Republican Jewish Coalition Welcomes Hillary Cassel to GOP

2024 was the year of shifting parties as another Democrat has changed her party affiliation to the GOP. Florida state Rep. Hillary Cassel (R) announced today that she would no longer be a Democrat. The Republican Jewish Coalition has welcomed state Rep. Cassel as another Jewish voice in the GOP.

The decision, state Rep. Cassel said in a statement, was not made lightly. She decided to join the Republican Party because of  "a deep sense of responsibility to my constituents and my commitment to the values that guide my service."

Democrats have significantly strayed from the Democratic Party in recent years., Though not all have joined the GOP like Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I) and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin (I), others like Texas state Rep. Shawn Thierry (R) have joined the GOP.

In state Rep. Cassel's statement released on social media, she further expressed that she was joining the Republican Party because she backs "their vision for a better, more prosperous Florida."

She added that her decision was based on a number of factors. Namely that "labels" have overtaken the Democratic Party, that the party has dismissed Israel in their time of need, and that the party has failed to relate to everyday citizens.

As a mother, I want to help build a world where our children are judged on their character and their actions not on their labels," she said in her 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," she added, mentions that she is "constantly troubled by the inability of the current Democratic Party to relate to everyday Floridians."

State Rep. Cassel did note that she will not agree with the entirety of the Republican platform, but she feels that she "will always have input, collaboration, and respect."

Her departure marks another blow to Florida's Democratic Party, which experienced a blow-out loss in the November election. According to the election exit polls, the sunshine state is the most Republican it's ever been.