Ex-LA Sheriff Joins GOP, Slams Democrats as ‘Party of Protests and Pronouns

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced that he’s officially leaving the Democratic Party after more than 40 years and is joining the Republican Party.

“As of today, I’m leaving the party of paid protests, purple hair, and pronouns, and joining the party of faith, family, and freedom,” Villanueva said during a recent speech.

Villanueva served as sheriff from 2018 to 2022, when he lost re-election to Robert Luna. Known for his tough-on-crime approach and clashes with progressive leaders, he frequently distanced himself from his own party, especially on issues like public safety and COVID-19 mandates.

During the pandemic, he refused to enforce beach closures and mask mandates, saying mask rules were “not backed by science” and contradicted CDC guidelines.

Villanueva’s departure comes amid a broader trend of California Democrats switching parties.

• State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil left the Democratic Party in August, prompting retaliation from party leadership, including removal from all committee roles and the state Latino caucus.
• Former State Senate leader Gloria Romero, once a rising star in the party, also switched to the GOP, citing disillusionment with the party’s current direction. She credited Donald Trump as “the champion of working people.”

“I don’t recognize the Democratic Party anymore,” Romero said. “I cannot continue.”

This movement signals a growing frustration among some long-time Democrats in California, particularly Latino leaders, who feel the party has shifted too far from its traditional values.