Elected four times to the state House as a Democrat, Tampa lawmaker Susan Valdes on Monday added to Republicans’ supermajority.
Valdes announced she had become a Republican, saying she expected to be “welcomed and treated with respect” by her new party. The move, which drew a rebuke from House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, came a week after Valdes lost a bid to become chairwoman of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee.
In a statement posted on X, Valdes said she didn’t want to “waste” her final two years in the Legislature “being ignored in a caucus whose leadership expects me to ignore the needs of my community.”
“I’m tired of being the party of protesting when I got into politics to be part of the party of progress,” Valdes said.
Valdes also pointed to a “vision” laid out by House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, that “focuses on empowering House members to work on real problems facing our communities.”
Valdes added that she didn’t expect to agree with “my fellow Republicans” on every issue, but “that in their caucus, I will be welcomed and treated with respect.”
Perez hailed the move, which expanded the GOP supermajority to 86 members in the 120-seat House. It was another blow to Democrats, whose hopes of cutting into the supermajority were dashed in the Nov. 5 elections.
“I so rarely get to send a communication solely in my role as Republican leader, but I am thrilled today to announce that Representative Susan Valdes has changed her voter registration from Democrat to Republican,” Perez said in an email. “We all know Susan as a fierce advocate for her community, and a person of uncommon common sense. She will be a great asset to our Republican team.”
Driskell, in a statement, called the move “especially egregious,” as Valdes ran last week for the county Democratic leadership post and “lost by a substantial margin.”
Last month, Valdes was re-elected in Hillsborough County’s House District 64, defeating Republican Maura Cruz Lanz by 4.8 percentage points. It was a rematch of a 2022 contest, when Valdes won by 6.6 percentage points.
“Susan should have trusted her constituents, not pulled a bait-and-switch after the fact,” Driskell said Monday.
Driskell said Valdes has “elevated her own aspirations” and “has consistently and publicly shared that she feels the Republican Party does not adequately represent her constituents or beliefs.”
Valdes, a former Hillsborough County School Board member, was first elected to the House in 2018 and was re-elected three times. She will be forced to leave the House in 2026 because of term limits.
–Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
JimboXYZ says
Imagine that, finally realized the DNC was full of crap.
Atwp says
Please don’t fantasize about being accepted by the anti people of color party. Am glad you will be finished in 2026. We Democrats need to do a better job to attract voters. Hopefully the Republicans will do such a poor job that millions of more voters will come our way.
Jim says
Could be. Then again, it could be that she’s always been a slimy piece of crap who runs for office on false premises and then “comes out” after winning the election. I think – based on that – she fits much better with the MAGA goon squad in Tallahassee!
You should give to her next election campaign! She’s your kind of politician.
Jim says
I don’t know why you’d expect Republicans to switch based on performance. They’ve been “in charge” of the House of Representatives for the past two years and didn’t accomplish anything – by their own admission. Yet they win a majority again for this session.
If people voted based on politicians performance in office, it would be a better world. I don’t see a better world in our future.
Laurel says
One should not switch parties after one’s election, no matter which way it goes. That causes a lack of trust, and deservedly so. It also suggests that the person considers herself a victim, and not capable of doing her job.
Deborah Coffey says
Some of us can’t wait until you get everything you voted for, Jimbo.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Looks to me, the SS Democrat is sinking, faster than antisipated. Americans are fed up with the lies, cover ups & policies of the democratic party. Many have switched party affiliation, many democrats voted for TRUMP… ( I betcha Joe & Jill Biden voted for TRUMP)! With the disaray, here in America, voters have spoken! They want change, they want the deportation of Biden / Harris’s INVADERS! They want thier country back! With no shining star in the democratic party, no one with the sence to lead. The GOP will remain in charge as more & more Americans see the light! God bless TRUMP & his fellow republicans….Give them the wisdom & fortatude to clean up his once great country.
feddy says
Sort of like when a candidate gets selected in the primaries but his or her political party can’t hide the dementia anymore so the replace the candidate that won the primary with another individual without holding some sort of vote at some sort of gathering like maybe a political convention.
Jim says
Anyone who doubts that the MAGA supporters are demonstrably ignorant need go no further than read Dennis’ rant above! There’s no point in having a discussion with such people.
Ed P says
Laurel,
Not buying your thoughts. Don’t we vote for the person’s qualifications and ideology? A political moniker doesn’t change that , does it?
Are you suggesting that people vote a party ticket? Tell me it isn’t so!
Ps she can still vote for or against anything, regardless of party affiliation.
Ed P says
Jim,
Maybe she is a chess player and feels she now she can be “heard”.
Doesn’t change her values, ideology or her commitment to her constituents.
Ed P says
Jim,
Finally. Thank you, sir.
Since the word”demonstrably” is defined…”in a way that is clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved.”
Please prove our ignorance, However do it simply, because in your words anyone who supports Republicans (77 million and counting) is ignorant.
Hey did you see that Zuck donated $1 million to Trump inaugural fund?
Sherry says
@ Jim. . . Right On! I completely stopped even trying to understand the ignorant rants of maga cult members dennis and jimbo many months ago. . . simply a waste of time.
Dennis C Rathsam says
TRUTH HURTS
Pierre Tristam says
Humility and grace doesn’t.
Daddy's Home says
Of which, the left has neither
Sherry says
Right there with you Deborah!