Overview

• Jason Pizzo, Florida Senate Minority Leader, announced his resignation from his leadership role and departure from the Democratic Party, registering as an independent.
• In a Senate floor speech, Pizzo criticized the Florida Democratic Party as 'dead' and said his decision would allow him to act more freely and transparently.
• Pizzo is the third Florida lawmaker to leave the Democratic Party in recent months, following party switches by state Reps. Susan Valdés and Hillary Cassel to the GOP.
• Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried described Pizzo as an ineffective leader and celebrated his departure as a unifying moment for the party.
• The Democratic caucus has elected Lori Berman as its new leader as the party faces a significant Republican voter registration advantage of over 1.2 million in the state.