The insurgent, populist Republican Donald Trump's run for president may be causing some Democrats to change party affiliation to support him in the state's April 26 primary.

Shari Brewer, Butler County director of elections, said 616 voters in the county have changed their party registration this year: 351 Democrats switching to Republican and 123 Republicans changing to Democrat.

“I have personally received a handful of phone calls from people that wanted to know how to update their registration and change their party to Republican (to support Trump),” said Ed Natali, chairman of the county Republican Committee.

Trump is facing Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College, said in recent reports that about 46,000 Democrats in the state have switched to the Republican party this year, mainly to support Trump in the primary.

Georgiann Kerr, chairman of the county Democratic Committee, said she has not heard of anyone from her party switching to the GOP due to Trump.

However, she has heard of Democrats in the 12th District for the state House changing their registration to Republican so they can vote for GOP candidate Gordon Marburger over incumbent 12th District Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.

Natali said he has not heard from anyone who wanted to change parties for that race, but he did say that the 12th District can be a polarizing place.

“I can see people doing that,” Natali said.

Get a complete report in today's Butler Eagle.