Marie Alvarado-Gil, a California State Senator, has officially switched [1] her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, marking a historic shift as the first sitting California State Senator to make such a change mid-term.
Alvarado-Gil, who was elected as a Democrat in 2022, plans to run for re-election in 2026 as a Republican, representing a district known for its conservative voters in the Sierra and Central Valley regions.
In a recent interview on ‘The Issue Is’ with host Elex Michaelson, Alvarado-Gil explained her decision, citing a profound disillusionment with the direction of the Democratic Party.
She criticized the party for moving too far to the left, abandoning what she views as core Californian values.
“I’ve been a Democrat my whole adult life. My first vote as an 18-year-old new voter was as a Democrat,” Alvarado-Gil stated. “The Democratic Party of today is not the Democratic Party that I signed up with as a new voter. 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. Frankly, I just could not support an ideology over the will of the people.”
Alvarado-Gil’s switch comes in response to what she describes as failures under the Democratic supermajority in California, particularly in dealing with rising crime rates, homelessness, and public education issues. She linked these problems directly to policies enacted by the Democratic leadership.
“The reality is this: In California, we have seen the pendulum swing so far in the areas of crime, homelessness, and for so long in public education,” Alvarado-Gil said. She highlighted her background as an educator in charter schools, criticizing the state’s public education system for failing to ensure that children are literate by the third grade.
“We have succumbed to a public education system where it is okay for kids not to read and write by third grade. We have not made even a dent in public education to say that we can even be in the top 10 in the US.”
Alvarado-Gil also revealed concerns about the decision-making processes within the Democratic supermajority, alleging that significant policy decisions are often made by a small, select group rather than through broader dialogue. She pointed to Proposition 47, which decriminalized various offenses and has been linked to rising crime rates, as an example of misguided policy decisions.
“You would think with the supermajority, there would be more ideas and more impact and more influence on the decisions that were being made. But the reality is, there is a select few within that supermajority that make those decisions.”
Alvarado-Gil emphasized that her primary duty remains serving her entire constituency, regardless of political affiliation. “So this is my belief… we are elected to serve our district, whether we are a Democrat, Republican, or no party preference. My district has all different party affiliations. Because I was a Democrat did not mean that I can only serve and represent Democrats. That is not what democracy is about.”
She framed her party switch as a courageous step toward true representation and alignment with California’s values. “By moving from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, I am sending a message. I am sending a message to every Democrat who is wondering what has happened to the Democratic Party of today. If my values do not align with the Democratic platform of today, it takes courage to step away from what you have known. This is a courageous step in the right direction as a true representative of California and the values that lead us here.”
🚨BREAKING: California Democrat State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil has announced that she is switching to the Republican Party, criticizing the leadership and policies of her former party.
“I’ve been a lifelong Democrat, and the Democratic Party of today in California—I do not… pic.twitter.com/wauPA10wcu [2]
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) August 9, 2024 [3]