California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil announced Thursday she will switch parties and become a Republican.

Alvarado-Gil criticized the Democratic Party’s leadership and policies, according to the Associated Press.

“Since my first day in office, I have put the interests of my constituents first,” she said in a statement, according to Courthouse News Service.

“I was elected to serve the public, not a political ideology. The status quo under a supermajority Democratic rule in the Legislature is simply not working for this state,” she added.

“I’ve been a lifelong Democrat, and the Democratic Party of today in California, I do not recognize it,” Alvarado-Gil said on Fox News.

“So, I can’t in good conscience, with the values that I have and my commitment to represent the voters of California, continue to call myself a Democrat,” she continued.

WATCH:

From the Associated Press:

State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil said she had long been a Democrat, but she and the Democratic Party no longer have the same values since she was elected in 2022.

“In the past two years that I’ve been working in the Senate, I have not recognized the party that I belong to,” Alvarado-Gil said in an announcement on “The Steve Hilton Show,” a YouTube series hosted by a former Fox News host and policy adviser to British ex-Prime Minister David Cameron. “The Democratic Party is not the party that I signed up for decades ago.”

Alvarado-Gil represents a largely rural district northeast of the Central Valley. She said the Democratic Party’s policies are hurting middle class and children in California and pushing the state in a wrong direction.

“It’s not a very popular decision to leave a supermajority party where perhaps, you know, you have a lot more power and ability,” she said.

She adds: “But this is a decision that is right for the constituents that voted me into office.”

“People say California can’t ever go Republican but they’re wrong. The gap is much smaller than people think – the GOP vote is over 40%. And now with the terrible results of one party rule, people are ready for change,” Steve Hilton commented.

Courthouse News Service reports:

“Since I’ve served in our state’s Capitol, I’ve had a front-row seat to witness the supermajority push California in the wrong direction, having a grave effect on our once Golden State,” she added. “The Democratic Party is unrecognizable to what I once knew and lacks the will to fix the problems plaguing this state. I cannot stand by a party that ignores the will of the people and disregards the core American values that my very community supports and believes in.”

The switch for Alvarado-Gil doesn’t tip the scales of power, as Democrats continue to hold a two-thirds majority in both chambers. However, many Republicans lauded the switch, praising Alvarado-Gil for her decision while slamming Democrats.

Republican Senator Brian Jones, his chamber’s minority leader, welcomed Alvarado-Gil on X, formerly Twitter.

“It takes courage to stand up to the supermajority in California and Marie has what it takes,” he said. “Her record on tackling crime, protecting communities from sexually violent predators, and prioritizing her constituents speaks for itself.”

Senate Republicans now number nine out of 40.

KCRA 3 sat down with Alvarado-Gil for a lengthy interview:

 

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