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WASHINGTON – Rep. Justin Amash's announcement that he's leaving the Republican Party makes him part of a small group of members of Congress that have quit a party or changed parties altogether in recent history.
In an op-ed in the Washington Post published on July 4, Amash said that modern politics were "trapped in a partisan death spiral" and announced his resignation from the GOP to become an independent. Amash is the only Republican member of Congress to have declared his support for impeaching President Donald Trump.
After Amash's declaration of his political independence, Trump lashed out at the Michigan lawmaker, calling him "one of the dumbest & most disloyal" in Congress.
Changes in party affiliation are not unusual in American politics. Hillary Clinton once volunteered for Republican Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential bid and was active in Republican politics as a Young Republican before becoming a Democrat. Teddy Roosevelt famously ran for president again in 1912 as a representative of the Bull Moose Party rather than run again as a Repuublican.
Amash's decision to change parties while in office, though, is unique.
"Amash is the first Republican House member in 20 years to leave the GOP," explained Antoine Yoshinaka, a political science professor at the New York State University at Buffalo and the author of a 2015 book on party switching.
Only three senators have changed parties while in office in the 21st century, according to the Senate's data. A USA TODAY analysis of Congress' biographical data shows that only five members of the House of Representatives have changed parties during the 21st century. After changing parties, most of the incumbents go on to lose re-election or retire from office.
Amash leaves the GOP: Justin Amash, sole Republican in Congress to support Trump impeachment, says he's now an independent
Trump responds: Trump lashes out at Justin Amash, calls him 'one of the dumbest & most disloyal' in Congress
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