Democratic Lawmaker SWITCHES Parties

A four-term Democratic Texas state representative, who previously broke ranks with her party by supporting GOP-backed bills, including one that bans gender-transitioning surgeries for minors and another aimed at removing sexually explicit books from school libraries, has announced she will be joining the Republican Party.

Houston Democrat Shawn Thierry, who lost her seat in a May runoff, made her decision public on Friday.

“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 best interests of our beloved country,” she wrote on X. “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.”

A thread 🧵 1/ of x

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

Thierry faced considerable backlash from her liberal constituents and the Democratic Party for supporting a bill that bans cross-sex hormones and sex change surgeries for minors, according to a press release that accompanied her announcement. Thierry is currently serving her fourth term in the Texas Legislature.

“I know that by making this choice, my choice, I will face relentless attacks, criticism, and mischaracterization,” she wrote. “But I will complete my faith walk. Scripture reminds us in Job 13, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.’ And so, I trust that God will guide me and cover me as I step into this new chapter of my life. It is time to shift our consciousness from the distractions of personalities to the substance of real policies. I will not be alone; I will be with millions of courageous women and men of good conscience, who are willing to place people over political ideology. So, I will continue to be a change maker and a champion for children. Censured, but not silenced, I will use my voice to amplify the voices of women everywhere —women who are willing to make waves across America. Together, we can nurture and protect our children by creating a safer, brighter future for them. Together, we can restore the spirit, security, and soul of America.”

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

In May of last year, Thierry explained her support for banning minors from undergoing transgender medical procedures following the Texas House’s advancement of a bill to prohibit such practices. In a statement, she noted that her decision to vote in favor of banning minors from receiving “GnRH-analogs, (i.e., ‘puberty blockers’), cross-sex hormones, and undergoing irreversible surgeries when experiencing gender dysphoria” came after discussions with constituents and a thorough review of scientific data both in the United States and internationally.

Impassioned speech by State Rep. Shawn Thierry in Texas who switches from the Democrat Party to Republican because she wants to defend women, common sense, and freedom of speech.

Tulsi Gabbard proudly looks on as she watches unity continue to grow in America. pic.twitter.com/InUqIC046U

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) August 30, 2024