Fox40 Covers Marie Alvarado-Gil Party Switch

well this is so rare at the capital that the last time a sitting state senator changed parties Midway through their term was 80 years ago but now Senator Marie Alvarado Gill says what she describes as serious changes in her now former party compelled her to make this very big decision the pendulum has swung so far to the left that this is not the Democratic party that I recognize that is why state senator Marie Alvarado Gill says she made the decision to switch from the Democratic party to the Republican Party the bill passes while will not make any major change to the Democratic super majority makeup of the state senate where Democrats now hold 31 of the 40 seats Alvarado Gil says she's changing parties to send a clear message to Democratic Leadership in Sacramento I think that they went in a direction that does not reflect the will of the people it reflects a very small minority of special interests and so I'm saying no to that she says an unwillingness from democratic leaders to reform Prop 47 played a huge part in her decision Prop 47 is the 14 voter approved ballot measure that lowered penalties for some non-violent crimes including retail theft when the items stolen are less than $950 supporters say it led to Criminal Justice Reform and reduced the size of California's prison population but opponents including alvado Gil believe elect criminals off the hook voters have spoken over and over again of they're tired of the crime in their Community they are tired of the homelessness and they want to know that the Sue majority listens to them and sees them and Frank ly I haven't seen that in the two years that I've been serving in a statement Democratic Senate President Pro Temp poring Mike Maguire responded to Alvarado Gil writing this is disappointing for voters who elected Senator Alvarado Gill as a Democrat they trusted her to represent them and she's betrayed that trust While most Republican leaders enthusiastically welcomed Alvarado Gill into their party GOP assembly member Bill a did not noting Alvarado gills District which encompasses parts of the Central Valley and includes a huge area from Lake Tahoe all the way to death Valley is comprised of more registered Republicans than Democrats as s believes Alvarado Gil changed parties to make it easier to win re-election in her District in 2026 quote alvado Gil only switched Republican for political purposes we do not need or want fake Republicans in our party he went on to accuse her of previously supporting Kamala Harris for president a charge avado Gil denies I never endorsed camela Harris for president are you leaning one way or the other for president well what I'm doing right now is I'm watching both of them and I want both of them to prove that they are worthy of the vote for California and alvado Gill is already facing consequences from democratic legislative leaders she's been kicked out of the Latino legislative caucus and she fully expects to be stripped of her role as chair of the Senate Human Services committee by soones next week reporting at the state capital covering local news on matters Aon Wallace Fox 40 News