cross the floor
Change political allegiance
Cross the floor is to switch political parties while holding elected office, especially in parliamentary systems where members literally cross from one side of the chamber to the other.
The floor separates the governing party from the opposition.
A member who crosses the floor abandons their party to join the other side: She crossed the floor after disagreeing with her party's stance on immigration.
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
- realignmentAdjusting relative positions
- legislatorElected maker of laws
- change sidesShift one's loyalty
switch · party discipline · party loyalty · party line · party · politician · betrayal · break ranks · reach across the aisle · roll call vote · factionalism · parliament · conversion · abstention · polarization · representative · reconciliation · caucus
cross the floorstay the course
Continue despite difficulties
stand firm · keep faith · stay put · hold the line · keep the faith
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