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BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- Sen. James Jeffords bolted the Republican Party and declared himself an independent on Thursday, giving Democrats control of the U.S. Senate for the first time since 1994.
Jeffords made his announcement after a last-ditch effort by Republicans to keep him in the fold.
"In order to best represent my state of Vermont, my own conscience and principals that I have stood for my whole life, I will leave the Republican Party and become an independent," Jeffords said as his supporters erupted in cheers.
Jeffords said that he had been "struggling with a very difficult decision" for the past several weeks.
