Former Democratic State Senate Leader Gloria Romero announced Wednesday that she is becoming a Republican.
Romero held a press conference in Sacramento saying her defection from the Democratic party is because she does not recognize it anymore.
The backstory: Romero was first elected to the Assembly in 1998, representing part of Southern California.
- She was elected to the Senate in 2001, where she remained until 2010.
- During her time in the Senate, Romero rose to Majority Leader of the Democratic Party, where she was the first person to ever serve in that position.
The big picture: Former Fox News host and potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton hosted the press conference on Wednesday in front of the State Capitol.
- She was joined by Rep. Kevin Kiley (R–Rocklin) and other electeds.
What she said: “This is not the Democratic Party that I once championed,” Romero said. “I do not recognize it anymore, and I cannot continue. I changed my voting registration today as the sun was rising to Republican, which has under Donald Trump become the champion of working people, the big tent. And indeed, I will vote for Donald Trump this fall.”
- Romero listed off a litany of reasons for her change in party affiliation, saying the Democratic Party has acted similarly to Latin American dictators by rigging elections to push preferred candidates forward.
- She called the party’s switch from President Joe Biden to putting Vice President Kamala Harris forward as the party’s presidential nominee a coup.
- “Indeed, I believe the Democratic Party has taken a giant leap to authoritarianism and censorship,” Romero said. “It was President Reagan who warned that if fascism comes to America, it will come as liberalism.”
- She also went after the Democratic Party for cutting Title IX protections for women student-athletes across the country.
- “The Democratic Party has become the party of censorship, authoritarianism and locking people up for free speech,” Romero said. “The Democratic Party has abandoned our veterans at home to send millions and millions overseas. Today, the Republican Party has become the party of peace while the Democrats have marched towards endless war.”
Zoom out: Romero’s switch to becoming a Republican is not much of a surprise given her actions over the past few years.
- Three years ago Romero wrote an op-ed in the California Globe arguing that the Democratic Party had lost its way.
- She also endorsed conservative radio host Larry Elder in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recall election.
