Florida State Representative Susan Valdés announced on Monday that she is leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party, just one month after being reelected as a Democrat. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Valdés expressed her decision was driven by a desire to better serve the people of West Tampa and work on “real problems facing our communities.”
Valdés, who has represented the area for several years, stated that she has long believed that “no one has a monopoly on good ideas” and that her focus has always been on helping her constituents. She criticized the Democratic Party’s leadership for not listening to the needs of her community, adding that she did not want to spend her final two years in the Florida Legislature in a party that she felt was not aligned with her values.
Effective immediately, Valdés announced that she would change her party registration from Democrat to Republican and would be joining the Republican Conference in the Florida House of Representatives.
She praised Republican Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez for outlining a vision that aligns with her goals to address the issues affecting her district. “That’s what I want to be a part of,” Valdés stated. “I want to roll up my sleeves and work. I want to be a part of solving problems for West Tampa.” She also expressed frustration with what she saw as a lack of progress in the Democratic Party, saying she was “tired of being the party of protesting” and wanted to join the “party of progress.”
Although Valdés acknowledged she would not agree with Republicans on every issue, she believes the Republican Party will respect and welcome her. She promised to continue fighting for the people of West Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the state of Florida, explaining that the best way to do so was by joining the Republican supermajority in the Florida House.
Governor Ron DeSantis welcomed Valdés’ decision on Twitter, congratulating Speaker Perez on leading the largest Republican majority in the history of the Florida House.
Valdés’ departure from the Democratic Party followed a reported loss in her bid to become the chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee. In response, Hillsborough County Democratic Party Chair Vanessa Lester expressed disappointment, stating that Valdés’ constituents in District 64 had been betrayed by a politician who, in her view, had abandoned the party for personal gain.
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