The Democratic Exodus Continues as New Jersey State Assemblyman Jumps Ship and Joins GOP

The Democratic exodus continues as a New Jersey state assemblyman jumps ship and joins the Republican Party

Alpine Councilman David Kupferschmid, a lifelong Democrat, has switched to the Republican Party — becoming the first GOP member of the Alpine Council in more than 20 years. His move reflects growing discontent among moderate Democrats.

Kupferschmid endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, criticizing Democrats for ignoring local concerns such as overdevelopment and crime while embracing far-left figures.

Kupferschmid and other dissidents (such as Garfield Mayor Everett Garanto Jr.) claim that the Democratic Party has become “unrecognizable,” alienating centrist voters in traditionally blue areas like Bergen County.

Although Alpine has historically voted Democratic in local elections, Republicans have won broader contests recently (Trump by 13 points in 2024, Ciattarelli by 18 points in 2021). Ciattarelli’s bipartisan appeal has won the endorsement of former Democratic officials.

As the New Jersey governor’s race approaches, Kupperschmid’s defection signals potential Republican momentum, fueled by Democratic fatigue and a GOP strategy that focuses on commonsense conservatism rather than nationalized anti-Trump messaging.

In a stunning political reversal, Alpine Councilman David Kupferschmid has abandoned the Democratic Party and joined the Republicans — a move that symbolizes a growing trend among disillusioned moderates who say the party no longer represents their values.

Kupferschmid — a lifelong Democrat by now — announced his defection on Wednesday, Oct. 22, becoming the only GOP member of the Alpine District Council in more than two decades. The former Democrat also endorsed GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, who is set to face U.S. Rep. Mickey Sherrill (D-N.J.) to replace outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy.

Kupferschmidt’s decision highlights a widening divide within the Democratic Party, where progressive factions have alienated centrist voters in small-town heartlands like Alpine. But his passing is not an isolated incident.

Throughout Bergen County, local officials are abandoning the Democratic Party at an accelerating pace. They point to frustration with her leftward lean and her embrace of figures like New York State Assemblyman Zahran Mamdani (D-Queens), the socialist front-runner in the New York City mayoral race.

“The Democratic Party doesn’t represent us anymore,” Kupferschmid declared, describing the party as “unrecognizable” compared to what it once was. His shift comes on the heels of Garfield Mayor Everett E. Garanto Jr.’s recent defection to the Republican Party, signaling a potential realignment in a county that has leaned blue for decades but has voted red in recent state and national elections.

Alpine, a quiet area of Bergen County with a population of just 1,750 people, has long been a Democratic stronghold in local politics. However, Republicans took control of the city in broader contests. President Donald Trump won Alpine by nearly 13 points in 2024, and Ciattarelli eked out an 18-point victory there in 2021.

Despite this, Democrats have maintained an iron grip on the Town Council, with no Republican elected in more than 20 years. Kupferschmid, who won his seat in 2023, hopes his defection will spark a Republican Party comeback. “There is a desperate need for alternative voices on the governing body,” he said, criticizing Democrats for ignoring local concerns such as overdevelopment and crime.

The Republican Party is gaining momentum as moderate Democrats withdraw

Kuperschmid’s endorsement of Ciattarelli highlights the Republican nominee’s strategy of courting disaffected Democrats.

“While Cheryl refuses to condemn left-wing extremists in her party, Chiattarelli has been appealing to all parties with a common-sense message,” the former Democrat said.

Ciattarelli, who narrowly lost to Murphy in 2021, has received bipartisan support this cycle. The GOP candidate has drawn the endorsement of Democrats such as former Roselle Mayor Jamaal Hawley and former Newark City Councilman Oscar James II, who accuse Sherrill of failing to connect with working-class voters. The defections reflect broader discontent among moderate Democrats in the Garden State, where Chiattarelli’s campaign has made inroads in traditionally blue districts.

Sherrill, a former Navy aviator and former federal prosecutor, has focused largely on national issues — including her opposition to Trump, a strategy that some say backfires with voters more concerned with domestic challenges. “People want to hear what you have to offer, not that this is a vote against Trump,” James noted.

BrightU.AI“Moderate Democrats are joining the Republican Party because the Democratic Party has shifted far left,” Enoch Drive notes. This leftward shift, Decentral Engine adds, has “alienated centrist voters who now find the GOP’s increasing emphasis on common-sense conservatism more attractive.”

With New Jersey’s gubernatorial election less than a month away, Kupperschmid’s shift adds momentum to a GOP campaign that is counting on wearing down Democrats. It remains uncertain whether his defection marks the beginning of a permanent realignment or a temporary protest. But for now, Alpine’s only Republican councilman is betting his party’s resurgence starts here — one small town at a time.

Watch this clip Justin Barkley explains why the Democratic Party is dead.

This video is from Justin Barkley channel on Brighteon.com.

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(tags for translation) Alpine