Houston lawmaker switches parties after Democratic primary loss

HOUSTON (KXAN) — A state lawmaker announced Friday she's switching parties after a challenger ousted her earlier this year in the Democratic primary for her Houston seat.

Texas Rep. Shawn Thierry released a lengthy statement explaining why she's officially becoming a Republican, setting off a flurry of welcome messages from other GOP leaders and sharp criticism from her former Democratic colleagues. Her decision comes after she lost a primary runoff in May for House District 146, the predominantly Democratic area in southwest Houston she represented for four terms in the Texas House of Representatives.

"The Democratic Party has veered so far left, so deep into the progressive abyss, that it now
champions policies I cannot, in good conscience, support—policies like promoting sex changes
for vulnerable children and dismantling Title IX protections for women in sports," Thierry wrote in her statement. "That’s why I am leaving the left and joining the party of family, faith, and freedom. I now stand with colleagues, friends, neighbors, women, and mothers in the Republican Party."

Thierry received blowback from some Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates during last year's regular legislative session due to her votes in favor of a number of Republican-led priorities, like banning health care options for transgender minors and blocking transgender women from competing in female sports at the collegiate level. In her statement Friday, she cited these examples as drawing "the ire of the Democrat machine" despite pushing for other policies that aimed to address issues like maternal mortality.

"I have witnessed firsthand how the left stifles thoughtful debate, silences dissent, and demands
blind allegiance to an ideology that is anti-family and anti-children," Thierry said. "If you
question, or disagree, they will cancel you. This is why so many former Democrats plan to vote
Republican in November."

Lauren Ashley Simmons, a union organizer and first-time candidate, unseated Thierry in the Democratic primary. She won the May runoff by almost 30 percentage points, which was a stunning rebuke of an incumbent who never previously faced a serious primary challenger since she first took the seat in 2017. Grant Martin, a spokesperson for the Simmons campaign, said in a statement Friday, "I'm glad she (Thierry) can finally live openly as her authentic self."

Reaction from Texas Republican leaders

A news release about Thierry's party switch also included a statement attributed to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. He said the Republicans will "welcome her with open arms."

"Her decision to switch parties demonstrates that the radical leftist agenda of the Democrat Party does not align with a majority of Americans," Abbott said. "I took forward to continuing to work with Representative Thierry to build a bigger, better Texas for generations to come."

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, also posted a statement on his X account calling Thierry's switch "awesome news."

"We are thrilled to have you join us in championing the rights of parents, protecting the innocence of our children, and ensuring all voices are heard," Phelan wrote. "These are values you have always fearlessly advocated for, and your courageous decision to stand up for them when it matters most shows just how deeply you care for your community and its future. I look forward to seeing the incredible work you'll do to strengthen our party and our nation. It’s an honor to work alongside you in that effort!"

Reaction from Democrats

Meanwhile, the top Democrat in the Texas House shared harsher words about Thierry's decision, noting how she soundly lost her re-election bid. Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fisher, the House Democratic Caucus chair, wrote on X that she "has chosen to continue to betray the values and priorities of her constituents — once again put money and title above principle — and join a group with ties to white nationalism."

"If Thierry looks at a party taking away the freedom for women to control their bodies, cutting healthcare for millions, and led by a racist, petty convict and says I want in on that mess, I think that says more about Shawn Thierry than about the Democratic Party. Adios," Fisher wrote.

Gilberto Hinojosa, the chair of the Texas Democratic Party, also slammed Thierry in a statement released Friday morning.

"Shawn Thierry compromised her Democratic values, betraying the constituents of House District 146, and in response, they rightfully fired her," Hinojosa wrote. "We hope that Switch-Up Shawn finds solace within a party that demonizes Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ communities given her long recorded history of berating these very communities in her district, staff office and on the Texas House floor. In conclusion, we’re elated that Shawn Thierry has found her true community – the hateful arms of the Republican Party of Texas."

What he's likely referencing here is the lengthy remarks Thierry gave on the House floor in May 2023 before she joined three other Democrats in voting with every House Republican for the bill that banned transgender minors from receiving puberty-blocking medication, hormone therapies or surgeries to assist in their gender transition.

Thierry is not the only Texas Democrat to announce a departure from the party in recent years. In September last year, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said he changed his party affiliation to Republican, writing in an editorial for The Wall Street Journal that his policy views now align more with the GOP. Three years ago, Texas Rep. Ryan Guillen held an event in his south Texas district alongside the governor to share he would not seek re-election as a Democrat and would instead run in the Republican primary. At that time, Guillen said his values also no longer matched those of the Democratic Party.

Because of her primary defeat, Thierry's term expires on Jan. 14, which corresponds to the first day of the next regular session. The general election on Nov. 5 will decide whether Simmons or Republican Lance York will succeed her in the Texas House.