Florida State Representative Susan Valdés, who represents District 64 in Hillsborough County, recently changed her political party from Democrat to Republican.
The Florida House of Representatives officially announced this change on Monday, which has sparked considerable attention in Florida politics.
Valdés, who has served in the Florida Legislature since 2018, was elected as a Democrat and recently began her fourth term.
Before joining the Legislature, she worked on the Hillsborough County School Board for two years.
Known for her dedication to her community, Valdés explained her decision by saying she felt ignored by her party’s leadership.
She, effectively, believed it was holding her back from making real progress for the people she represents.
Her decision to join the Republican Party gives the GOP an 86-34 majority in the Florida House, the largest in the state’s history.
Republican leaders welcomed Valdés warmly and called her a strong advocate for her community.
House Speaker Danny Perez, a Republican from Miami, didn’t hold back on the celebrations. He called Valdés a “fierce advocate” for her community and a big asset to their team.
Governor Ron DeSantis even chimed in on social media to welcome her.
Valdés explained that her frustration with her former party motivated the switch.
#BREAKING: Florida Democratic Rep. Susan Valdes switches registration to Republican, saying her previous party “ignore[d] the needs of [her] community”
She said Speaker @Daniel_PerezFL‘s vision for the coming session inspired her to want to be part of the GOP caucus… pic.twitter.com/WI6ZJPhPH3
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) December 9, 2024
She felt that Democrats expected her to follow their leadership even when it didn’t benefit her district.
Valdés said she was tired of being part of a party that focused more on protests than progress.
She added that while she might not agree with Republicans on everything, she expects to be treated respectfully and have her ideas heard.
But, of course, not everyone supported her decision.
Democratic leaders criticized her, saying she was elected as a Democrat and should have continued to fight for Democratic values.
On top of that, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said Valdés put her own goals ahead of the people she represents.
Her move has been especially tough for Florida Democrats, who have struggled to regain influence as Republicans gain more power in the state.
The GOP now has over one million more registered voters than Democrats in Florida.
The change comes after Valdés narrowly won her recent election by defeating Republican Maura Cruz Lanz by just 5%.
Not to mention, Valdés recently ran for a leadership position in the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee but lost to Vanessa Lester.
Valdés’s switch shows the struggles Democrats are facing in Florida, where Republicans have been getting stronger for years.
Since lawmakers are set to start committee meetings in January and the next legislative session in March, it remains to be seen how Valdés will work with her new Republican colleagues and what this shift will mean for her district.