In a dramatic moment on the Senate floor Thursday, Florida Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo announced he is leaving the Democratic Party, declaring it “dead” and revealing plans to register as a no-party-affiliation voter.

Pizzo’s abrupt departure marks a major blow to a Democratic Party already grappling with identity crises, deep internal divisions, and a string of electoral losses in what was once considered a premier swing state.

“The Democratic Party in Florida is dead,” Pizzo said bluntly, criticizing political dysfunction and emphasizing the need for “practical leaders, not political hacks.”

Florida, once a competitive battleground, has shifted sharply Republican in recent years. The GOP now holds a voter registration advantage of more than 1.2 million and has made significant inroads in traditional Democratic strongholds like Miami-Dade County.

Pizzo, a former prosecutor representing parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, is known as a fierce debater who challenges both sides of the aisle. His move away from party affiliation is widely viewed as a step toward a possible 2026 gubernatorial run, as Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is term-limited.

“I think freeing myself from a party label allows me to move forward cleanly and transparently, to help many more people,” Pizzo told his colleagues, signaling broader political ambitions.

His announcement drew immediate backlash from Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, who accused Pizzo of staging “an embarrassing temper tantrum” and called him “ineffective and unpopular.”

“Jason’s inability to build support for a gubernatorial bid within our party has led to this desperate move,” Fried said. “The Florida Democratic Party is stronger without him.”

Democratic colleagues were surprised, but not shocked. “He’s always been an independent thinker,” said Sen. Shevrin Jones. “We’re in a period of refocusing, not death. Democrats have serious work ahead.”

Republican leaders, however, were not caught off guard. Senate President Ben Albritton’s office had been informed of Pizzo’s plans earlier Thursday, even as Pizzo kept his own caucus in the dark.

Notably, Pizzo’s decision comes just months after he publicly dismissed the idea of leaving the Democratic Party. His change of heart aligns with a broader trend of defections: State Representatives Susan Valdés and Hillary Cassel recently switched to the GOP. On Thursday, Valdés presided over a House session dressed in bright red, symbolizing her new political allegiance.

Pizzo’s departure adds to the mounting challenges facing Florida Democrats as they attempt to rebuild their influence in a state that has increasingly turned deep red.