Reelected Florida Legislator Leaves Democratic Party to Join Republicans

Rep. Susan Valdes, who represents a district in the Tampa area, said that her party registration change will take effect immediately.

Rep. Susan Valdes, who was reelected in Florida House District 64 as a Democrat last month, announced on Monday that she was switching affiliation to the Republican Party.

Valdes did not provide a specific reason for her decision, but the lawmaker said that she did not want to spend her final two years in the Florida Legislature “being ignored” by her party.

The Cuban American politician will be unable to seek reelection when her fourth consecutive two-year term ends in 2026.

“In the House, I have long known that no one has a monopoly on good ideas,” she said in a statement. “I’m tired of being the party of protesting when I got into politics to be part of the party of progress.”

Valdes said she will join the Republican Conference in the Florida House of Representatives and that her party registration change will take effect immediately.

Valdes said that she may not agree with Republicans on every issue but that she “will be welcomed and treated with respect” in the caucus.

She also expressed her desire to be part of Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez’s vision, which she said focuses on “empowering House members to work on real problems for West Tampa.”

“I love my community, and I will continue to fight every day to benefit the people of West Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the state of Florida,” Valdes stated.

“And in my heart, I know the best way to do that is to stand with [House Speaker Daniel Perez] and join the Republican supermajority in the Florida House of Representatives.”

Her decision to switch parties came just a week after she was defeated by Vanessa Lester in a bid to become chairwoman of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee.

Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa), the House minority leader, said she was surprised and disappointed with Valdes for pulling a “bait-and-switch” move after losing her bid by a substantial margin.

“It is sad that she has elevated her own aspirations above the needs of her district,” Driskell said in a statement, noting that Valdes had “consistently and publicly shared that she feels the Republican Party does not adequately represent her constituents or beliefs.”

With her switch, the Republican majority will increase to 86 members in the 120-seat House. Perez said he is “thrilled” to welcome Valdes to the House Republican supermajority.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also welcomed Valdes’s move and congratulated Perez on “the biggest Republican majority in the history of the Florida House.”

Valdes served on the Hillsborough County School Board for 14 years before being elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018. She was reelected for the third time on Nov. 5.