Webb County, Texas, Judge Tano Tijerina was elected as a Democrat nearly a decade ago as the top executive of the border county.
On Tuesday, during an interview on Fox & Friends, Tijerina announced that he is leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party.
Ainsley Earhardt: A former Democratic stronghold in Texas, flipping red for the first time in 100 years. Look at those numbers. Our next guest is a longtime Democrat and top elected official in Laredo, who says his party is leaving behind Texans and the values that they hold dear. Judge Tano Tijerina joins us now with a big announcement. Good morning to you, Tano.
Tano Tijerina: Good morning. Good morning to my Fox & Friends.
Ainsley Earhardt: Well, we are glad you are here. Merry Christmas, Judge. All right, so, Judge, why are you Democrat?
Tano Tijerina: Well, that’s not really the question. The question should be, I’ve made a decision after careful thought and prayer and discussions with my family and community.
And over the years, I’ve watched the Democratic Party shift further and further to the left and leaving the values that I hold dear to my heart.
I’ve always been a conservative, and the radicalization of the National Democrats pushed me away a long time ago.
For that reason, I’m proud to announce that today I will be leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party, and I’m proud of that.
Ainsley Earhardt: Okay, very good, Judge. A lot of people in your area might say, Well, it’s only because Donald Trump won in your area. You’re doing this so you can win the next time around. What would you say to them?
Tano Tijerina: Well, people think of others the way one thinks, and I get it. It’s just the way it is. But unfortunately, I have a moral compass, and I cannot answer for anybody or let anybody know what they want to do. But for me, I’ve been seeing this go so further and further left.
We need to have border security. I think it’s a little bit more. Oil and gas industry has been threatened here in South Texas.
Then to be able to see everything that’s going on from the woke movement from the boys playing in girls’ sports and whatnot.
Hey, listen, it’s something that I had to do. It’s something that’s dear to my heart, and I have a moral compass that I need to continue moving forward.
Ainsley Earhardt: Yeah, that does not fly in South Texas. I used to live in San Antonio. Yeah, no. What’s the reason do you think that Donald Trump won in your area? Why is it changing in that area? Is it the border?
Tano Tijerina: Absolutely. I think a lot of the people here… First of all, when we look at down here in South Texas, our Democrats really are not the same as national Democrats. We’re very conservative for the most part. I think everybody started to understand and realize what was going on these last three to four years. To be able to see what’s going on through the border and everything like that.
Hey, it was a big… As a county judge, it was a huge effect on us, not only financially, but a burden-wise, to be able to security-wise, to secure our borders, too. I think with Donald Trump and what he’s going to do and some of his initiatives, I think it’s going to be good.
Watch:
The Texas Tribune notes that Tijerina’s departure from the party “comes after major defeats along the U.S.-Mexico border in November’s presidential election — counties that have been reliably Democratic for generations.”
President-elect Donald Trump won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, including all four counties in the Rio Grande Valley, eight years after winning only 29% of the vote in the region during his first presidential run.
The post Longtime Democrat Texas Judge Switches Parties: “The Radicalization of the National Democrats Pushed Me Away a Long Time Ago” (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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