Official seat count from the Florida House of Representatives

Florida's Susan Valdes Switches to GOP, Citing Neglect by Democrats, Boosting Supermajority

Dec 9, 2024, 09:39 PM

Florida State Representative Susan Valdes, representing a Hispanic-majority district in West Tampa, Hillsborough County, has switched her political affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Valdes, who was re-elected recently, cited her former party's neglect of her community's needs as the reason for her switch, expressing frustration with the Democratic Party's leadership for ignoring her constituents. Her decision was influenced by Speaker Daniel Perez's vision for the coming legislative session. Valdes's district, which flipped to support Donald Trump in the previous election, now sees her joining the GOP, where she believes she can better serve her community. This move has been welcomed by Republican leaders, including Governor Ron DeSantis and Speaker Daniel Perez, who noted that this switch has resulted in the largest Republican supermajority in the history of the Florida House, with the current count standing at 87-33. The Florida Senate also holds a significant Republican majority at 28-12.