State Rep. Shawn Thierry, a Houston Democrat who was defeated in a primary contest earlier this year, has announced she is leaving the Democrat Party; “This is not the party I grew up with,” she said in a statement.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, “Today, I am proud to welcome Representative Shawn Thierry to the Republican Party — the party of opportunity, individual liberty, and economic prosperity.”
Abbott continued: “Representative Thierry served in the Texas Legislature for four terms until the Democrat Party abandoned her after she delivered a 12-minute speech from the House floor in favor of a law I signed to protect Texas children. Her decision to switch parties demonstrates that the radical leftist agenda of the Democrat Party does not align with a majority of Americans. I look forward to continuing to work with Representative Thierry to build a bigger, better Texas for generations to come.”
Excerpts from Theirry’s statement below:
For my entire adult life, I have voted as a Democrat. I was raised in a household with my amazing parents who believed the Democratic Party was the party of the people—a beacon of justice and opportunity for all. But as the years have passed, I have watched with dismay as the party I once knew has drifted far from its roots. It has become almost unrecognizable—radicalized and increasingly out of touch with the values that millions of everyday Americans hold dear.
The Democratic Party has veered so far left, so deep into the progressive abyss, that it now champions policies that I cannot, in good conscience, support policies like promoting sex changes for children during a vulnerable stage of their lives, and dismantling Title IX protections for women in sports.
This is not the party I grew up with. I have witnessed firsthand how the so-called “liberal” left now stifles thoughtful debate, silencing dissent with an iron fist—demanding blind allegiance to ideology, where one must “comply or be cast out.” This is not the Democratic Party I once supported and represented.
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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
— Shawn Thierry (@ShawnieT146) August 30, 2024