Texas state lawmaker flees Democratic Party and joins GOP

Texas Democratic state Rep. Ryan Guillen announced Monday he is switching parties to become a Republican. The announcement followed a redistricting process that left the Rio Grande City district that he represents more favorable to the GOP.

At a Monday press conference, Guillen noted Republicans have made recent gains in South Texas, “and many of us are waking up to the fact that the values of those in Washington, D.C., are not our values, not the values of most Texans.”

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“The ideology of defunding the police, of destroying the oil and gas industry and the chaos at our border is disastrous for those of us who live here in South Texas,” Guillen said.

Guillen downplayed the role redistricting played in his decision, arguing he is the most conservative Democrat in the Texas Legislature with views that have left him outside his current party’s mainstream. In a statement, Texas Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi highlighted Guillen’s voting record, including votes in favor of anti-abortion laws and less restrictive gun laws.

“Rep. Guillen has been a friend for many years, and I am proud to welcome him to the Republican Party,” Rinaldi said. “I am confident Republicans in Austin and his constituents in the Rio Grande Valley will welcome him with open arms.”

Rinaldi added, “Following this month’s Republican victories in Virginia and in Texas HD118, this is yet another example of how the increasing extremism of the Democratic Party has alienated Texans who care about smaller government, strong families, safe communities and the protection of the unborn. Those people have a home in our party.”

At the Monday press conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott noted Guillen’s record while arguing he “is really a Republican who is attached to the wrong label.”

“Ryan, we’re glad you finally came out of the closet,” Abbott said.

Texas Democrats argued Guillen caved to the Republicans who carved up his district.

“Republicans cynically gutted Rep. Guillen’s district in the redistricting process, showing complete disrespect for both him and his constituents,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Chris Turner in a statement.

“Usually, people in Ryan’s position would choose to fight. Instead, he has chosen to join them,” Turner said. “Rep. Guillen probably doesn’t believe the Republican talking points he is repeating today, but he thinks they may help him get elected again. Ryan has run for office and been elected as a Democrat for 19 years. He has supported many key Democratic priorities, such as Medicaid expansion and investments in public education, while also opposing the so-called ‘election integrity’ bill. It will be interesting to see how he explains his voting record to his new party, given Republicans’ hostility to affordable health care and the freedom to vote.”

National Republicans painted the switch as evidence of a rising tide of support from voters following the election of Glenn Youngkin in Virginia and an unexpectedly strong showing in New Jersey.

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“I am proud to welcome state Representative Ryan Guillen to the GOP,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel in a statement. “The Republican Party is the party of faith, freedom, and opportunity, and we will continue to stand for these ideals in Texas and across the country.”

“With trailblazers like Representative Guillen, we will continue to make gains in South Texas and grow the party in our way to victories up and down the ballot in 2022,” McDaniel said.