Lifelong Republican Dawn Addiego shocked her GOP colleagues earlier this week, announcing by email that she was crossing the political aisle and joining the Democrats’ caucus in the state Senate. The 8th District Burlington County senator stated briefly then she wanted to make a change and would be better able to do that, working with the majority — which increased to 26 to 14 after her move.

But critics and analysts called Addiego’s defection political “self-preservation” motivated by her awareness that Jersey, and the western part of Burlington County, is turning bluer. Senior Correspondent Brenda Flanagan caught up with Addiego and asked her to explain.