Northern California state senator switches to Republican Party after years as a Democrat
California Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil is leaving the Democratic Party to join Republicans in California, the state GOP announced on Thursday.
Alvarado-Gil was elected in 2022 and represents District 4, which includes Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Stanislaus, Madera, Merced, Mono, Nevada and Inyo counties.
"Since my first day in office, I have put the interests of my constituents first. I was elected to serve the public, not a political ideology," Alvarado-Gil said in a statement. "The status quo under a supermajority Democratic rule in the legislature is simply not working for this state. It is after deep reflection I announce that I will be joining the Senate Republican Caucus and the California Republican Party in their fight to fix California."
Alvarado-Gil is known for her support of a tough-on-crime approach and her fiscally conservative outlook. She also has voted with Republicans on labor legislation.
Her defection gives Republicans nine votes in the 40-member Senate. Democrats hold supermajorities in both the Assembly and Senate at the Capitol.
State Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, a Democrat, said Alvarado-Gil's decision "is disappointing for voters" who elected her in 2022.
"They trusted her to represent them, and she's betrayed that trust," he said in a statement.
He added: "One silver lining is MAGA Republicans are gaining a pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ+ rights, anti-Trump colleague. We wish her the best of luck."
Alvarado-Gil, who represents a conservative-leaning district, won her 2022 election against a progressive Democrat by more than 5 percentage points after the duo beat out six Republican candidates in the primary. Her district has become more Republican since 2022 — in 2024, Republicans comprised nearly 39% of registered voters and Democrats made up 34%.
She is not up for reelection until 2026.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
