A Young Republican Leader Just Announced That He's Becoming a Democrat

The leader of the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans, Evan Alvarez, announced Monday that he was resigning his post — and switching political parties.

“I am leaving my position in the [Republican] organization and have begun to speak to members of the Mississippi Democratic Party and will be changing my party affiliation to Democrat in the next few days," Alvarez told the Clarion-Ledger.

Image via Evan Alvarez / Twitter

Alvarez' departure was apparently motivated in part by the acrimonious primary campaign in which incumbent GOP Sen. Thad Cochran faced off against Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel.

Alvarez campaigned for Cochran, the Daily Caller reported.

“As chair of the [College Republican National Committee (CNRC)], some would expect I would be disappointed by today’s news,” CNRC Chairwoman Alex Smith told the Daily Caller. "I am not."

Smith said, “This defection was based on self-interest, not principle,” and added, “Mr. Alvarez will feel increasingly lonely in a party that is hemorrhaging young voters because of President Obama’s and Democrats’ extreme left wing agenda that is crippling our generation.”

Alvarez' Twitter activity reflects dissatisfaction with the GOP.

Image via Evan Alvarez / Twitter

For its part, the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans moved quickly and announced a new leader, Caroline Collins, Monday afternoon.

Congratulations to Caroline Collins, a woman of integrity and natural leader, who is our new chairman! pic.twitter.com/gPbKgY6wxw

— MFCR (@missfcr) June 30, 2014

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Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter