Democrat Rep Ryan Guillen announced that he would seek reelection as a Republican, emphasizing that the Democratic Party’s inclinations towards the far-left values are no longer in line with his own. Particularly citing the Democrat’s defunding the police suggestions and chaotic events on the southern border, the now former Texan Democrat will turn his affiliation to the Republican Party.
Guillen spoke to the press, claiming that occurrences taking place in South Texas were causing many people to realize that the values of those in Washington, D.C, were not the values of the majority of Texans.
He continued explaining that the ideology behind defunding the police, destroying the gas and oil industry, and the chaos at the border were devastating for those who live in South Texas.
The former Democrat, who has served in the Texas House for over two decades, won his seat by nearly 17 points in the 2020 election. Guillen’s change of heart marks a success for Republicans as they try to gain traction along the blue border.
Guillen was joined by Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan at his Floresville announcement.
Dee Duncan, president of the RSLC, stated that Texans were fed up with Democratic leadership’s failures, mentioning John Lujan’s upset victory in a Hispanic-majority district. Duncan went on to claim that Democratic leaders were too focused on their far-left base. Democrats were putting unions ahead of parents, pushed socialist tax and spending schemes, and fought for open border policies, making the situation too radical even for their elected officials, he claimed.
According to Duncan, The Republicans welcome Guillen with open arms and look forward to working with him.
Gilberto Hinojosa, the chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, went after Guillen over the decision, accusing him of “prioritizing holding on to his job over standing up for Texans.”