State Rep. Ryan Guillen switches to GOP in latest blow to South Texas Democrats

KRGV ^ | 11/15/2021 | Patrick Svitek

[TexasGurl24]

Longtime Democratic state Rep. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City is switching parties as Republicans press to make new inroads in South Texas and after redistricting made his district much more favorable to the GOP.

Guillen was set to make the announcement Monday morning during a news conference in Floresville where he was joined by Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont.

"After much consideration and prayer with my family, I feel that my fiscally conservative, pro-business, and pro-life values are no longer in-step with the Democrat Party of today, and I am proudly running as a Republican to representHouse District 31," Guillen said in a statement.

Guillen’s decision to run for reelection under the GOP banner is a boon for Republicans who have been working to show new strength in South Texas after President Joe Biden underperformed there in 2020. The decision also comes after the GOP-led redistricting process turned Guillen’s district, already Republican-leaning, into a solidly red one.

Guillen is already well-known as an outlier in his caucus. He is the least liberal Democrat in the House, according to rankings from Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University.

Guillen was one of seven House Democrats who voted earlier this year to allow permitless carry of handguns. He stayed behind this summer when most House Democrats fled to Washington, D.C., in protest of Republicans’ priority elections bill. And he was the only Democrat to vote last month for a bill preventing transgender students athletes from playing on teams that correspond with their gender identity.

[nascarnation]

He doesn’t want to ride the “Beta Wave” ??
Hard to believe /s

[rrrod]

Welcome aboard.

[Jane Long]

God bless Texas ping.

[notaliberal]

Another Rino joins the group like Van Drew.

[1Old Pro]

Time for Manchin to do the same and remove Schumer from majority leader.

[ShadowAce]

Longtime Democratic state Rep. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City is switching parties as Republicans press to make new inroads in South Texas and after redistricting made his district much more favorable to the GOP.

Don't be fooled. This is merely a ploy to get elected in a Republican district, then continue to act as a Democrat.

[Jaysin]

Manchin IS the swamp thing BUT at this point, it would be a devastating blow to the Biden handlers

[ConservativeInPA]

Now primary his ass. TX doesn’t need no stinkin’ Rat traitors. Elect a real conservative.

[1Old Pro]

Manchin IS the swamp thing BUT at this point, it would be a devastating blow to the Biden handlers

It could prevent the BBB boondoggle from even coming up in the Senate, which is the right thing to do, kill it.

[Robert DeLong]

"After much consideration and prayer with my family, I feel that my fiscally conservative, pro-business, and pro-life values are no longer in-step with the Democrat Party of today, and I am proudly running as a Republican to represent House District 31," Guillen said in a statement.

Since this man is obviously much younger than I, when in his lifetime has the Democrat Party been fiscally conservative, pro-business, or pro-life?

Answer: It hasn't, since before this man was even born.

I take these "conversions" with a great deal of skepticism.

[con-surf-ative]

In Starr County (Rio Grande City), being a democrat is like breathing. Although basically conservative people, this heavily hispanic area loves government handouts and political patronage. Most have close ties to family or friends across the border, but they are proudly and unapologetically American.

This is a pretty dramatic manifestation of how far off the reservation Biden’s neo-prog marxist administration has wandered. Even Starr County democrats can see the debasement of out American political traditions that is being perpetrated in plain view.

[ptsal]

Never fear Abbott will snatch defeat.

[BillyBoy]

This guy is 10x more conservative than Krystin Simena. Lots of FReepers were saying she should switch parties, and then we’d have a rabidly pro-abortion, openly bisexual, atheist, 9-11 truth on “our” side. She’d make a good Republican but he won’t?

[luvie]

[ken in texas]

- I take these "conversions" with a great deal of skepticism. -

Point taken. However, he may have grown up in a household that voted D come hell or high water, heard nothing but criticism about Republicans, and became Democrat because his family has always been Democrat. Hopefully he now sees things a bit more clearly.

[Robert DeLong]

Anything’s possible. I will still reserve rejoicing until I see him in action. 🙂

[TribalPrincess2U]

YES!

[SunkenCiv]

• Democrat Beto O'Rourke running for Texas governor in 2022 [11/15/2021]
• O'Rourke launches bid for Texas governor [11/15/2021]
• Abbott, O'Rourke in virtual tie one year away from Texas governor election [11/02/2021]
• Trump: Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan is another Mitch McConnell. [10/10/2021]

[mware]

Careful about electing him again. Van Drew ran as a democrat and then left party. He won as Republican and Damn if he didn’t vote for that Biden monstrosity.