{"id":2427398,"date":"2025-04-25T08:20:56","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T12:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-democratic-leader-declares-party-dead-announces-party-affiliation-change-on-senate-floor-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-25T08:23:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T12:23:32","slug":"florida-democratic-leader-declares-party-dead-announces-party-affiliation-change-on-senate-floor-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-democratic-leader-declares-party-dead-announces-party-affiliation-change-on-senate-floor-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Democratic leader declares party \u2018dead,\u2019 announces party affiliation change on Senate floor &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fflorida-democratic-leader-declares-party-dead-announces-party-affiliation-change-on-senate-floor-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2427398&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Jason Pizzo, teh Florida state Senate minority leader, has publicly declared that the Democratic party in Florida is &#8220;dead&#8221; and has announced his departure from the party during a live Senate session.he has opted to change his party affiliation to &#8220;No Party Affiliation,&#8221; expressing a desire for new leadership within the Democratic Caucus. Pizzo characterized the issues within the party as comparable to the ancient decline of the Roman Empire, citing infighting and power struggles. His unexpected announcement has garnered mixed reactions; Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, criticized him as ineffective and suggested his departure is beneficial for the party. Conversely,Evan Power,the chairman of Florida&#8217;s Republican Party,viewed Pizzo&#8217;s switch as indicative of a broader radicalization within the Democratic Party.Pizzo is the third Democrat in Florida to leave the party in the past six months.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Florida Democratic leader declares party &lsquo;dead,&rsquo; announces party affiliation change on Senate floor<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2105530\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Florida&rsquo;s top state Senate Democrat is no longer a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democrat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/1123392\/democrats-diverge-in-their-post-election-diagnoses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Jason Pizzo<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Florida<\/a> state Senate minority leader, announced on the Senate floor that he was leaving the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democratic Party<\/a>. He claimed it was &ldquo;dead&rdquo; before he declared the change in his party affiliation during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-nearly-naked-intruder-interrupts-suzanne-somers-livestream-at-home\/\" title=\"WATCH: \u2018Nearly Naked\u2019 Intruder Interrupts Suzanne Somers\u2019 Livestream At Home\">live session<\/a> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/diabolical-silliness-north-dakota-house-passes-bill-prohibiting-mask-mandates\/\" title=\"\u2018Diabolical Silliness\u2019: North Dakota House Passes Bill Prohibiting Mask Mandates\">chamber floor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3390094\/house-republicans-defense-spending-150-billion-hike\/\">House Republicans plan for $150B defense spending hike in win for defense hawks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3391188\/pressure-builds-trump-the-deal-maker\/\">Pressure builds on Trump the deal-maker to deliver<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3391162\/pritzker-newsom-2028-showdown-democratic-game-plan\/\">Pritzker vs. Newsom: 2028 showdown brews over Democratic game plan<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s the issue: The Democratic Party in Florida is dead,&rdquo; Pizzo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/state-sen-jason-pizzo-says-florida-democratic-party-dead-steps-minorit-rcna202923\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;There are good people who can resuscitate it, but they don&rsquo;t want it to be me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I hope that the members of the Democratic Caucus will elect a new leader,&rdquo; he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtsp.com\/article\/news\/politics\/senate-democrat-leader-jason-pizzo-switch-parties\/67-b9f9ea3a-04c7-4e3e-acb1-a0d1281f37b3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;For today, I FedExed my voter registration form to change my party affiliation to &lsquo;No Party Affiliation.&#8217;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Pizzo&rsquo;s party change was unexpected, and the announcement caught legislators by surprise, according to reports.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our constituents are craving practical leaders, not political hacks,&rdquo; he <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wtsp.com\/article\/news\/politics\/senate-democrat-leader-jason-pizzo-switch-parties\/67-b9f9ea3a-04c7-4e3e-acb1-a0d1281f37b3\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">added<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Pizzo likened the political squabbling within the state to the collapse of one of human civilization&rsquo;s greatest empires. He <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aol.com\/state-sen-jason-pizzo-says-021457670.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> it was similar to the &ldquo;infighting, power struggles, corruption, and decline of civic virtue that pervaded and eventually ushered in the fall of Rome.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So, too, are we players, or perhaps props, in the mess that is bottom partisanship,&rdquo; Pizzo said.<\/p>\n<p>He expressed a feeling of freedom after going public with his announcement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think stripping myself of the title of the party designation allows me to run free and clear, clean and transparent, and help many, many more,&rdquo; Pizzo said.<\/p>\n<p>Pizzo is the third Florida Democrat to leave the party within the last six months, according to reports.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nikki Fried, chairwoman of Florida&rsquo;s Democratic Party, issued a highly critical statement on Pizzo&rsquo;s departure, calling it &ldquo;one of the best things to happen to the party in years.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>&ldquo;<\/em>Jason Pizzo is one of the most ineffective and unpopular Democratic leaders in recent memory, and his resignation is one of the best things to happen to the party in years,&rdquo; Fried <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtsp.com\/article\/news\/politics\/senate-democrat-leader-jason-pizzo-switch-parties\/67-b9f9ea3a-04c7-4e3e-acb1-a0d1281f37b3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> in a statement. &ldquo;His legacy as <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">leader includes continually disparaging<\/a> the party base, starting fights with other members, and chasing his own personal ambitions at the expense of Democratic values.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/editorials\/3388624\/public-education-supreme-court-gender-ideology-parental-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>A GOOD DAY FOR PLUARLISM IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AT THE SUPREME COURT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Jason&rsquo;s failure to build support within our party for a gubernatorial run has led to this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-democrat-declares-party-dead-and-announces-party-affiliation-change-on-senate-floor-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... declares ... \u2018...\u2019 and ... on Senate floor - Washington Examiner\">final embarrassing temper tantrum<\/a>,&rdquo; Fried added. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d be lying if I said I&rsquo;m sad to see him go, but I wish him the best of luck in the political wilderness he&rsquo;s created for himself. The Florida Democratic Party is more united without him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Evan Power, Florida&rsquo;s Republican Party chairman, had a different message about Pizzo&rsquo;s party switch. He said it was indicative of the &ldquo;radicalization of today&rsquo;s Democratic Party.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2105530\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2105530\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida Senate Democrat Jason Pizzo declares party &#8216;dead,&#8217; switches affiliation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2427399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jason-Pizzo.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[54064,32923,5113,5894,3740],"class_list":["post-2427398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-affiliation-change","tag-democratic-party","tag-florida","tag-politics","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jason-Pizzo.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2427398"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2427403,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427398\/revisions\/2427403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2427399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2427398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2427398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2427398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}