From Blue To Boo: The Shawn Thierry Defection Circus
From Blue To Boo: The Shawn Thierry Defection Circus
A center ring performance of political shenanigans and party betrayal.
In one of the latest and least surprising party switches in Texas, Representative Shawn Thierry announced today that she will join the Republican Party.
In the last legislative session, Shawn Thierry chose to side with bigots in the Texas House in their efforts to take away civil rights from the LGBTQ community. For that, she was canceled.
Thierry was paid big money from the far-right to go to the front mic and declare her allegiance to bigotry, which she did in a pathetic and tearful spectacle.
She knew how off-the-rails her position was, and exactly how her fellow Democrats and constituents would react—so naturally, she turned on the waterworks. She also knew this speech would be the grand finale of her career as a Democratic politician, so why not go out with a splash?
Within days of her tearful turncoat act, Thierry had multiple primary challengers. Eventually, she lost her seat in a runoff with Lauren Ashley Simmons.
Democrats canceled Thierry because hate and bigotry are right-wing values.
Democrats would have been happy enough for Thierry to slink into the shadows, be forgotten, and never heard from again. But today, she released a lengthy statement explaining why she is now switching parties.
To address what she said:
The Democratic Party is the party of the people; she got that right, but we don’t accept hate and bigotry among our ranks.
The Democratic Party has not drifted away from its roots of “love and acceptance for all.” Thierry drifted away from love and acceptance for all.
Maya Angelou also said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” is not economic empowerment.
Children are not being sexualized and sterilized. It’s a Republican lie. She knows that. She just hates the LGBTQ community.
Democrats don’t feel betrayed by not being bigots. Theirry felt betrayed because the Democrats rejected her bigotry.
Greg Abbott is a racist who ordered Border Patrol to push women and children into the Rio Grande. Her statement included his praises—bad look.
Thierry joins the ranks of other traitors, whose switch was visible from a mile away.
Representative Ryan Guillen and Dallas Mayor Erik Johnson, to name a few. This proves that Democrats with weak morals and open pockets are easily bought off and persuaded to join the party of hate. There are always signs before they do this. With Guillen and Thierry, they voted on right-wing bills leading up to their switch.
Last year, I published an article listing which Democrats were most likely to switch parties based on their votes in the 88th Legislature. I received pushback on that article because I didn’t list any white Democrats. I considered adding John Whitmire, but he was out of the Legislature and headed toward the Houston Mayor’s office by then. (When I told the person pushing back on the article that I considered adding John Whitmire, he responded with, “You progressives are going to have us all wearing hemp dresses and eating sunflowers.”)
The article was strictly based on how Democrats voted and how often they crossed the aisle to vote with Republicans because we saw this happen in the 87th Legislature with Ryan Guillen. I listed the seven Democrats in office who most often voted with Republicans and who I thought were at risk of party betrayal.
Shawn Theirry was one of the Democrats I predicted would switch parties.
While Shawn Theirry is now out of office and will not be in the 89th Legislature, between her and Ryan Guillen, Texas Democratic voters can learn a lot. If a Democrat in the Legislature votes with Republicans more than they are voting for Democrats, it’s probably a warning sign they plan to switch parties.
So, what does this mean for the future of Texas politics?
For starters, it’s a reminder that not everyone wearing a blue tie is committed to blue values. Shawn Thierry’s defection to the Republican Party is just the latest in a series of political somersaults by lawmakers who’ve decided that power and profit are more important than principles and people.
When a Democrat starts cozying up to right-wing bills, it’s like watching a bad soap opera—you know a dramatic betrayal is coming. And in this episode, Thierry played her part perfectly, delivering her big finale with crocodile tears and all.
But what Thierry and her fellow defectors don’t seem to understand is that the Democratic Party isn’t just a club you join for personal gain. It’s a movement rooted in the fight for equality, justice, and progress. It’s about lifting every voice, not just those who agree with you. And it’s certainly not about abandoning your values because a few right-wing billionaires are waving checks in your face. (Ryan Guillen pulled in $1.6 million for his switch.)
So, while Thierry may have made her grand exit from the Democratic stage, the rest of us are still here, fighting and committed to the ideals that make our party strong. We won’t be silenced by turncoats or intimidated by threats. If anything, Thierry’s departure should strengthen our resolve to protect the most vulnerable among us and continue pushing for a Texas where everyone, regardless of who they are or love, can live freely and with dignity.
Thierry’s switch is also a call to action for Texas Democrats: We must be vigilant, not just in opposing Republicans but in holding our own accountable. We need representatives who will stand firm in their beliefs, not ones who’ll flip-flop at the first sign of pressure from the far right. It’s up to us to ensure that the people we elect to office reflect our values—compassion, inclusivity, and justice.
In the end, Thierry may have switched sides, but Texas Democrats aren’t going anywhere. We’re here to stay, and we’re here to win—not just for ourselves but for every Texan who deserves a better future. So, let’s keep organizing, voting, and, most importantly, fighting for the Texas we know is possible.
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