A Democrat state senator has switched her party affiliation to Republican, citing concerns over the Democratic supermajority’s dominance. The now-Republican state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil announced her decision on Thursday, making headlines across the state.

“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,” Alvarado-Gil said in a statement. “The status quo under a supermajority Democratic rule in the legislature is simply not working for this state. It is after deep reflection I announce that I will be joining the Senate Republican Caucus and the California Republican Party in their fight to fix California.”

Speaking on FOX LA’s “The Issue Is” program, Alvarado-Gil shared her concerns about the current trajectory of the Democratic Party, which she believes has veered too far left, disconnecting from the core values that once defined it. “The Democratic Party of today is not the Democratic Party that I signed up with as a new voter,” she explained. “It has changed. The pendulum has swung so far to the left that it has disengaged from what true Californians value—our middle-class values, our families, our diversity in California. And frankly, I just could not support an ideology over the will of the people.”

Her decision comes amid growing frustrations with the state’s approach to critical issues like crime, homelessness, and education. Alvarado-Gil, who previously worked as an educator in charter schools, talked about the failures of the public education system under the Democratic supermajority’s watch. “We have succumbed to a public education system where it is okay where kids don’t read and write by third grade,” she said. The dissatisfaction culminated in her dramatic switch, a disconnect between the party’s actions and the needs of Californians.

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“I’ve been listening to them for the past two years, serving my district that is predominantly a Republican district. I’ve been serving as a representative of the values of our district and a representative of what means the most to our constituents, whether they’re Democrats, Republicans, or no party preference,” she explained. “If we know it’s a problem and the supermajority has the ability to impact change, why not do that for the good of Californians?”

Marie Alvarado-Gil

The reaction within the state capital was mixed. Some see her move as a betrayal, while others view it as a courageous step towards realigning with her district’s values. Senate President pro tem Mike McGuire (D-CA) expressed his disappointment, stating that voters trusted her to represent them as a Democrat, and her switch could be seen as a betrayal of that trust.

Her switch adds a ninth Republican to the 40-seat chamber, although Democrats still maintain supermajorities in both the Assembly and Senate at the Capitol. Representing a district that leans conservative, she secured her seat in the 2022 election by defeating a progressive Democrat by over 5 percentage points. The victory came after she and her opponent emerged as frontrunners from a primary that included six Republican candidates. Since her election, the district has shifted further towards the Republican side; by 2024, Republicans accounted for nearly 39 percent of registered voters, surpassing the Democrats’ 34 percent according to CBS News.

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