Second Florida State Lawmaker Switches from Democratic Party to Republican Party
Rep. Hillary Cassel has become the second Florida lawmaker to switch parties in recent weeks.
On Friday, Florida state Rep. Hillary Cassel announced on social media that she is the second representative this legislative session to transition from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
“This choice was not made lightly, but stems from my profound sense of duty to my constituents and my dedication to the values that shape my public service. I will be joining the Republican Conference of the Florida House of Representatives because I align with their vision for a more successful and vibrant Florida. As a mother, I aspire to foster an environment where our children are assessed based on their character and actions, rather than their labels.”
Cassel pointed to what she considers the Democratic Party’s “inadequate support for Israel and its tolerance of extreme progressive elements that rationalize or condone acts of terrorism” amid the Israel–Hamas conflict, highlighting her identity as a “proud Jewish woman.”
“I am increasingly troubled by the current Democratic Party’s disconnect with the everyday concerns of Floridians,” she noted. “I can no longer stay in a party that fails to represent my values.”
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“Welcome to the team,” he wrote on X.
“I love my community and will fight every day to support the people of West Tampa, Hillsborough County, and Florida,” she stated on December 9. “I believe the best way to achieve this is by aligning with Speaker Perez and joining the Republican supermajority in the Florida House of Representatives.”
Perez also shared Valdes’s statement on X, extending a warm welcome to her. Following Valdes’s transition, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell expressed her surprise and disappointment.
Valdes and Cassel’s party switches bolster the GOP’s supermajority in the state House. Republicans have maintained control over the governor’s office and both legislative chambers since 1999.
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell has yet to comment on Cassel’s switch, but she expressed disappointment over Valdes’s decision in a prior statement.
She previously claimed that Valdes had “prioritized her own ambitions over the needs of her district” and had been “elected by her constituents as a Democrat to advocate for shared values in Tallahassee, consistently stating that she felt the Republican Party did not truly represent her constituents or her beliefs.”
The Epoch Times reached out to Driskell’s office for comments but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
