Schmidt made the announcement during an episode of the “Battleground” podcast published on Monday, as he and co-host David Plouffe were discussing the Republican house members and state attorneys general that backed Texas’ now ill-fated election lawsuit before the Supreme Court.

“I spent 29 years as a Republican, I’ve spent two and a half as an independent, and later this afternoon I will register as a member of the Democratic Party,” Schmidt told Plouffe. “Because in America today, it’s only the Democratic Party—which is the oldest political party in the world—that stands for the ideas and ideals of American liberty.”…

“I think we win—and by we, I mean America—or they win,” Schmidt said. “And I think the place where that fight will take place from is in the Democratic Party.”