State senator leaves Republican Party
The senator from Harrisonville switched sides earlier this month.
Published Aug. 24, 2007
Earlier this month, one man dared cross the aisle in Jefferson City.
Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville, changed from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party on Aug. 1.
"It probably has been something that has been in my mind for years at different levels," Koster said.
Koster said if there is anyone who does not fit the ideologies of the GOP, it's him. In a heavily pro-life caucus, he said, he was interested in seeing the stem-cell research plans move forward.
He also labeled his former party as anti-labor oriented, though he is pro-labor, supports the middle class and has been a "very staunch advocate" of the legal system and judiciary, even when his political allies are not.
Koster said the Republican Party is consistently moving forward with a far-right agenda, and he has been suspicious of it.
At times, Koster has even "openly warred against it," he said.
Koster said the switch is for the good of the future of the state, as well as for his own conscience.
"These are the kinds of things I did to redirect my political life," he said.
Koster said he has learned the difference between who his friends are and who are mere acquaintances in the midst of this political decision. His friends, from both parties, are those who have been supportive of him in spite of his decision to become a Democrat. Reactions of Republicans have varied.
In a statement released Aug. 1 in response to Koster's choice to leave the Republican Party, Missouri Republican Party Executive Director Jared Craighead said, "Chris is a personal friend of mine, but I fear he has blinded himself with his desire for higher office and the hollow promises of Jay Nixon's political machine rather than keeping his commitment to the constituents who elected him to represent them."
In the statement, Craighead also said he expects Koster to resign from the Senate and run as a Democrat in a special election "so that the people of the 31st Senatorial District have an opportunity to decide whether they want him representing them now that he has totally reversed his positions on important issues like gay marriage, Second Amendment rights and Medicaid reform."
Some of Koster's political friends who have been hurt by his change have stepped forward to reaffirm their friendship, he said.
"Those reactions have been treasured forever," Koster said.
Though elected a Republican, Koster said he thinks the reactions are mostly along party lines.
"The Democrats in the 31st district have been extraordinarily embracing," he said.
Koster said he hopes to continue to work in support of advocacy in issues revolving around poverty and racial inequality next session.