Bloomberg , a former Democrat, former Republican (2001–2008) and current  political independent  elected on the  Republican  and  Independence Party  tickets against opponents supported by the  Democratic  and  Working Families  Parties in 2001 (50.3% of the vote to 47.9%), 2005 (58.4% to 39%) and 2009 (50.6% to 46%). [167]  He is known