Former Sen. Jim Jeffords, who switched control of the Senate in 2001, dies at age 80

Former Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont, the man who rocked the political world in 2001 when he left the Republican Party and flipped control of the Senate to the Democrats, has died at age 80, the Burlington Free Press reports.
The newspaper also reports that at the time of his retirement from the Senate in 2006, Jeffords was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, and since then he has been cared for at a facility near Washington, D.C.
Jeffords was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1974, and then moved up to the Senate in 1988. During that time he was known as a moderate or even liberal Republican — a brand of politician that was disappearing from the political landscape.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Then in the late spring of 2001, at a time when both the Republicans and the Democrats had 50 seats each in the Senate, he switched to become an independent and caucused with the Democrats, declaring that he could no longer support the policies of President George W. Bush and the Republican leadership. The Democrats then held the majority for about a year and a half, until they lost it once more in the 2002 elections, and Jeffords remained as a member of the Democratic caucus until his retirement in 2006.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents