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President Donald Trump congratulated a Florida Democratic state representative who recently announced that she was leaving the party to become a Republican.
Trump shared the news in a post to his Truth Social account over the weekend to celebrate the decision by Rep. Hillary Cassel.
“Congratulations to Hillary Cassel for becoming the second State Representative from the Great State of Florida to switch her Party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, once more expanding the GOP Supermajority in the State House!” Trump wrote.
He also called for other Democrats to switch parties and become Republicans as he thanked Cassel.
“I would further like to invite other Disillusioned Democrats to switch Parties, and join us on this noble quest to Save our Country and, Make America Great Again – GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. THANK YOU HILLARY!”
Cassel shared the news of her switch from the Democratic Party in a statement.
“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 said. “I’m 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’t represent my values,” she continued.
Cassel becomes the second Florida lawmaker to make the switch this month. Trump also celebrated State Representative Susan Valdés who made a similar change earlier in December.
“A very big and successful week of WINS for Republicans across the Country,” he began.
“State Representative Susan Valdés from the Great State of Florida switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. ‘TRUMP’ was the first Republican President to win Hillsborough County since 2004!” Trump continued.
Valdes wrote about her change of party in a statement on X.
“I am tired of being the party of protesting when I got into politics to be part of the party of progress,” she said.
Florida state Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Pinellas, expressed his excitement over Valdes joining Republicans.
“Valdes now joins the countless of Floridians that have made that switch. If a lot of people will recall before Governor DeSantis came into office, there were more registered Democrats than Republicans, and now we stand at a point where there are over 1,000,000 more Republicans than Democrats registered here in the state, and now we can count Representative Valdes as one of those,” Jacques wrote.