FL Senate minority leader bails on ‘dead’ Dems in latest turmoil for party

Like a rat fleeing a sinking ship, the top Florida Senate Democrat has abruptly bolted his party which he described as “dead” in a move that further underscores the plight of the demoralized opposition in the Sunshine State.

In a shocking Thursday announcement delivered on the floor of the chamber, Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo told lawmakers that he has changed his political affiliation to no-party and asked the Senate Democratic caucus to pick a new leader.

Pizzo said that he had already sent in his voter registration change and torched his now-former party which has been rendered irrelevant during the tenure of GOP Governor Ron DeSantis who has proudly proclaimed that the deep red state is a place “where woke goes to die,” and nothing is deader than the Democratic Party in Florida.

“Our constituents are craving practical leaders, not political hacks,” Pizzo explained.

#BREAKING: A POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE JUST OCCURRED IN FLORIDA AS THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER LEAVES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY…

Ho-lee SHLIT.

Jason Pizzo is the Florida Senate Democratic Minority Leader.

He said constituents are so fed up with “political hacks” and he is switching… pic.twitter.com/UcPdc1hoWO

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 24, 2025

“Here’s the issue. The Democratic Party in Florida is dead,” the Hollywood Democrat told the stunned lawmakers. “There are good people that can resuscitate it. But they don’t want it to be me. That’s not convenient, that’s not cool.”

He also said that today’s party isn’t the Democratic Party of his father, stating that the current incarnation of the party “craves and screams anarchy and then demands amnesty,” according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Pizzo’s floor announcement caught Democrats off guard, according to reporter Gary Fineout, a Florida veteran with Politico.

Several Senate Democrats – while acknowledging Pizzo’s independence – said they did not know Pizzo would announce this on Senate floor

— Gary Fineout (@fineout) April 24, 2025

“I think stripping myself of a title of a party designation allows me to run free and clear, clean and transparent and help many, many more,” he said.

The now-former Democrat’s big surprise didn’t sit well with state party leaders, with Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried trashing him with a vicious parting shot.

“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,” Fried said in a statement. “His legacy as leader includes continually disparaging the party base, starting fights with other members, and chasing his own personal ambitions at the expense of Democratic values.

“Jason’s failure to build support within our party for a gubernatorial run has led to this final embarrassing temper tantrum. I’d be lying if I said I’m sad to see him go, but I wish him the best of luck in the political wilderness he’s created for himself. The Florida Democratic Party is more united without him,” huffed Fried, herself a failed gubernatorial candidate.

When asked if he was mulling a run to replace the term-limited DeSantis as an independent, Pizzo didn’t dismiss the idea.

“I know the front-runners for the Republican side are cratering and not viable, and Democrats don’t have anyone viable either,” he said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Staff Writer

Chris Donaldson is an ordinary American who is concerned about rampant corruption as well as the ongoing attacks on our way of life by those who have contempt for our hard-earned freedoms. A Navy veteran, he has been a frequent contributor to conservative websites and resides in Florida.

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