TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) 鈥� didn鈥檛 end on 鈥� a second state lawmaker has announced she鈥檚 switching her party affiliation and joining the Republican caucus.
In a post on social media, Rep. Hillary Cassel said Florida Democrats are out of touch with voters and that she has a better chance of achieving her priorities from within the .
鈥淚鈥檓 constantly troubled by the inability of the current Democratic Party to relate to everyday Floridians. I can no longer remain in a party that doesn鈥檛 represent my values,鈥� Cassel posted on X.
Cassel, who is Jewish, also criticized the Democratic Party for its 鈥渇ailure to unequivocally support Israel."
She declined an interview request from The Associated Press.
Cassel represents parts of Broward County, which is considered one of the state鈥檚 most reliably Democratic areas. Since no one ran against her in November, Cassel won reelection without appearing on the ballot.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried called Cassel's decision 鈥渄eeply disappointing.鈥�
"Now is not the time to back down and walk away, it鈥檚 time for leadership and self-reflection,鈥� Fried said.
Cassel's announcement on Friday follows that of of Tampa earlier this month, who was reelected as a Democrat in November but said she鈥檚 鈥渢ired of being the party of protesting.鈥�
Florida Republicans have controlled the governor鈥檚 office and both branches of the Legislature since 1999. With Cassel鈥檚 switch, Republicans will expand their to an 87-33 margin over Democrats in the House.
Once , Florida has in recent years. Susan MacManus, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Florida, said switching parties is an indication of how little power Democrats wield under a decades-long Republican trifecta.
鈥淒emocrats weren鈥檛 able to secure breaking the supermajority. So what choice do they really have?鈥� MacManus said.
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Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Kate Payne, The Associated Press
