Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Florida Republican switches sides to oppose Trump and causes MAGA meltdown

alternet.org · 5h · first reportShare

On Tuesday, a lifelong Florida Republican declared that he will vote for Democratic midterm candidates in protest against President Donald Trump , and MAGA is not happy about it. While Republican Robbie Smither said his reasoning involved practical considerations, many disappointed MAGA supporters attempted to woo him back by appealing to culture war conspiracy theories. “When I vote for a Democrat, [former Rep. David Jolly (D-FL)], for the first time in my 41 years of life this November, it will not be because my values have changed, but because my party has abandoned our values for the sycophancy of a transactional leader who has none,” posted Smither. Jolly is running a neck-and-neck race for Florida governor against Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), a staunch Trump supporter. “I made a personal commitment to vote for [former Rep. Mike Beltran (R-FL)],” Smither continued, referring to the toss-up race for Florida’s 14th District, “and I want to keep my word, but I’m a few more red hats, Tr