According to this story, Michigan Representative John Olumba has declared that he is no longer a Democrat, and instead is now an independent. Michigan does not have registration by party, so there is no official method for any legislator to switch partisan affiliation other than a public declaration. Olumba is the first Michigan state legislator to be neither a Democrat nor a Republican, since the 1912-1914 session, when there were 17 Progressive Party state legislators in Michigan. If Olumba runs for re-election as an independent in 2014, he will have a tough campaign, because Michigan has a straight-ticket device. Thanks to Nicholas Madaj for the link.