State Representative Hillary Cassel announced her decision to switch her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. The announcement was made on the social media platform X on December 27.
"I am announcing my decision to change my party affiliation from Democrat to Republican," said Hillary Brisson Cassel, Florida State Representative. "I know I won't always agree on every detail with every Republican."
According to Cassel, her decision to leave the Democratic Party was driven by a "deep sense of responsibility to my constituents" and dissatisfaction with the party’s direction. She expressed concerns about the Democratic Party’s failure to "unequivocally support Israel" and its tolerance of "extreme progressive voices" that she believes undermine shared values.
Although Cassel has now joined the Republican Party, her voting record as a Democrat earned her a 17% score from The Freedom Index, which evaluates legislators based on constitutional and limited-government principles.
During her tenure in the Florida House of Representatives, Cassel participated in key votes on firearm reform. In 2023, she voted against House Bill 1543, which sought to lower the minimum age for purchasing firearms from 21 to 18. Similarly, in 2024, she opposed House Bill 1223, which proposed the same age reduction for firearm purchases, according to The Freedom Index.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Cassel is the State Representative for Florida’s 101st District and a partner at Cassel & Cassel, P.A., where she specializes in commercial and residential insurance litigation. A graduate of Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, she began her legal career in 2010 and has been practicing for over a decade. In addition to her legislative duties, she serves as vice-chair of the Florida House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.