Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva abandons the Democratic Party after 44 years, blasting it as the “party of paid protests, purple hair, and pronouns” while embracing Republican values of “faith, family, and freedom.”
Key Takeaways
- Alex Villanueva, who served as LA County Sheriff from 2018 to 2022, has officially switched from Democrat to Republican after 44 years with the Democratic Party.
- Villanueva made his announcement at the Unite Inland Empire Conservative Conference, explicitly rejecting what he calls the “party of hate and protests.”
- His defection highlights growing tensions between traditional law enforcement perspectives and progressive policies in deep-blue Los Angeles County.
- Villanueva is currently running for the LA County Board of Supervisors against Janice Hahn in 2024, making his party switch politically significant.
- Republican leaders in California have welcomed Villanueva, seeing his switch as part of a broader movement to “restore common sense” in the state.
A Sheriff’s Political Transformation
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has made a decisive break with his political past, announcing his switch to the Republican Party after more than four decades as a registered Democrat. The announcement, made at the Unite Inland Empire Conservative Conference, represents a significant political realignment in one of America’s most solidly blue regions. Villanueva, who served as sheriff from 2018 to 2022, did not mince words when explaining his decision to leave the Democratic Party, which he claims no longer represents the values and priorities of everyday Americans concerned about public safety.
“As of today, I’m leaving the party of paid protests, purple hair, and pronouns. And I’m joining the party of faith, family, and freedom — the Republican Party,” said Alex Villanueva, former Los Angeles County Sheriff.
Clashes With Progressive Policies
Villanueva’s tenure as sheriff was marked by ongoing conflicts with the county’s progressive leadership. Initially elected in 2018 as a reformist Democrat, he quickly found himself at odds with the LA County Board of Supervisors and other Democratic officials over policies related to homelessness, crime enforcement, and police reform. His criticism of the Democratic Party has intensified since losing his reelection bid in 2022, particularly focusing on what he perceives as the party’s enabling of disruptive protests and its accommodation of radical elements within its ranks.
“I’m done with the party of hate and protests,” said Alex Villanueva, former Los Angeles County Sheriff.
During his time as sheriff, Villanueva emphasized his support for Second Amendment rights, advocating for increased access to concealed carry permits in a county traditionally restrictive on firearm permissions. This position, along with his hard stance on homelessness enforcement and criticism of progressive criminal justice reforms, increasingly aligned him with Republican viewpoints despite his Democratic affiliation. The formal party switch now brings his political identity in line with the policies he has championed in recent years.
Political Implications for Los Angeles County
Villanueva’s defection from the Democratic Party comes at a time of heightened political tension in Los Angeles County. The timing suggests a strategic calculation that Republican affiliation might better serve his political ambitions in a region where crime concerns and quality of life issues have begun to challenge traditional progressive dominance.
Republican leaders in California have enthusiastically welcomed Villanueva to their ranks, viewing his switch as part of a broader political realignment in the state. “I left the [California Democratic] Party when I saw it no longer stood for the values I was raised with: personal responsibility, public safety, and freedom. [Alex Villanueva] made the same call. It takes courage, but it’s the right move. Welcome to our movement to restore common sense!” said Corrin Rankin, California Republican Party leader.
Broader Political Realignment
Villanueva’s party switch reflects a broader pattern of law enforcement leaders nationwide reassessing their political affiliations in response to changing party positions on policing and public safety. While Los Angeles County remains overwhelmingly Democratic in voter registration, Villanueva’s move highlights growing fissures within the Democratic coalition, particularly around questions of crime, homelessness, and public order. His defection may signal potential vulnerabilities for Democrats in urban areas where quality of life concerns are increasingly resonating with voters.
The political transformation of Villanueva from Democratic reformer to Republican challenger encapsulates the evolving nature of political identity in an era where traditional party alignments are increasingly in flux. For Los Angeles County’s political establishment, the question now becomes whether this high-profile defection represents an isolated incident or the beginning of a more significant realignment of local political forces. As President Trump continues to reshape Republican identity nationwide, Villanueva’s switch demonstrates how that influence extends even into the traditionally Democratic strongholds of urban California.
