Capitol Briefs: Party switch retribution, suspense file votes and new LGBTQ Caucus leadership

LGBTQ Caucus announces new leadership: The Legislative LGBTQ Caucus announced Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) as the caucus’s new chair, with Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) as vice-chair. Ward will replace outgoing Sen. Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), who is termed out. Ward and Menjivar begin their terms on Dec. 2^nd.

Hell hath no fury like a party scorned: The stunning party switch from Democrat to Republican by Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) was never going to go without consequences and repercussions, and this week those started rolling in. While Alvarado-Gil was welcomed to the fold by Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego), who lauded her “courage” in making the switch, at least one other Republican was less than happy about it.

Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona) took to social media to condemn Alvarado-Gil as a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) and a “fake Republican” who switched parties out of political expediency, a reference to her heavily Republican district and what is expected to be a very difficult re-election campaign in 2026.

The Dems she left behind are not any happier with her. On Monday, Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) stripped Alvarado-Gil of all her committee assignments. The Legislative Latino Caucus had already booted her out of the group, citing her willingness “to affiliate with an extremist, right-wing political party that constantly attacks and scapegoats our Latino community.”

All of which leaves her current suite of bills in flux, including one (SB 268) that would make rape of an intentionally intoxicated person a violent felony.

In a statement released on Tuesday Alvarado-Gil accused her former party of operating “like a mob” and urged voters to call McGuire’s office to urge him to not ditch her bills.

Stay tuned.

Oh the suspense: After regular session closes this Thursday lawmakers in both the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees parties will take up bills in their respective suspense files. As noted by lobbyist and regular Capitol Weekly contributor Chris Micheli, the committees will collectively vote on 830 measures: 515 in the Senate and 315 (313 bills, one ACR and one SCR) in the Assembly.