California Takes One Step Towards Turning Red 

A California Democratic state senator is switching to the Republican Party, expressing that the current state of the left “is not the party I signed up for decades ago.”

State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, a longtime Democrat representing the northeastern part of California’s Central Valley, announced her decision on Fox News on Thursday.

“In the past two years that I’ve been working in the Senate, I have not recognized the party that I belong to,” the legislator said. “The Democratic Party is not the party that I signed up for decades ago. 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.”

Pragmatic. Fierce. Strong. Republican.

Welcome to the @CASenReps Caucus, @AlvaradoGilSD4! pic.twitter.com/8DCyMllcsA

— CA Senate Republicans (@CASenReps) August 9, 2024

Expressing frustration over the “uphill battle” she faced trying to implement positive changes alongside her fellow Democrats, she explained that her Republican colleagues “have a plan to fix California, and I want to be part of that.”

The state’s fourth Senate district, which is predominantly rural, had been represented by a Republican since 1993 until Alvarado-Gil’s election in 2022.

“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,” the California state lawmaker said. “The status quo under a supermajority Democratic rule in the legislature is simply not working for this state.”

Alvarado-Gil was warmly embraced by the California GOP, with the State Senate’s Republican caucus describing her as “Pragmatic. Fierce. Strong. Republican.”

“​​I look forward to continuing the work we do to secure a safe and prosperous California for all our constituents,” said the caucus’s chair, State Sen. Kelly Seyarto.

As Senate Republican Caucus Chair, I would like to welcome Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil to the Republican Caucus.
I look forward to continuing the work we do to secure a safe and prosperous California for all our constituents.@AlvaradoGil2026

— Senator Kelly Seyarto (@SenatorSeyarto) August 9, 2024

California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R) praised Alvarado-Gil’s decision to switch parties, acknowledging her courage in standing up to the supermajority in California and affirming that Marie has the determination needed to make a difference.

Welcome Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil to the Senate Republican Caucus.

It takes courage to stand up to the supermajority in California and Marie has what it takes. Her record on tackling crime, protecting communities from sexually violent predators, and prioritizing her…

— Brian W. Jones (@SenBrianJones) August 9, 2024

“Her record on tackling crime, protecting communities from sexually violent predators, and prioritizing her constituents speaks for itself,” he added.

I’m never going to be mad at a Democrat for becoming a Republican. People can be suspicious of the motivations, but if GOP is going to pick up seats in California, we need more than just one state senator to switch. We need millions of Californians. Good news is it has been…

— Joe Patterson (@Patterdude) August 9, 2024

Assemblyman Joe Patterson ®, in an X post, noted that people might be suspicious of her motives, but he will not be “mad” at the switch that has gotten Republicans up to nine seats in California’s 40-member Senate.

“I’m never going to be mad at a Democrat for becoming a Republican. People can be suspicious of the motivations, but if [the] GOP is going to pick up seats in California, we need more than just one state senator to switch,” Patterson said.  “We need millions of Californians. Good news is it has been happening as every legislative district picks up voter registration.”