Not really. Both mainstream political parties don't like each other, but by and large they don't attack someone for leaving the party (from what I've seen).

Perhaps if you are saying attacks of politicians switching parties, which I could see. But I don't think I've ever heard of republicans talking about exrepublicans or democrats talking about exdemocrats. I personally have switched from voting republican to voting democrat. It's not something my family really cares about and I still have good relations with them even though a number of them are pretty MAGA.

Cults will actually have lessons and classes about the evils of ex members. Someone brought up JWs and that's a pretty good example of what I'm thinking of.

I think you’re correct that mainstream leaders of the parties try not to talk about each other in that way and mostly succeed. But I absolutely do know family members and friends treat it with that level of zeal.

I think that's true of just darn near everything. People are tribal and tend to get uncomfortable when people around them change:

* Their political parties

* Their religions

* Their diets (meat => vegan, or vice versa)

* Their music

* Their computer OS

None of those compare to cult shunning, which is more systematic and absolute. I mentioned in another comment that my parents were sad when I stopped going to church. That's got nothing on having one's entire family and support groups ceasing to publicly acknowledge their existence.

> None of those compare to cult shunning

I absolutely disagree. I’ve seen cult shunning and if there is a version which has mass appeal now it’s politics.

I think a difference would be a Cult focuses on making the cult congregation member feel like their real family is the Cult, which could or could not be related to your biological family.

Leaving whatever you define as your family is always difficult.

The rhetoric from the DNC and Republicans can get pretty out there but I don't think anyone thinks of DNC or Republican party members as their actual family ( I hope )