Even Democrats cant stand each other anymore.
In a notable political shift, California Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil has announced her departure from the Democratic Party to join the Republican Party. This decision comes as a reaction to what she perceives as a drastic change in the Democratic Party’s direction under its current leadership.
Alvarado-Gil, who was first elected as a Democrat in 2022, expressed her growing disillusionment with her former party during an interview on Fox News. She emphasized that the values she once identified with have fundamentally altered over the past two years. “The Democratic Party is not the same party I joined decades ago,” Alvarado-Gil remarked, underscoring her frustration with the party’s shift away from her principles.
The senator, representing a predominantly rural district northeast of the Central Valley, has voiced concerns that the progressive policies championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders are adversely affecting the middle class and the younger generation. “I was elected to serve the public, not to adhere to a political ideology,” Alvarado-Gil said, reflecting on her commitment to addressing the needs of her constituents rather than following party lines.
Known for her moderate stance and support for a strong law-and-order approach, Alvarado-Gil’s switch to the Republican Party aligns with her fiscal conservatism and her previous votes that often mirrored GOP values. GOP Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones praised her decision, pointing to her record on crime and community protection as evidence of her dedication to her constituents. “Marie has shown the courage to challenge the supermajority and prioritize the needs of her district,” Jones stated.
With this move, the Republican caucus in the California Senate now consists of nine members out of the 40-seat chamber. Alvarado-Gil’s district, which has leaned conservative, saw her win by more than five points in the 2022 election against a progressive Democrat. The district’s political landscape has shifted further right, with Republicans holding nearly 39% of the registered voter base compared to 34% for Democrats as of 2024.
Alvarado-Gil’s switch is part of a broader trend where Democratic lawmakers across the country have joined the Republican ranks, seeking alignment with their evolving political philosophies. This trend includes figures such as Louisiana State Representative Jeremy LaCombe and North Carolina State Representative Tricia Cotham, who similarly left the Democratic Party in recent years.
