Penny Swan, a political activist and citizen journalist from Hillsdale, Michigan, has a unique story of political evolution that sheds light on the deepening polarization in American politics. Swan, a former Trump supporter and Republican party activist, has distanced herself from the right-wing group that organized buses to the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, to protest the certification of the 2020 election.
Since 2021, Swan has shifted her political views and won’t vote for Trump in the upcoming election. Her journey from being a vocal Trump supporter to a critic of the far-right movement is a rare one in today’s political landscape.
As a popular local politics page operator and longtime political activist, Swan has documented the unraveling of her county’s conservative movement. She has been at the forefront of the divide between the establishment Republicans and the Maga base, which has led to internal conflicts within the local party organizations.
Despite facing backlash and threats from her former friends in the Hillsdale Republican party, Swan remains committed to resisting right-wing extremism in her town and county. She is actively involved in campaigns for critical county seats, aiming to fend off the far-right push in the upcoming elections.
Swan’s story serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of navigating the current political landscape, where loyalty to a party or movement can shift, and individuals like Swan find themselves at odds with former allies. Her dedication to transparency and resistance against extremism highlights the importance of civic engagement and standing up for one’s beliefs, even in the face of adversity.