I’ve thought about this for awhile. In states like California the easiest way to get elected is with a D next to your name. Change party to Dem, get elected, and then vote as a ‘maverick’. As long as that D is next to your name you are almost guaranteed reelection.
Why not? We have plenty of Dems in the Republican party, they just won’t admit it.
That is pretty much what the left did. It worked beyond their wildest hopes.