Florida Rep. Hillary Cassel’s party switch from Democrat to Republican sends ripples through political circles, igniting praise from Trump and backlash from her former party.
At a Glance
- Florida Rep. Hillary Cassel switches from Democrat to Republican, joining Rep. Susan Valdés in a similar move.
- President-elect Donald Trump praises Cassel for her decision, inviting more Democrats to join the GOP.
- Florida Republicans now hold an 87-33 supermajority in the state House.
- House Speaker Daniel Perez welcomes Cassel, highlighting the GOP’s collaborative spirit.
Cassel’s Political Shift
State Rep. Hillary Cassel of Dania Beach has made headlines by shifting her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Her move follows closely behind that of Rep. Susan Valdés from the 64th district, making Cassel the second legislator to make this transition recently. Their decisions were publicly applauded by President-elect Donald Trump, who took to social media to commend their courage and invite more Democrats to follow suit in switching to the GOP.
Cassel, first elected in 2022 and automatically reelected this year without opposition, represents House District 101—a district that has shown a rightward trend. She cited a misalignment with the present Democratic Party and a belief that joining the Republicans would better allow her to meet her campaign promises. Cassel’s decision underscores a broader shift within Florida’s political landscape.
President-elect Donald Trump welcomed Florida State Representative Hillary Cassel to the Republican Party in a Saturday social media post. Trump’s Truth Social post was shared on X/Twitter one day after the Broward politician announced her departure from the Democrat Party.…
— RED BROWARD (@RedBroward) December 28, 2024
Reactions and Implications
The Florida Republican Party, now holding an 87-33 supermajority in the House of Representatives, has enthusiastically welcomed Cassel’s decision. House Speaker Daniel Perez stated, “Her decision reflects the strength of our vision for Florida’s future. We look forward to channeling Rep. Cassel’s intellect and energy as we work to deliver results and advance policies that promote opportunity and prosperity for all Floridians.”
Cassel has been vocal about her dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s stance on several issues, including their approach to Israel and their openness to progressive voices. Despite previous criticisms of the GOP’s handling of the insurance crisis, she appreciates their open-minded approach to solutions. Her switch is seen as further stabilization of the GOP’s hold in Florida, with Trump remarking, “Congratulations to Hillary Cassel for becoming the second State Representative from the Great State of Florida to switch her Party affiliation from Democrat to Republican… Make America Great Again – GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE.”
Congratulations to Hillary Cassel for becoming the second State Representative from the Great State of Florida to switch her Party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, once more expanding the GOP Supermajority in the State House! I would further like to invite other…
— Trump Posts on 𝕏 (@trump_repost) December 28, 2024
Democratic Distaste and Future Outlook
Unsurprisingly, the defection of Cassel and Valdés has not been received warmly by their former Democratic colleagues. Florida Democrat Party Chair Nikki Fried criticized the lawmakers for their decision, interpreting it as a betrayal of their constituencies.
Cassel shared her commitment to working across the aisle to foster collaboration in tackling Florida’s challenges. “This decision was not made lightly but comes from a deep sense of responsibility to my constituents,” she declared in a statement.
Sources
1. Another Democrat in the Florida House is joining the Republican Party. Here’s why.
2. Trump hails Florida Dem’s decision to ditch party, join GOP: ‘THANK YOU HILLARY!’
