Ditching Republican Label Is a Longshot for California’s Kiley

Running as an independent instead of as a Republican represents a Hail Mary for Rep. Kevin Kiley‘s survival in a Democratic-leaning district.

Kiley announced Monday he would leave the GOP, but still caucus with Republicans, just days after filing to run for reelection as a “no party preference” candidate in the Sacramento area.

“He’s got no good options and this was his least-bad option,” Mike Madrid, a Republican strategist, said.

The congressman cast his decision to switch parties as a rebuke of partisanship and has sought to shore up his independent bona fides by sponsoring so far unsuccessful legislation ...