The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that Danny Jones, the four-term Mayor of the West Virginia’s capital and largest city, has renounced his 45-year membership in the Republican Party and switched his voter registration to “unaffiliated.”
Jones also announced that he had previously decided to vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee.
He cited the nomination of Donald Trump as a motivating factor, as well as the decision by socially-conservative Republicans in the state legislature to prioritize a “religious freedom” bill, widely seen as motivated by anti-LGBT animus, instead of addressing the state’s fiscal and budgetary crisis.
I’m glad Charlestown’s mayor has seen the light, but it’s a shame politicians often wait until a point in their careers when they no longer have much time left in office, or power to advance change, before leaving the 2-party cartel.
I don’t blame the guy.
Jones has been a registered Republican since 1971. He has won 12 primary and general elections as a Republican, since 1984.
His age means that Jones may not be such a big catch, but it’s still a great endorsement for GJ.
“I plan to complete my current term, and have no plans to run for any office ever again.” – Charleston Mayor Danny Jones
– See more at: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20160617/after-45-years-danny-jones-leaves-republican-party#sthash.VQJiRr88.dpuf
Hopefully he decides to go the full way and join the LP. Could be a big get. Hopefully someone in the LP is talking to him about this. The guy’s probably established enough to win reelection as anything.