BREAKING: Del. Meagan Simonaire switches parties

Delegate Meagan Simonaire has announced her decision to leave the Republican Party today in a prepared statement.

She cited gun violence as one of the key reasons for her decision.

Simonaire has compiled a moderate conservative voting record in her four years in Annapolis, but notably broke with her party and her father, Republican State Senator Brian Simonaire, over her support for a ban on controversial “gay conversion” therapy in Maryland.

Del. Meagan Simonaire has represented District 31B since 2015. While she is not running for re-election in the heavily Republican district this year, she did not rule out future campaigns as a Democrat.

This story will be updated as more details emerge.