Florida Democrat Susan Valdés Switches to Republican Party

Valdés' move expands the Republican supermajority in the Florida House to its largest in history, citing dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership.

Florida State Representative Susan Valdés announced her immediate switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, citing a desire to focus on solving community issues rather than partisan protests.
The switch increases the Republican supermajority in the Florida House to 86-34, marking the largest GOP majority in the chamber's history.
Valdés, who represents a swing district in Tampa, recently won reelection as a Democrat by a narrow margin of five percentage points.
Democratic leaders expressed disappointment, accusing Valdés of prioritizing personal ambitions over the needs of her constituents, while Republicans celebrated her decision as a significant gain.
Valdés stated she was attracted to the Republican leadership's vision and pledged to work collaboratively for her district in her final two years before term limits end her tenure.