More Pa. voters are registering as independents, but barriers stop lawmakers from following

This article was originally published by Spotlight PA. HARRISBURG — In February, Lehigh County Commissioner Ron Beitler made a decision that he described as a “political suicide” — he left the GOP and chose not to affiliate with any political party. There was no single inciting incident. Beitler has always considered himself to be politically fluid, he told Spotlight PA. While Lehigh County leans Democratic — 44% of voters are registered Democrats and 36% are registered Republicans — Beitler de...