August 20, 2023 05:49 PM
Washington Examiner: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/texas-county-attorney-leaves-democratic-party-republican
A Democratic county attorney in Texas has traded political parties over the border crisis.
Kira Talip Sanchez, the Kleberg County attorney, announced on Saturday that she switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Sanchez made the announcement at the 2024 election season kickoff event hosted by the Hispanic Republicans of Texas PAC.
“As County Attorney, I have been proud to work with law enforcement to ensure the safety of the citizens of Kleberg County,” Sanchez said in a statement. “There is an unprecedented crisis at our Southern Border. I believe that the GOP’s policies of law and order protecting safety, and backing the blue best align with my values and the values of the citizens of Kleberg County. I look forward to working with my colleagues to keep South Texas safe.”
Sanchez has served in the position since 2014. Attorneys who hold the position must be Texas residents and are elected to four-year terms.
As county attorney, Sanchez is in charge of the Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force. Since March 2021, Texas law enforcement has seized over 426 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
"Voters and even candidates are switching to the Republican Party because Democrats no longer serve their interests,” Hispanic Republicans of Texas President Cassy Garcia said in a statement. “The best way to continue bringing folks over to the Republican Party is to keep pursuing policies that promote economic prosperity, keep our country safe, and support freedom. I’d like to thank Attorney Talip Sanchez for joining us tonight and for her work [for] Kleberg County, and I am excited to continue our outreach across Texas to bring more voters to the Republican Party."
According to Gov. Greg Abbott's (R-TX) office, over 31,000 immigrants have been sent from his state to Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, and New York City since April of last year. Abbott said he sent thousands of immigrants because Texas's towns on the border are "overwhelmed and overrun" with immigrants.
Kleberg County is in South Texas and covers part of the eastern coast of the Mexican Gulf. Six percent of its population is foreign-born, according to the census.