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Donald W. Riegle, Representative Who Switched Parties, Dies at 88
Donald W. Riegle, Representative Who Switched Parties, Dies at 88
Elected to Congress in 1966 as a Republican from Michigan, he grew disenchanted with his party during the Nixon presidency and became a progressive Democratic senator.
Former Senator Donald W. Riegle during a news conference in his native Flint, Mich., in March 2016. Mr. Riegle endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, right, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination against Hillary Clinton. Scott Olson/Getty Images
By Trip Gabriel
April 28, 2026, 4:21 p.m. ET
Donald W. Riegle, who represented Michigan in Congress for nearly three decades and switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic during the Nixon presidency, died on Friday at his home in San Diego. He was 88. ... His death was caused by cardiac arrest, his family said.
Mr. Riegle was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from his native Flint, Mich., in 1966, at the age of 28, when he ran as a Republican in a traditionally Democratic district.
{snip}
Elected to Congress in 1966 as a Republican from Michigan, he grew disenchanted with his party during the Nixon presidency and became a progressive Democratic senator.
Former Senator Donald W. Riegle during a news conference in his native Flint, Mich., in March 2016. Mr. Riegle endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, right, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination against Hillary Clinton. Scott Olson/Getty Images
By Trip Gabriel
April 28, 2026, 4:21 p.m. ET
Donald W. Riegle, who represented Michigan in Congress for nearly three decades and switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic during the Nixon presidency, died on Friday at his home in San Diego. He was 88. ... His death was caused by cardiac arrest, his family said.
Mr. Riegle was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from his native Flint, Mich., in 1966, at the age of 28, when he ran as a Republican in a traditionally Democratic district.
{snip}
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