Kim Davis switches to GOP

Embattled Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is joining the Republican Party.

The Rowan County clerk, who cited her religious beliefs in refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order legalizing gay marriage, said she changed parties last week.

{mosads}“My husband and I had talked about it for quite a while and we came to the conclusion that the Democratic Party had left us a long time ago, so why were we hanging on?” Davis told Reuters on Friday.

A long-time Democrat, Davis was jailed for five days in September after she did not comply with a court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

She does not foresee the problem recurring after licenses were altered to remove her name and title.

“I don’t think there should be much of an issue and the judge didn’t have any problem accepting the licenses that were issued when I was incarcerated, which had been altered, so I don’t see that there should be an issue,” Davis said.

She also maintained she is willing to return to jail rather than violate her religious beliefs.

GOP presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee (Ark.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) have lauded Davis for championing the cause of religious liberty.

Other conservatives, such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former business executive Carly Fiorina, have criticized her actions.