Jewish Florida State Rep. Hilary Cassel announced on Friday that she would be changing her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, citing the Democratic Party’s lack of a unified position on Israel and tolerance for extremist views on terror as her reason for leaving.
“As a proud Jewish woman, I have been increasingly troubled by the Democratic Party’s failure to unequivocally support Israel and its willingness to tolerate extreme progressive voices that justify or condone acts of terrorism,” Cassel wrote in a statement released on X/Twitter.
Cassel claimed that she didn’t make the decision lightly and that she was “constantly troubled by the inability of the current Democratic Party to relate to everyday Floridians.”
The Florida House representative said that her final choice was based on her commitment to her values and her constituents.
“I can no longer remain in a party that doesn’t represent my values,” she wrote.
I am proud to share that @RepCassel has joined our House Republican Conference. Welcome to the team! https://t.co/UiFVrcny4L pic.twitter.com/6UdFrDj5eW
— Daniel Perez (@Daniel_PerezFL) December 27, 2024
Largest Republican Conference in Florida
Cassel acknowledged that she won’t agree all of the time with members of her new party. Still, she believes that the Florida House Republicans “welcome different ideas and collaboration, which is the cornerstone of effective government.”
“I ran for office to make my community and this state better,” her statement finishes. “I want my constituents to know my resolve to deliver on these promises has never been stronger.”
Rep. Cassel is the second Florida state house member to join the Republican Party. According to the Hill, State Rep. Susan Valdés left the party after she lost a bid to be the chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party.
Republicans already have a supermajority in Florida’s House of Representatives, but Valdés and Cassel’s change of affiliation pushed it to new heights. The Miami Herald reported that the switch the two representatives made garnered the largest Republican Conference in Florida House history, with a ratio of 87–33.
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, told the Miami Herald that Cassel’s decision “reflects the strength of our vision for Florida’s future. We look forward to channeling Rep. Cassel’s intellect and energy as we work to deliver results and advance policies that promote opportunity and prosperity for all Floridians.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition welcomed Rep. Cassel to the Republican Party in a statement on X/Twitter.
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
