State Rep. David Nagel switches party affiliation to Democrat

[RandySF]

GILMANTON — State Rep. David Nagel, who represents Belknap County’s District 6, publicly shared Wednesday he had switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat.

Belknap 6 includes Gilford, Gilmanton and Laconia’s Ward 2. Nagel is now one of two Democrats on the Belknap County Delegation, along with Rep. Charlie St. Clair of Laconia. They’re scheduled to potentially vote on the county budget Wednesday at 6 p.m.

The delegation makes up Belknap's elected representatives to the Statehouse.

Nagel, a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, formerly served on the House Health and Human Services Committee until he was removed by Republican Party leadership in 2025. He cited that as one of his reasons for switching his party affiliation during a press call alongside House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson on Wednesday.



https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news/elections/breaking-news-rep-david-nagel-switches-party-affiliation-to-democrat/article_397c1cdf-c782-46ac-a764-b8250846ccbc.html

[Attilatheblond]

1. I am starting to fear that some 'party switchers' are not doing it for values or policy differences with today's GOP

but because they see the writing on the walls. IOW, purely for political power reasons. They are seeing millions of people taking to the street to protest so many GOP policies that not all of them believe they are secure due to having an R behind their names on ballots.

Not saying it's the case with Nagel as I don't know anything about his record, philosophy, or background. It looks like he does have ideological reasons to switch, but one wonders what policies he was OK with when he ran as a Republican. I do worry about the mini-stampede of party affiliation changers. Trust their motives? Fat friggin chance.

Like, do I think MTG suddenly had an epiphany and got woke to the damage the GOP was doing? Nope. Even if she didn't truly go along with GOP policy in her early time on the Hill, she went along for the political power she thought it would bring. She found out the good ol boys party only gave her token attention, not unlike a man tipping his hat at a woman. Do I trust her new mindset? Hell to the no!

Trust GOP pols who suddenly want to change their stripes? Uh, no. They gotta show me before I believe any of them and it will take a long time of observation before I give any of them the benefit of no doubt.