Florida State Senator Jason Pizzo has officially left the Democratic Party, declaring the party has become "rudderless" and is failing to meet the needs of everyday Floridians. He made the announcement last week on the floor of the state Senate in Tallahassee, changing his affiliation to no party affiliation.
“Our constituents are craving practical leaders, not political hacks,” Pizzo said during his floor speech, emphasizing the disconnect he feels has grown between the party and its voter base.
Pizzo, a former homicide prosecutor from Miami-Dade County, expanded on his decision in an interview with Fox News' Trace Gallagher on The Story. He accused Florida Democrats of taking positions that undermine public safety and alienate working-class residents.
"We've had bills recently, people squatting in people's homes or hotels, transient occupancy in hotels and the Democrats just, you know, keep showing up saying have mercy, have mercy. But to some extent, enough is enough. And that's where we are," he explained.
Pizzo criticized what he sees as the party’s increasing tolerance of criminal behavior and its failure to support law enforcement — a sentiment he says many voters in Florida share.
His decision comes as voter registration data shows a dramatic shift in Florida’s political landscape. According to the Florida Department of State, Democrats once led by over half a million registered voters in 2012. By 2024, Republicans had surged ahead by more than 1.2 million registered voters.
"They're not recruiting or retaining anybody," Pizzo told Gallagher. "Democrats haven't had the gubernatorial mansion here since 1994, so it's been a little over 30 years. The performance is not there, and they were rudderless and without direction."
In response, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried issued a sharp rebuke of Pizzo's record and departure.
“His resignation is one of the best things to happen to the party in years,” Fried said in a statement. “His legacy as a leader includes continually disparaging the party base, starting fights with other members, and chasing his own personal ambitions at the expense of Democratic values.”
Pizzo declined to respond directly to Fried’s comments, saying only that he doesn’t "punch down."
Following his departure, Senate Democrats elected State Senator Lori Berman to serve as the new Democratic leader in the Florida Senate.
