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The longest-serving Republican in the Iowa Legislature has announced he’s switching to the Democratic Party. this narrows the party split in the Iowa House of Representatives to 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats.
Representative Andy McKean of Anamosa says the statehouse is much more partisan than when he was first elected in 1978. And he says the Republican Party has changed.
0423mckean2: 09 “I think the party has veered very sharply to the right. And that concerns me—it’s a bit further than I would care to be.”
McKean says he considers himself a moderate and thinks there is room for him in the Democratic Party. He also says he’s unable to support President Trump in the upcoming 2020 election, and that the country will pay a heavy price for Trump’s policies and rhetoric.
House Minority Leader Todd Prichard says the Democrats are “thrilled” to have McKean join them. Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer said in a statement she respects McKean’s decision, and the 53 House Republicans will move forward with their conservative agenda.
Whether sports betting will become legal in Iowa now rests with Gov. Kim Reynolds.
A proposal to legalize betting on professional and college athletics, and on daily fantasy sports, gained the approval of state lawmakers in the Iowa House yesterday.
Having previously passed the Iowa Senate, the proposal now heads to the governor’s desk for her consideration. Seven other states currently have legalized sports gambling.