State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil is now a Republican.

She made the dramatic announcement Thursday, saying the Democratic Party left her.

“The Democratic Party of today is not the Democratic Party I signed up with,” Alvarado-Gil, R-Jackson, told Elex Michaelson on his political show “The Issue Is:.”

She said Democrats have swung so far left, they no longer represent middle-class and family values. Democratic stances on crime, homelessness, and education, helped her flip, Alvarado-Gil said.

Alvarado-Gil won her first term in 2022, in an upset of the Republicans’ own making. The GOP ran six candidates in the primary, and they all knocked themselves out, resulting in two Democrats squaring off in the general election.

Senate District 4, which covers parts of Madera and Merced counties, is 39% Republican. Democrats make up 34%.

Alvarado-Gil, known as a moderate Democrat, voted tough-on-crime, and often voted with Republicans on labor issues.

With the switch, Democrats now hold a 31-9 edge in the state Senate.

EXCLUSIVE: California Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil is SWITCHING PARTIES from Democrat to Republican. She’s giving her first interview to @TheIssueIsShow

“Seeing how the inner workings of the majority party work in Sacramento, I have to step back & say is this good?…My answer is… pic.twitter.com/CXyLyqs5Tz

— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) August 9, 2024

GOP Welcoming, Dems Vindictive

State Republicans welcomed Alvarado-Gil with open arms.

“It takes courage to stand up to the supermajority in California and Marie has what it takes,” Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego, said in a statement. “Her record on tackling crime, protecting communities from sexually violent predators, and prioritizing her constituents speaks for itself.”

Democrats were more hostile.

Changing parties does not make Alvarado-Gil any less Latina, but the California Latino Legislative Caucus already kicked her out. In a message posted to X, caucus vice chair, Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, said Alvarado-Gil is “ineligible” to be a member.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, said he is disappointed and “she’s betrayed a trust.”

Alvarado-Gil told Michaelson she expects to be removed as chair of the Human Services committee.

“There is a punitive element of leaving the supermajority,” Alvarado-Gil said.

On Friday, Alvarado-Gil’s Senate website was “under maintenance.” Her link on the official Senate roster page redirects back to the same roster page. Webpages start with either “sd” or “sr” to reflect the Senator’s party.

“This is an unprecedented move, but we are moving forward and taking everything in stride,” said Alvarado-Gil spokesperson Angela Musallam.

Lawmakers Switching Parties in California

The Associated Press, citing California State Library legislative historian Alex Vassar, reported that there have been 273 lawmakers who switched parties during their time in office throughout California history, and it’s even less common for a member of the majority party to defect to another party.

The most recent example was when former Assemblymember Dominic Cortese left the Democratic Party in 1995 to become a member of Ross Perot’s Reform Party.

Former state Assemblyman Juan Arambula of Fresno left the majority Democratic Party in 2009 to become an independent. He left office in 2010.

Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil’s Senate webpage as of Friday morning, a day after she switched parties. (screenshot)

Auto Shop Expanding Over Arias Objection

The Fresno Planning Commission approved an auto repair shop plan to expand in downtown Fresno, denying the appeal of Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias.

The project received initial approval from the planning department.

With the 6-0 vote, A-1 Auto Electric can expand across the street, into an empty building that used to house Pro Auto, at the corner of Stanislaus and N streets.

Arias objected because he wanted “discussion at the Planning Commission to create an opportunity for public comment,” he said in a letter.

A-1 Auto Electric owner Mark Gilio told the commission he is outgrowing his current facility, and wants to make the space nicer for his customers. One member of the public spoke, supporting the expansion.

Peter Vang, DJ Criner, Monica Diaz, Jacqueline Lyday, Linda Calandra and Gurdeep Singh Shergill voted in favor. Kathy Bray was absent.

Residents Unhappy with SW Specific Plan

At the planning commission meeting, three residents from west Fresno complained about the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan, a thick document adopted in 2017 for planning in the region.

They said the plan lacked community input, calling the plan an “insult.”

“It’s against … Black people,” resident Yvonne Gordon said. “What they are saying here is that we are so dumb, we don’t know how to take care of ourselves.”

Another speaker questioned how west Fresno can be considered a food desert, when there is food everywhere. There are several educated members of the Black community living there and are picked on, speakers told the planning commission.

The speakers also were concerned about gentrification.

Commissioner Jacqueline Lyday said the speakers should not insult them, nothing in the planning documents was calling them dumb, and the city wants to work together.

“We want to help and make southwest Fresno and do things that also make you happy as well. So I do ask that when you do come and speak to us, there is some respect behind it and we will be the same,” Lyday said.

DJ Criner, the only Black commissioner, asked the planning department to hold additional meetings.

Maddy Institute Hosts Fundraiser with ‘Da Mayor’

The hot place to be in Sacramento on Monday is for the Maddy Institute event, commemorating its 25th anniversary of its legislative internship program.

The special guest for the fundraising event is former state Assembly Speaker and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

The fundraising reception takes place Monday, Aug. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the California Museum in Sacramento.

The program, named for Central Valley legislator Kenneth Maddy, helps place interns in offices of federal, state and local governments.

For additional details, contact Blake Zante at blakezante@csufresno.edu or call (559) 278-1133.

AC for Seniors

Fresno City Councilmember Luis Chavez is helping seniors stay cool during the city’s protracted heatwave. He will provide 25 window AC units at Seniors Citizens Village, he announced Thursday.

“During the hot summer months, extreme temperatures can be particularly challenging for our senior residents,” Chavez said. “Many seniors are unable to afford an air conditioning unit or lack transportation to get to our Cooling Centers.”

Ironworkers Local 155 will help install the first 10 units. The money comes from Chavez’s infrastructure budget.

Chavez is running for Fresno County Supervisor in the Nov. 5 election.

Governor Reappoints Fresno County Probation Exec

Gov. Gavin Newsom reappointed Kirk Haynes to the Board of State and Community Corrections, for which he has served since 2021.

Haynes is the Fresno County chief probation officer. He’s been with the department since 1994 and as chief since 2018.