Texas State Representative Shawn Thierry has announced her decision to leave the Democratic Party and join the Republican Party. Thierry made the announcement on stage at the Moms for Liberty event in Washington, D.C., on Friday.
“The Democratic Party has veered so far left, so deep into the progressive abyss, that it now champions policies that I cannot, in good conscience, support,” Thierry stated. She cited issues such as “promoting sex changes for vulnerable children” and “dismantling Title IX” as key reasons for her departure.
During the panel discussion, Thierry elaborated on her decision, emphasizing her concerns about policies related to gender transitions for minors. “I’ve talked to a lot of my different colleagues from the national level all the way down to the state, and privately, many of them agree with us,” she said. She claimed that many Democrats have confided in her, expressing discomfort with certain progressive policies. “Many of them came to me and said, ‘Shawn, we know it’s wrong to castrate boys.’ I’ve had a lot of Black colleagues say it’s wrong to castrate Black men, to sterilize girls.”
Thierry recounted a conversation where a fellow Democrat advised her to “just hold your nose” regarding these issues. She added that many Democrats fear backlash from the party leadership, saying that the top of the Democratic Party ticket “will destroy you” if you don’t fall in line.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott welcomed Thierry’s decision, writing, “Proud to welcome Rep. Shawn Thierry to the Republican Party! Democrats abandoned her after she supported a law I signed to protect Texas children. The radical leftist agenda doesn’t align with most Americans. Look forward to working with Rep. Thierry to build a brighter future.”
In a memo shared online, Thierry further explained her reasons for leaving the Democratic Party, acknowledging the challenges she expects to face. “I know that by making this choice, my choice, I will face relentless attacks, criticism, and mischaracterization,” she wrote. “But I will complete my faith walk. Scripture reminds us in Job 13, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.’ And so, I trust that God will guide me and cover me as I step into this new chapter of my life.”