

    January 9, 2021 at 11:37 am

    True Americans get it now! Trump is a paranoid delusional racist sexist liar! Trump is a damn traitor ! Americans have to agree on common good and the truth! Trump punked and lied and bullied to get “control “. There is no Republican Party! There is only the goptrump death cult!

  • Larry Gillis, Cape Coral

    January 9, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    REPUBLICANS: YOU HAVE A PLACE TO GO: THE LIBERTARIAN ALTERNATIVE.

    If you are one of those fuddy-duddy Republicans who persist in believing in limited government and limited taxation, you have a place to go.

    If you believe in balanced budgets and non-intervention, you have a place to go.

    If you believe in maximum personal freedom and maximum personal responsibility, you have a place to go.

    If you have been dismayed by trillion-dollar deficits (even BEFORE the pandemic) and executive arrogance, you have a place to go.

    Most importantly, if you expressly renounce the use of force to achieve political goals, you have a place to go.

    The LIBERTARIAN PARTY will welcome you with open arms. See: https://www.lpf.org

  • Christal Chander

    January 9, 2021 at 6:02 pm

    What a bunch of crap Lies Lies and more Lies!

  • Felix

    January 10, 2021 at 9:17 am

    Do you people really believe it was that easy to break into the building with a joint session going on? Hoping for the truth!

  • Jeanne

    January 10, 2021 at 9:20 am

    All is not how it seems bias censorship and lies.

  • Boogie Mcfarland

    January 11, 2021 at 3:11 pm

    Leaving because Republican party is backstabbing TRUMP. Nothing more.

Comments are closed.


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