State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil has switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, citing concerns about the dominance of the Democratic supermajority and its disconnect from the values of her constituents in California.
In a statement, she expressed frustration with the party’s shift towards the left, criticizing its handling of issues such as crime, homelessness, and education.
Alvarado-Gil, who represents a predominantly Republican district, emphasized her commitment to the needs of her constituents over party ideology.
“Since my first day in office, I have put the interests of my constituents first. I was elected to serve the public, not a political ideology,” Alvarado-Gil stated. “The status quo under a supermajority Democratic rule in the legislature is simply not working for this state. It is after deep reflection I announce that I will be joining the Senate Republican Caucus and the California Republican Party in their fight to fix California.”
“The Democratic Party of today is not the Democratic Party that I signed up with as a new voter,” she said. “It has changed. The pendulum has swung so far to the left that it has disengaged from what true Californians value—our middle-class values, our families, our diversity in California. And frankly, I just could not support an ideology over the will of the people.”
“We have succumbed to a public education system where it is okay where kids don’t read and write by third grade,” she said.
“I’ve been listening to them for the past two years, serving my district that is predominantly a Republican district. I’ve been serving as a representative of the values of our district and a representative of what means the most to our constituents, whether they’re Democrats, Republicans, or no party preference,” she added. “If we know it’s a problem and the supermajority has the ability to impact change, why not do that for the good of Californians?”
Her decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a betrayal while others see it as aligning with her district’s values.
This switch adds a ninth Republican to the California Senate, although Democrats still hold a supermajority in the chamber.
