Florida State Rep. Hillary Cassel, Second Lawmaker, Switches from Democrat to Republican, Boosting GOP Majority to 87 Seats Ahead of 2025 Session

Dec 27, 2024, 08:00 PM

Florida State Representative Hillary Cassel has announced her switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, marking her as the second lawmaker to make this transition since the 2024 elections. This change increases the Republican majority in the Florida House, which now stands at 87 Republicans and 33 Democrats. Cassel, who represents Broward County, has previously been critical of some GOP policies, particularly regarding homeowners insurance. Her decision reflects a broader trend of Democratic lawmakers in Florida shifting to the Republican Party, as they express dissatisfaction with the current Democratic leadership. This party switch comes ahead of the 2025 legislative session, further solidifying the Republican supermajority in the state legislature.