TALHASSEE – In the latest blow to the Florida Democrats, Senate Democratic leaders suddenly announced that he will leave the party in support of a non-party affiliation.
In a dramatic speech on the chamber’s floor Thursday, Sen. Jason Pizzo said he sent a change in voter registration and asked the Senate Democrat Caucus to choose a new leader.
“This is the problem. The Democrats in Florida are dead,” said Pizzo of Hollywood. “There are good people who can revive it. But they don’t want it to be me. It’s not convenient, it’s not cool.”
Pizzo said the Democrats today are not their father’s party. He said that modern parties “crash, cry out, and then demand pardon.”
“I think stripping the party’s designated title will help you get a free, clear, clean and transparent ride and more,” Pizzo said.
Pizzo, who is term-limited in the Senate, has been pondering his run as a central candidate for governor in 2026. Earlier this year, he told reporters that Florida Phoenix said he was independent of the governor’s independence campaign.
But when asked today whether he would run for independent governor, Pizzo left the possibilities open.
“I know that the top runners on the Republican side are craters and are not feasible. There’s no Democrats or anyone who can be feasible,” Pizzo said.
Pizzo’s decision is the same day that former Republican Rep. David Jolie announced that he had changed his registration to Democrat. The news was first reported by Politico. Jolie said she was “very close” to announcing the governor’s run in 2026, and in a statement she said she was “committed to playing my role as a Democrat in Florida.”
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Byron Donald said he would run for governor, and First Lady Casey DeSantis was the rumoured candidate.
John Morgan, who founded the Personal Injury Empire, also flirted with a run for the governor.
Nikki Fried, chairman of the Florida Democrats, denounced Pizzo in a statement that he was “one of the most effective and unpopular Democratic leaders in recent memory.”
“His resignation has been one of the best things that should happen to the party for years,” Fried said.
“Jason’s failure to build support within the party for the governor’s run led to this last embarrassing temper tantrum,” Freed said in a statement. “I would lie if I said it was sad to see him go, but I wish him the best of luck in the political wilderness he created for himself. The Democrats in Florida are more united without him.”
House Democrat leader Fentris Driskel also criticized Pizzo. In a statement, Driskel said Pizzo has “allied himself from the Democrats for a long time” and “fullly distracted by his ambitions for governor.”
Evan Power, chairman of the Florida Republican Party, said it was clear that Pizzo “can no longer accept the party’s direction,” and that his decision “emphasizes the radicalisation of the Democratic Party today.”
In recent months, two members of the Florida House Democrats (Rep. Susan Valdes and Hillary Kassel) have switched their party registration to Republicans.
With Pizzo leaving the party, the democratic harshness of both rooms is even smaller.
The Democrats hold 33 seats in a home of 120 people. (One seat is open.) In the Senate, Pizzo left the party and currently has 10 Democrats out of the 40 seats. (Two seats are open.)
Pizzo’s decision was a surprise to his fellow Democrats who had no idea what he was making an announcement. Senate Democratic leaders gave Republican Senate President Ben Albritton the lead before announcing his decision.
Sen. Shevrin Jones of D-Miami Gardens said the party would not say it is “dead,” but agreed that “there is a lot to do.”
Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith of D-Orlando said Pizzo wanted to “be comfortable on my skin.”
Senate Democrats quickly chose Sen. Lori Berman D Boca Raton as their new leader.
“The Democrats in Florida are not dead,” Berman told reporters about two hours after Pizzo announced.
