Update: Stanislaus Democrats and Republicans react to Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil’s party switch
Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil changed her political party registration from a Democrat to a Republican last week, eliciting mixed reactions from both parties.
“The Republican Party of Stanislaus County welcomes anyone to register to vote as a Republican, and it’s always a good day when a Democrat decides to do that,” said the Stanislaus GOP in a statement.
The party said the central committee is focused on supporting its endorsed candidates and ensuring they win in November, stating that anything outside securing these election victories is a “distraction.”
Stanislaus GOP added that it’s eager to see how the senator will support efforts to re-elect U.S. Rep. John Duarte and Assemblyman Juan Alanis and to elect its endorsed local candidates, including Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, who is seeking the 9th congressional district seat, now held by Democrat Josh Harder.
“We must stay united in this effort and fight, fight, fight through Election Day,” the statement read.
The Stanislaus Democratic Party said the news about Alvarado-Gil came as no surprise.
“We’ve been anticipating news of her party switch since the 2022 election and are surprised only that it took her so long,” a statement from the party said.
It noted that the senator did not receive its endorsement, nor that of the California Democratic Party, during her 2022 campaign because the party “recognized that she wasn’t genuinely a Democrat.”
The Stanislaus Democrats further criticized Alvarado-Gil for failing to respond to calls and emails from them or local Democratic clubs until nearly two years into her term. They also mentioned frequent complaints from constituents about her lack of responsiveness to their concerns and her perceived disconnect from local issues.
In an interview with KCRA, Alvarado-Gil shared that she had considered three options in recent weeks: “Move somewhere else and run as a Democrat, finish my term and return to being an educator, or switch parties and stay in SD 4.”
“If she thought she could move elsewhere and win as a Democrat, she would not have changed her party registration. She would abandon SD 4 in a heartbeat if she thought it was in her best interest,” the statement by the Stanislaus Democratic Party said.
“Instead, she chose to align herself with the out-of-touch, extremist party of Trump and pretend that she cares about her constituents. This is purely a performative Hail Mary pass to attempt to stay relevant.”
In a statement to The Modesto Bee on Wednesday, Alvarado-Gil said, “I have led in ensuring Stanislaus County has a strong voice in Sacramento regardless of party politics. I also understand some constituents need time to process that I was once a Democrat and now I am not. We have received an overwhelmingly warm welcome from constituents across SD 4 and California.”
In a news release Tuesday afternoon, she called California Democrats’ response to her party switch “a stunning display of political retribution.”
The Democratic Party stripped her of all her committee assignments and removed her from the Latino Caucus, she said, adding that she remains committed to representing the people of California and her Senate District 4.
“I can take whatever heat is coming my way and fully recognize it comes with the territory of leaving a supermajority that operates like a mob, “Alvarado-Gil said in the release. ”They can attack me all they want, but the people of California do not deserve to suffer because of political vendettas.”
This story was originally published August 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM.
CORRECTION: This story was updated with details from a statement released by Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil.
