Texas Dem Joins GOP After Former Party ‘Veers’ Too Far Left

A Texas state representative recently made headlines by announcing her decision to switch from the Democratic Party to the GOP during an event last week.

State Rep. Shawn Thierry of Houston made the announcement at a Moms for Liberty event in Washington, D.C.

“The Democratic Party has veered so far left, so deep into the progressive abyss, that it now champions policies I cannot, in good conscience, support — policies like promoting sex changes for vulnerable children and dismantling Title IX protections for women in sports. That’s why I am leaving the left and joining the party of family, faith, and freedom,” she stated in a press release. “I now stand with colleagues, friends, neighbors, women, and mothers in the Republican Party.”

GOP Governor Greg Abbott welcomed Thierry’s decision: “Today, I am proud to welcome Representative Shawn Thierry to the Republican Party — the party of opportunity, individual liberty, and economic prosperity.”

He further added: “Representative Thierry served in the Texas Legislature for four terms until the Democrat Party abandoned her after she delivered a 12-minute speech from the House floor in favor of a law I signed to protect Texas children. Her decision to switch parties demonstrates that the radical leftist agenda of the Democrat Party does not align with a majority of Americans. I look forward to continuing to work with Representative Thierry to build a bigger, better Texas for generations to come.”

According to The Texan, Thierry made the switch to the GOP after losing to a more left-leaning Democratic primary challenger, Lauren Simmons, earlier this summer.

The outlet also noted: “The state representative diverged from her party on two significant votes in the Texas House last session. She voted in favor of a law banning gender modification procedures on minors and also supported a measure to prohibit sexually explicit materials in school libraries. During the consideration of the child gender modification ban, Thierry delivered a passionate speech backing the proposal. As a result, she was censured by a local Democratic group for her stance on the law. Although three other Democrats voted for the bill, Thierry was the only one to speak in favor of it. This shift had been anticipated by those in the Capitol, who had observed her growing disillusionment with Democratic Party leadership.”

Thierry’s switch to the GOP is part of a broader trend of Texas Democrats switching parties. “State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City) switched in 2021, and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson followed last year, both citing changes in their previous party’s priorities. Additionally, three Democrats in border counties switched parties last November,” The Texan reported.

Republicans now hold 87 seats in the state House, though Thierry’s seat is expected to return to Democratic control after the November election.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the head of X, is relocating the social media company’s headquarters from the liberal city of San Francisco, California, to Austin, Texas.

The Tesla CEO informed employees via email that the San Francisco headquarters of X, formerly known as Twitter, would close on Friday, September 13, according to Fox News.

Musk’s decision was influenced by the far-left policies from California’s Democratic majority.

“Musk announced last month that he would move the global headquarters of X and SpaceX out of California after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill prohibiting schools from notifying parents of their children’s gender identity,” the report mentioned.

“Musk said at the time that X’s headquarters would move to Austin, Texas, while he also announced that SpaceX would relocate its headquarters from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas. He cited the gender identity law as being ‘the final straw’ and attributed the move to ‘this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies,’” it continued.

The CEO has increasingly criticized California’s policies, becoming more politically active and endorsing former President Donald Trump in the election.