Has a member of Congress done this — resign and then ask the voters to return them as a member of their new party — in the past 30 years? I don’t recall anyone since Phil Gramm.
Most countries have at least three parties.
America is an anomaly in having only two. Our two parties act like a cartel.
They’re basically centrist coalitions as opposed to being sharply defined ideological/political choices.
No, not since Gramm. Problem is that doing so is a rather expensive proposition as special elections aren’t cheap and vacancies can last many months (and a special has to be called by a Governor). In the UK, in these districts, they can call snap elections on the heels of a resignation.
Strom Thurmond switched parties and was elected both ways, but I don’t recall if he did the resignation dance.
Its regarded as “good form” to do so in the UK.