JUST IN: Democrat Politician Ditches Party, Switches To Republican

Dale Girard, a New Hampshire state representative and the mayor of Claremont, says he has formally left the Democratic Party and registered as a Republican. “This morning, I went to Claremont City Hall and officially changed my party affiliation to the Republican Party,” Girard wrote in a Facebook post. Girard said the move followed “a great deal of thought and consideration,” and insisted it was not driven by a personal break with Democrats in leadership. “I want to be clear, this is not a reflection of any issue I have with Democratic Party leadership,” he wrote. “However, during my time serving as a Representative in Concord, I came to realize that my personal ideologies did not align as closely with the party as I once believed.” Girard framed the switch as a recognition of how he has