Kevin Priola Rips Trump And GOP With Party Switch Statement

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        Colorado GOP State Senator Announces He's Now A Dem With Savage Anti-Trump Statement
    

        kevinpriola.com; James Devaney/GC Images/Getty Images
By Peter KarlebyAug 23, 2022
Peter Karleby
Peter Karleby is a writer, content producer and performer originally from Michigan. His writing has also appeared on YourTango, Delish and Medium, and he has produced content for NBC, The New York Times and The CW, among others. When not working, he can be found tripping over his own feet on a hiking trail while singing Madonna songs to ward off lurking bears.
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A state senator in Colorado announced he is switching political parties—registering as a Democrat after more than 30 years as a Republican. 
He's laying the blame squarely at the feet of former Republican President Donald Trump.
Colorado state Senator Kevin Priola cited the widespread embrace of Trump's 2020 election loss conspiracy theories as the main impetus for switching to the Democratic Party.
In a statement, Priola also cited the January 6 coup attempt as spurring him to change his party affiliation after more than 30 years as a moderate Republican.
You can see his statement here:
\u201c#coleg #copolitics #Elections2022 #democracy #Republican #DemocratsDeliver #colorado\u201d
 — Kevin Priola \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 XLVIII (@Kevin Priola \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 XLVIII)
        1661179980
@KevinPriola/Twitter
@KevinPriola/Twitter
In his statement, Priola explained why he joined the Republican Party in 1990, saying it was the approach of former Republican President Ronald Reagan—who left office two years before—that inspired him to choose the GOP.
He took several thinly veiled swipes at Trump in the process.
"[Reagan] spent his presidency looking out for American interests, not cozying up to Russia.""He was for free trade and not raising taxes on Americans through tariffs.""He also worked across the aisle on immigration issues." Priola went on to add:
"I haven't changed much in 30 years, but my party has."Priola then described how disturbed he is by the Republican Party's embrace of the January 6 insurrection and denial of the validity of Democratic President Joe Biden's administration.
"I cannot continue to be a part of a political party that is okay with a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election and continues to peddle claims that the 2020 election was stolen..."He also cited concerns about climate change and the economy before officially announcing his party switch.
"For these reasons, today, I'm announcing that I have changed my party registration from Republican to Democrat...""...there is too much at stake right now for Republicans to be in charge."On Twitter, many applauded Priola's principled decision, including many prominent Colorado and national Democrats.
\u201cProud to welcome @KevinPriola to the Democratic Party. We are a broad tent party, always seeking good ideas from the left and right to move CO forward. Senator Priola is a strong leader on climate issues & will hopefully be even more effective on the Democratic side of the aisle.\u201d
 — Jared Polis (@Jared Polis)
        1661182051
\u201cSenator @KevinPriola \u2026. Welcome to the party!!! Looking forward to delivering for the American people! #DemocratsDeliver\u201d
 — Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair (@Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair)
        1661187813
\u201cColorado state Senator Kevin Priola switched from the Republicans and announced today he has joined the Democrats.  This is a big deal.\u201d
 — CooknColorado\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\u262e\ufe0f (@CooknColorado\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\u262e\ufe0f)
        1661185830
\u201cI am excited to welcome @KevinPriola to team blue.   He has been my partner in passing bills on climate, recycling, addiction/mental health, education and transportation. In the past two years we have run 12 bills together. He is a statesman willing to do the work. #copolitics\u201d
 — Sen. Faith Winter (@Sen. Faith Winter)
        1661182687

\u201cThe GOP is imploding on itself! \n\nDisgusted with Trumpism, CO state senator Kevin Priola leaves GOP for Democrats. \n\nAnother person who has seen the light and left the Dark Side! \n\n#VoteBlue2022 #DemVoice1   https://t.co/654xfZajSF\u201d
 — Jeana Berry (@Jeana Berry)
        1661198787

\u201cMore of this\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffcplease.\n\n@GOP Colorado State Senator Kevin Priola announced that he is changing his party affiliation to Democrat.\n\n@KevinPriola said he, \u201ccan\u2019t support a party that didn\u2019t denounce a violent attempt to overthrow free and fair elections.\u201d\nhttps://t.co/ESsw5fRc5c\u201d
 — Fernand R. Amandi (@Fernand R. Amandi)
        1661188816

\u201cWelcome to the Party of Democracy, @KevinPriola. https://t.co/01OnQ3Flo1\u201d
 — Crooks and Liars (@Crooks and Liars)
        1661274304
\u201c@jaredpolis @KevinPriola I've known Kevin for years. He has very high character. He's a huge pickup for Colorado Dems! We have to be a Big Tent with room for all*!\n\n*All who don't practice hate.\u201d
 — Jared Polis (@Jared Polis)
        1661182051
\u201cWhy isn't there more of this???\u201d
 — Don Winslow (@Don Winslow)
        1661207201

\u201cGood for him.\n\nDs should make space for Rs who respect free and fair elections.\u201d
 — Eric L. Robinson (@Eric L. Robinson)
        1661183090

\u201cHope he is not the last one.\u201d
 — Stand with Ukraine to preserve freedom\u262e\ufe0f (@Stand with Ukraine to preserve freedom\u262e\ufe0f)
        1661191211
Priola was careful to point out he will not be changing his stances on many controversial issues such as abortion rights, the Second Amendment and education. 
But he has been one of the most moderate and bipartisan members of Colorado's senate, and has often sided with Democrats on major legislation. 
His party registration somewhat deflates Republicans' hopes of taking over the Colorado state senate in November's midterms. 
Democrats currently hold a 20-15 advantage in that chamber. 
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A state senator in Colorado announced he is switching political parties—registering as a Democrat after more than 30 years as a Republican.

