State Rep. Thierry Warns of Democrats' 'Extreme Policies'

Earlier this year, Texas State Rep. Shawn Thierry (R) publicly announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party. This continues a string of Democrats who have done the same like Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson (R). In the latest episode of Texas Senator Ted Cruz's (R) Verdict podcast, the Texas Republican hosted state Rep. Thierry, who discussed how Democrats' "extreme policies" are endangering children.

During the interview, Rep. Thierry recounted how she had been raised by parents who were Democrats because they felt "that was the party of middle-class folks." "We were Democrats, thinking that that was the party of middle-class, hardworking people," she expressed.

However, when she was elected to the Texas House, she began to feel disappointed in her party, noting that "the Democratic Party [was] moving further and further away from mainstream values."

Things came to a clash during the last legislative session, which she explained is when "Democrats really started pushing policies that were so contrary to the well-being of children, and just our country overall." It was the moment when she declared that "enough is enough."

Responding to legislation that sought to find the appropriate age for a child to have sex surgery, state Rep. Thierry commented that she took a stance, and she stuck out with that stance. The bill set the age of consent to 18, which Rep. Thierry agreed with. However, according to her, Democrats pushed back against her stance.

"The Democratic Caucus went crazy," she shared.

"Because I would not agree that children should undergo this type of harm, which, by the way, many of my colleagues privately told me they know it's wrong, but because I wouldn't co-sign with that, I started getting attacked right then and there," she added.

This was the final push to drive her out of the Democratic Party.

"I made a very personal decision. It was very difficult. I knew the attacks that I would receive."

Senator Cruz shared the segment from the podcast on X, endorsing state Rep. Thierry's comments and adding that "the Democratic Party has gone radically to the left."