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The longest-serving Republican legislator from Iowa State has announced he will join U.S Democrats because of the U.S President Donald Trump. The Iowa State Representative Andy McKean has identified with Republican Party for at least 50 years. He said if the actions and policies of Trump mark the New Normal, he wants no part of it. McKean has served in both Iowa’s Senate and House of Representatives. McKean said that Trump sets a poor example, especially for children. McKean announced his decision at a news conference. He said, “With the 2020 presidential election looming on the horizon, I feel as a Republican that I need to be able to support the standard bearer of our party. Unfortunately, that is not something I am able to do”.

McKean has served at least 25 years in Iowa’s legislature, hit out at both Trump’s constant angry tweets and his belittling of political and citizen opponents. He said, “He sets, in my opinion, a poor example for the nation and particularly for our children by personally insulting, often in a crude and juvenile fashion, those who disagree with him, being a bully at a time when we are attempting to discourage bullying, his frequent disregard for the truth and his willingness to ridicule or marginalize people for their appearance, ethnicity or disability”.

He also criticized the foreign policy of Trump and his frequent downplaying of the impact of climate change that America and nations around the world will face. McKean said, “I believe that it is just a matter of time before our party pays a heavy price for President Trump’s reckless spending and shortsighted financial policies, his erratic, destabilizing foreign policy and his disregard for environmental concerns”. The district of McKean sits in 2 rural, blue-collar counties. He said he felt increasingly uncomfortable siding with the Republicans on a number of high-profile issues. It is noteworthy that the recent switch would leave the Democratic Party just 4-seats away from taking full control of the Iowa House of Representatives.