A Texas Democratic lawmaker has announced her decision to leave the Democratic Party and join the Republicans.
State Rep. Shawn Thierry, a Democrat from Houston, revealed on Friday that she will officially make the switch. Her departure follows her defeat in May by primary challenger Lauren Ashley Simmons, after Thierry supported Republican bills opposing LGBT ideology, including a ban on sex change surgeries for children.
MUST WATCH: Texas State Rep. Shawn Thierry announces she’s switching to the Republican Party and BLASTS the Democrats as radicals who want to m*til*te children's g*nitaIs, put men in women's sports, and stifle free speech.pic.twitter.com/p1whHPGzFE
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 30, 2024
Thierry explained that she is switching to the Republican Party because the Democratic Party has “veered so far left, diving deeply into progressive policies, that it now endorses positions I cannot, in good conscience, support.”
“After much reflection, prayer, and soul-searching, I have come to a decision that aligns with my core values and the best interests of our beloved country,” she wrote in an long statement she posted on X.
“I am leaving the left because the left has abandoned Democrats who feel betrayed by a party that has lost its way, lost its commitment to hard working families,” she said.
A thread 🧵 1/ of x
— Shawn Thierry (@ShawnieT146) August 30, 2024
As a woman, a mother, and a lawmaker, I have dedicated my life to championing the values that fortify our families and uplift our communities. After much reflection, prayer, and soul-searching, I have come to a decision that aligns with my core values and the… pic.twitter.com/jyBC82lLfn
Earlier this month, Thierry was appointed as the new director of political strategy for Genspect’s U.S. branch, a global organization that opposes transgender policies, according to The Texas Tribune.
Founded in 2021 by an Irish psychotherapist, Genspect is part of a broader network against gender-transitioning treatments for minors and supports legislation worldwide to restrict or ban such practices.
Thierry has also clashed with Democrats over the issue of sexually explicit books in school libraries, with critics arguing that her alignment with Republicans could lead to the targeting of LGBT literature.
Additionally, she supported a bill requiring transgender college athletes to compete on teams corresponding to their birth sex, effectively barring men from participating in women’s sports.
During her primary, Thierry faced criticism for likening gender-affirming care to black genocide, which intensified the backlash she received from Democrats following her decision.
“If Thierry looks at a party taking away the freedom for women to control their bodies, cutting healthcare for millions, and led by a racist, petty convict and says I want in on that mess, I think that says more about Shawn Thierry than about the Democratic Party,” State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer said in a statement. “Adios.”
She also received praise and a warm welcome from Republicans.
BIG NEWS:
— Gays For Trump (@GaysForTrump24) August 30, 2024
WATCH Texas State Rep. Shawn Thierry SWITCH from the Democratic party to join the Republican party!
Welcome home @ShawnieT146
Go give her a follow! pic.twitter.com/0ZcnPJkrnN
House Speaker Dade Phelan wrote that he was “thrilled to have you join us in championing the rights of parents, protecting the innocence of our children, and ensuring all voices are heard.”
“These are values you have always fearlessly advocated for, and your courageous decision to stand up for them when it matters most shows just how deeply you care for your community and its future,” he wrote.
Thierry is among several Democrats who have recently left the party. A few weeks ago, California Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil declared she was joining the Republican Party, citing that Democratic policies were “not working” for the state.
