State Sen. John Yudichak, a pro-labor son and grandson of coal miners who has been a moderate voice in the state Legislature since 1999, shocked the political world Tuesday by announcing he is leaving the Democratic party to become an independent who will caucus with the Republican majority.
“That doesn’t mean my values have changed,” Yudichak said in a phone call Tuesday. “I’ve always been bipartisan in my approach. I always felt it was my job to serve all constituents. That’s getting harder and harder to do. The conversation at a national level has become toxic.”
Yudichak, 49, said his switch to independent was a difficult decision that came after heart-to-heart talks with some of his longest political supporters, including his father, Joseph, a loyal Franklin Delano Roosevelt Democrat who Yudichak called “the best political adviser I have.”
The senator thinks his independence can be an example for politicians to adopt a “we” approach to government and politics instead of an “us vs. them” mentality.
With the move, the state Senate now has 27 Republicans, 21 Democrats and one independent with one vacant seat in a reliably Republican district.
Yudichak, of Plymouth Twp., said he wishes he didn’t have to pick a side to caucus with and could serve as a true independent, but Senate rules don’t allow that.
The senator told The Associated Press he found a growing disconnect with an increasingly liberal Democratic caucus and that some issues that are important to him will find a better home in the Republican caucus.
“I felt the voice of Northeastern Pennsylvania was being marginalized,” Yudichak said.
Still, he promised not to vote in lock step with the GOP.
The changing nature of the Democratic party ranks and the recent success of the Republican party in Northeast Pennsylvania — including Donald Trump’s big win here in the 2016 presidential election — likely influenced Yudichak’s decision to become an independent, said G. Terry Madonna, one of the state’s leading political analysts from Franklin and Marshal College.
“It could be he just reached the point the Democrats have moved beyond where he is,” Madonna said. “It could be he doesn’t want to become a Republican, but he can’t remain a Democrat.”
While top Republicans issued a statement Tuesday welcoming Yudichak, Democrats bade him a bitter goodbye. In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-43, Allegheny, said Democrats were “extremely disappointed” to see Yudichak turn his back on their “large tent” values.
Yudichak responded that the Democrats’ tent “is shrinking every day.”
Despite the party switch, Yudichak said he would continue to fundraise for Democratic candidates and still back Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 race for president.
Yudichak was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1998 and served six terms. In 2010, he was elected to the state Senate to replace longtime Sen. Ralph Musto and has won reelection two times. He’s next up for reelection in 2022.
He recently sparred with Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf over plans to close State Correctional Institution at Retreat in Newport Twp. and the White Haven Center in White Haven.
Wolf’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
Yudichak said the change in party doesn’t signal that he plans to run for another office one day.
“There’s always a rumor or two about me running for another, higher officer. But that is just chatter,” Yudichak said. “Right now, I’m focused on this job.”
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS contributed to this report.
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