[Politico] Rep. Paul Mitchell is leaving the Republican Party, the Michigan congressman announced Monday, citing his dismay with President Donald Trump and the party’s efforts to delegitimize the 2020 presidential election.Mitchell revealed his decision during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, in which he said he’d asked the clerk of the House to change his party affiliation to "Independent." Mitchell plans to retire from Congress next month, at the end of this term.
"It became clear to me I could no longer be associated with a Republican Party that the leadership does not stand up and say the process, the election is over. It’s over today," Mitchell said. "This party has to stand up for democracy first, for our Constitution first and not political considerations. It’s not about a candidate. It’s not simply for raw political power and that’s what I feel is going on, and I’ve had enough."
In a letter to GOP Chair Ronna McDaniel and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, he called the election process this year "traumatic," and expressed concern for "the stability and strength of our democracy." He added that he would continue to raise money for individual candidates who are in line with his conservative values.