He's laying the blame squarely at the feet of former Republican President Donald Trump.

Colorado state Senator Kevin Priola cited the widespread embrace of Trump's 2020 election loss conspiracy theories as the main impetus for switching to the Democratic Party.

In a statement, Priola also cited the January 6 coup attempt as spurring him to change his party affiliation after more than 30 years as a moderate Republican.

You can see his statement here:

\u201c#coleg #copolitics #Elections2022 #democracy #Republican #DemocratsDeliver #colorado\u201d
— Kevin Priola \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 XLVIII (@Kevin Priola \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 XLVIII) 1661179980

@KevinPriola/Twitter

In his statement, Priola explained why he joined the Republican Party in 1990, saying it was the approach of former Republican President Ronald Reagan—who left office two years before—that inspired him to choose the GOP.

He took several thinly veiled swipes at Trump in the process.

"[Reagan] spent his presidency looking out for American interests, not cozying up to Russia."

"He was for free trade and not raising taxes on Americans through tariffs."

"He also worked across the aisle on immigration issues."

Priola went on to add:

"I haven't changed much in 30 years, but my party has."

Priola then described how disturbed he is by the Republican Party's embrace of the January 6 insurrection and denial of the validity of Democratic President Joe Biden's administration.

"I cannot continue to be a part of a political party that is okay with a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election and continues to peddle claims that the 2020 election was stolen..."

He also cited concerns about climate change and the economy before officially announcing his party switch.

"For these reasons, today, I'm announcing that I have changed my party registration from Republican to Democrat..."

"...there is too much at stake right now for Republicans to be in charge."

On Twitter, many applauded Priola's principled decision, including many prominent Colorado and national Democrats.

\u201cProud to welcome @KevinPriola to the Democratic Party. We are a broad tent party, always seeking good ideas from the left and right to move CO forward. Senator Priola is a strong leader on climate issues & will hopefully be even more effective on the Democratic side of the aisle.\u201d
— Jared Polis (@Jared Polis) 1661182051

\u201cSenator @KevinPriola \u2026. Welcome to the party!!! Looking forward to delivering for the American people! #DemocratsDeliver\u201d
— Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair (@Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair) 1661187813

\u201cColorado state Senator Kevin Priola switched from the Republicans and announced today he has joined the Democrats. This is a big deal.\u201d
— CooknColorado\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\u262e\ufe0f (@CooknColorado\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\u262e\ufe0f) 1661185830

\u201cI am excited to welcome @KevinPriola to team blue. He has been my partner in passing bills on climate, recycling, addiction/mental health, education and transportation. In the past two years we have run 12 bills together. He is a statesman willing to do the work. #copolitics\u201d
— Sen. Faith Winter (@Sen. Faith Winter) 1661182687

\u201cThe GOP is imploding on itself! \n\nDisgusted with Trumpism, CO state senator Kevin Priola leaves GOP for Democrats. \n\nAnother person who has seen the light and left the Dark Side! \n\n#VoteBlue2022 #DemVoice1 https://t.co/654xfZajSF\u201d
— Jeana Berry (@Jeana Berry) 1661198787

\u201cMore of this\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffcplease.\n\n@GOP Colorado State Senator Kevin Priola announced that he is changing his party affiliation to Democrat.\n\n@KevinPriola said he, \u201ccan\u2019t support a party that didn\u2019t denounce a violent attempt to overthrow free and fair elections.\u201d\nhttps://t.co/ESsw5fRc5c\u201d
— Fernand R. Amandi (@Fernand R. Amandi) 1661188816

\u201cWelcome to the Party of Democracy, @KevinPriola. https://t.co/01OnQ3Flo1\u201d
— Crooks and Liars (@Crooks and Liars) 1661274304

\u201c@jaredpolis @KevinPriola I've known Kevin for years. He has very high character. He's a huge pickup for Colorado Dems! We have to be a Big Tent with room for all*!\n\n*All who don't practice hate.\u201d
— Jared Polis (@Jared Polis) 1661182051

\u201cWhy isn't there more of this???\u201d
— Don Winslow (@Don Winslow) 1661207201

\u201cGood for him.\n\nDs should make space for Rs who respect free and fair elections.\u201d
— Eric L. Robinson (@Eric L. Robinson) 1661183090

\u201cHope he is not the last one.\u201d
— Stand with Ukraine to preserve freedom\u262e\ufe0f (@Stand with Ukraine to preserve freedom\u262e\ufe0f) 1661191211

Priola was careful to point out he will not be changing his stances on many controversial issues such as abortion rights, the Second Amendment and education.

But he has been one of the most moderate and bipartisan members of Colorado's senate, and has often sided with Democrats on major legislation.

His party registration somewhat deflates Republicans' hopes of taking over the Colorado state senate in November's midterms.

Democrats currently hold a 20-15 advantage in that chamber.

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