Sen. Dawn Addiego (R) is switching parties, will join NJ Senate Dems

[smoltchanov]

A little surprising, because while her district did vote for both Obama and Clinton, it was a Trump-curious district; Went from 53-46 Obama to 49-47 (2535 vote difference) Clinton.

Well, it's, probably, a "matgter of convenience", at least - partially. You really can do more in majority. That's the reason for Gabbard (father) being Democrat in Hawaii legislature, or for a lot of former Democrats (including NOT "true blue conservatives") switching to Republicans in the South (you REALLY can do more in, say, Louisiana state legislature, as pragmatic-conservative Republican, then as  conservatively-leaning Democrat). Though the actual displeasure with party's direction in Trump years could be a catalyst too.

[smoltchanov]

This comes as a real shock to me. I think this is pretty much pure horse-trading. She must have been offered something since she's neither a moderate (by NJ standards) nor in a particularly D district. Her race was only so close in 2017 because of the environment and because she voted in favor of the gas tax, which upset a lot of conservative residents.

I was surprised too. Chris Brown, for example, is much more moderate, and - still Republican. Though his switch would be much more logical. There are other more moderate Republicans in legislature too...