(The Center Square) – A second Florida state House Democrat has switched to the Republican Party, building on momentum that has expanded the Republican Party under Gov. Ron DeSantis.

On Dec. 9, state Rep. Susan Valdés, a lifelong Democrat and Cuban-American from West Tampa, announced she was becoming a Republican. She left the Democratic Party because she “will not waste” her final two years in the state legislature “being ignored in a caucus whose leadership expects me to ignore the needs of my community.”

She said she won’t agree with her Republican colleagues on everything but wants to “roll up my sleeves and work” and “be a part of solving problems for West Tampa.”

“I’m tired of being the party of protesting,” referring to Democrats who no longer represent working families, she said.

In response, U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Miami, welcomed her, saying, “The Republican Party has always been the natural home of the Cuban-American community & we have continued to expand to include our Hispanic and Latino brothers & sisters. Like Ronald Reagan famously said: “Hispanics are Republicans, they just don’t know it yet!”

Leader of the House Democrats Fentrice Driskell said she was “surprised and disappointed” by the announcement.

“Valdés was elected by her constituents as a Democrat to fight for our shared values here in Tallahassee and has consistently and publicly shared that she feels the Republican Party does not adequately represent her constituents or beliefs,” Driskell said. “It is sad that she has elevated her own aspirations above the needs of her district. It feels especially egregious in light of the fact that, just last week, she ran for Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee Chair and lost by a substantial margin. Susan should have trusted her constituents, not pulled a bait-and-switch after the fact. Nevertheless, this does not change what the Democratic Caucus is here to do.”

Next to announce she left the Democratic Party was state Rep. Hillary Cassel. She joined the Florida GOP on Friday because “I believe in their vision for a better, more prosperous Florida” and expressed concerns about the Democratic Party’s position on Israel.

“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,” she 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."

Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Nikki Fried, criticized the move, saying, “Now is not the time to back down and walk away, it’s time for leadership and self-reflection. Floridians put their trust and faith in Representative Hillary Cassel to fight for them but unfortunately today, they lost representation in the Florida House. Rep. Cassel’s decision to change parties is deeply disappointing but we cannot afford to turn our backs on Floridians.

“Florida Democrats face an uphill battle but that doesn’t mean we give up. There are nearly 4.5 million Democrats in our state and millions more who believe in our values. They are counting on us to continue fighting for them to create a state that is truly free and affordable for all – and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Florida GOP chairman Evan Power and President-elect Donald Trump welcomed Valdés and Cassel and invited other Democrats to join the Republican Party.

“Make no mistake, Florida leads the way,” Power said. “If Florida Democrats have left you with your failed radical agenda, you can join us to save the Country! It’s why in Florida Republicans now have a 1.15 million voter advantage.”

Trump posted a congratulatory statement on social media and invited “other delusional Democrats to switch parties, and join us on this noble quest to save our country and make America great again – greater than ever before.”

Power said Valdés and Cassel brought the total of state House Republicans to a record 87, “decimating the Florida Democrats.”

Their announcements come after a top Palm Beach County Democrat endorsed and campaigned for DeSantis for governor and a top Jacksonville Democrat endorsed a Republican for sheriff in 2022.

DeSantis is largely credited for ushering in a red wave in Florida. In 2022, he defeated his Democratic challenger by 16 points, the largest margin of any gubernatorial race in 40 years. He built momentum that flipped several counties from blue to red, including Miami-Dade County, the largest county in Florida with a 70% Hispanic population.

Hispanics increasingly voted Republican in the 2022 and 2024 elections; the largest number of Cuban-Americans in recorded history voted for Trump in 2024, The Center Square reported.

This summer, when registered Republican voters surpassed registered Democrats by one million, DeSantis said it was “a sea change that few thought possible.”

Prior to DeSantis, Florida never had more registered Republicans than Democrats in state history. In 2018, registered Democrats outnumbered registered Republicans by nearly 300,000.