Noted by me in open thread today; but thought I'd highlight it, as it's an example of mod-Repubs jumping the right-wing ship.
Rodney Tom is realtor that represents the Seattle suburb that is home to Microsoft (among other small businesses). He's a second-term state Rep. who, until today, stood with the GOP. He is leaving the GOP club to run for WA state senate as a Democrat, challenging Luke Esser, prototypical rightist Reaganite Republican. Feels he can better represent the district as a Dem.
For a brief example of Tom's reality-based, moderate stance, he recently described public school sex education as "an economic as well as moral issue because about 12,000 Washington teens become pregnant each year, and the costs of those pregnancies and children often fall on the state.
``I don't believe that you can continue to say you're a fiscal conservative if your social policies continue to burden the state with social costs,'' Tom said."
http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/...
For now, there's more at the link, courtesy of the local rag:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/...
"Bellevue representative switches parties to run for senate
By David Postman, Seattle Times chief political reporter
Republican Rep. Rodney Tom of Bellevue
OLYMPIA: Two-term Republican Rep. Rodney Tom of Bellevue says he is quitting the Republican Party to run for the state Senate as a Democrat.
Tom will challenge incumbent Sen. Luke Esser, R-Bellevue.
"I realized the far right has complete control of the party and for me to be effective for my constituents I need to be a Democrat," Tom said today.
He said being a Democrat is not only a better fit for the changing political demographic of the Eastside's 48th Legislative District, but a more comfortable fit for his ideology, which includes support for legal abortion, gay rights and higher taxes for transportation."