State Representative Hillary Cassel’s (R-Broward County) rapid rise to power in the Florida House has sparked controversy and raised serious ethical concerns. Cassel had little to no influence as a member of the Democratic minority before she switched parties in December of 2024. Now a Republican, Cassel is cashing in that newfound political capital. Despite being just a sophomore legislator, Cassel has secured $29 million in the proposed 2025 House budget for her district—an extraordinary figure and more than most representatives have gotten or will ever hope to get for their districts. Many observers agree that this stinks to high heaven. Why is someone who party hopped a hot second ago being rewarded, and who is behind it?
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To give some perspective. If you compare the appropriations in the proposed budget for other female Republican sophomore representatives, it’s shocking. Susan Plasencia (R-Orange County), who has quietly been a loyal Republican majority team player, is set to get only $1 million after asking for $30 million. Cassel’s initial ask was an unprecedented $80 million. She is set to get more money for her district than most representatives senior to her. It may be because she is a trial attorney, and the trial lawyer lobby is one of the strongest in Tallahassee. The bills passing through the House are bad for Floridians but a dream for trial attorneys.
As Governor Ron DeSantis said,
“Nominal Republicans in the legislature are carrying a leftist agenda. They think you’re dumb enough to let them be liberal.”
Background
Cassel, a trial attorney from Broward County’s District 101, won her first election in 2022 as a Democrat. In her first term, she was a bona fide progressive, supporting drag queen performances and advancing pro-trans policies. She opposed banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors and voted against legislation that restricted discussions of gender and sexual orientation in schools. Cassel also supported diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Cassel was no moderate.
The Party Switch
Cassel ran unopposed in her 2024 re-election campaign as a Democrat but shocked her constituents by switching to the Republican Party in December 2024. (Party Hoppers) The opportune timing of her switch allowed her to advance legislation that would have been impossible as a Democrat.
Furthermore, during her tenure as a Democrat, Cassel voted against multiple Republican-led gun bills to expand Second Amendment rights. These included measures to allow permit-less concealed carry and arm school staff for enhanced security. Her consistent alignment with progressive causes earned her praise from liberal groups, but all she had to do was suddenly become a Republican, and she was immediately rewarded despite these prior votes. Most recently, since becoming a Republican, she voted against lowering the gun purchasing age from 21 to 18, proving that when push comes to shove, she will stand with her former liberal caucus.
Vice Chair of Insurance & Banking: A Strategic Role
Cassel’s appointment as Vice Chair of the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee has raised significant concerns about conflicts of interest. This position places her in direct control of the legislative silo most critical to advancing the trial attorney lobby’s agenda. During a recent committee meeting, Representative Mike Caruso (R-Palm Beach County) remarked,
“This bill is good for the trial attorneys but bad for Floridians. Maybe instead of Insurance & Banking, we should rename it the Subcommittee for Insurance and Trial Attorneys,” highlighting Cassel’s influence in pushing pro-litigation policies.
~Rep. Mike Caruso, R-West Palm Beach
In 2022, the Gov called a special session to address Insurance.
The law they passed limited awards for attorneys fees, and frivolous lawsuits.
Cassel (then a Dem) strongly opposed.
So she switched parties, and introduced a bill to undo the 2022 bill.
All the sudden she’s a hero. https://t.co/ckD4U833fl pic.twitter.com/moXuhxIAXL— Frog Capital (@FrogNews) April 4, 2025
As Vice Chair, Cassel has spearheaded efforts to reverse tort reform policies enacted under Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022 and 2023. These reforms were designed to curb abusive litigation practices and stabilize Florida’s insurance market, which is precisely what has transpired since it passed. However, Cassel is leading efforts to undo these good measures through bills like HB 1551, which would reinstate mostly one-way attorney fees in insurance disputes—a move critics argue would incentivize excessive lawsuits while benefiting trial attorneys like herself.
This is one of the biggest scandals in Tallahassee. MAGA influencers are helping lifelong Democrats. @RepCassel was a Dem. She switched parties and now @Daniel_PerezFL backs her leftist bills.
Worse, she’s drafting bills on which she profits, as GOP leadership cheers her on. https://t.co/szcImXdxxG
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) April 6, 2025
Advocacy for Trial Attorneys
Governor DeSantis has publicly condemned Cassel’s actions, calling them part of a “trial lawyer enrichment scheme” designed to funnel money into liberal plaintiffs’ attorneys’ pockets at the expense of Floridians.
“To contort the laws of the state of Florida to funnel as much money to liberal trial lawyers as humanly possible—they are trying to enrich liberal plaintiffs’ attorneys at your expense,”
Governor DeSantis said at a recent Republican Executive Committee meeting.
Former House Speaker Paul Renner also criticized these efforts, warning that reversing tort reform would lead to higher premiums and more frivolous lawsuits.
“Litigation mills create an excessive tort tax, which inflates costs on everything,” Renner stated, emphasizing that lawmakers must ensure insurers deliver fair outcomes without enabling abusive practices.
Just two years ago, the Florida Legislature ended sham litigation practices that made billboard lawyers rich at our expense. Auto insurance premiums are now going down for the first time in memory, saving Florida drivers millions. Billboard lawyers want those savings back in…
— Paul Renner (@Paul_Renner) April 3, 2025
The Future of Leadership
Meanwhile, sophomore Jennifer Canady (R-Polk County) has been voted by her class as the future Speaker and $18 million has been approved for the proposed budget for her district. Canady may want to watch her back, as Cassel, a nonentity during her speaker’s race, now wields considerable power. Cassel’s swift ascent raises concerns among conservatives about whether true Republican principles are being overshadowed by political maneuvering.
Cassel’s story is one of ambition and transformation—but also of opportunism and self-interest. The Republican supermajority was not elected by the people to be the voice of trial attorneys- Floridians must come first, not special interests. As she continues to dominate the Florida House, conservative legislators must step up their game and stand up for the concerns of their constituents. Bowing to political gamesmanship, lobbyist money, and trial attorney pressures is wrong and prioritizes personal gain over public service.
Other stories you may want to read:
Florida House Votes to Restore Second Amendment Rights, Lowers Gun Purchase Age to 18
- Speaker Danny Perez Admits Defeat, Finally Yields on Property Taxes - April 29, 2025
- DeSantis’ Warns Florida House Budget Would Defund the Police - April 23, 2025
- Dem. Rep. Skidmore Takes Florida House to Task for Not Being Conservative Enough - April 22, 2025