California Lawmaker Quits Democratic Party and Goes Republican in Unprecedented Move

A California state senator, disillusioned with the direction of the Democratic Party, has announced her decision to switch her party affiliation to Republican.

State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil revealed her plans on Thursday, as reported by KCRA-TV.

This move marks a historic shift, as it's the first time in 80 years that a Democratic lawmaker has switched to the GOP during their term, according to the California State Library.

“From my first day in office, my priority has been the interests of my constituents. I was elected to serve the public, not adhere to a political ideology,” Alvarado-Gil stated, according to CBS.

“The current status quo under the supermajority Democratic rule in the legislature is simply not working for this state. After deep reflection, I’ve decided to join the Senate Republican Caucus and the California Republican Party in their efforts to address California’s issues,” she said.

Alvarado-Gil represents a rural district, as noted by KCRA.

Her decision doesn't significantly impact the balance of power in the state Senate, where Democrats control 31 of the 40 seats.

Alvarado-Gil expressed concern that she has seen “the supermajority push California in the wrong direction.”

She criticized the Democratic Party as “unrecognizable,” claiming it “lacks the will to address the problems plaguing this state.”

“I can no longer support a party that disregards the will of the people and overlooks the core American values that my community strongly believes in,” she said.

State Senate Republican Minority Leader Brian Jones remarked, “It’s no secret that California’s political landscape leans heavily to the left, but as awareness grows around issues exacerbated by Democrat policies, we are making progress in our fight. The pendulum is swinging in this great state.”

Alvarado-Gil noted that during her two years in the Senate, she has witnessed a negative shift in the party.

“In the past two years that I’ve been working in the Senate, I don’t recognize the party I once belonged to,” Alvarado-Gil said in a video clip from “The Steve Hilton Show” posted on X.

“The Democratic Party is not the same as the one I joined decades ago. This isn’t the party I believed would help uplift the middle class and ensure our children can achieve the California Dream that we, as parents, have sacrificed so much for.”

She explained that her decision was made after “much reflection and prayer.”

“As you can imagine, it’s not an easy decision to leave a supermajority party where you potentially have more power and influence,” she said.

However, she emphasized that her choice is not only a personal one but also the right decision “for the constituents who elected me to office.”