State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil Compares Senate Majority Leader to KKK ‘Grand Wizard’

A state senator who switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP earlier this year caused a legislative stir Monday by comparing state Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez to a Ku Klux Klan member in a social media post.

In Monday’s post, Marie Alvarado-Gil compared Democratic Sen. Lena Gonzalez — who is chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus and also serves as Senate Majority Leader, to the head of the racist organization Ku Klux Klan, ending with an obscenity in Spanish.

“We are on day 1 of the new session and Grand Wizard Gonzalez of the Latino Caucus is already in my face,” the post read. “She tried to kick me out of the Senate break room so she could have ‘privacy’. Uhhh nope. I am a CA State Senator just….like….you…ni que fuera tu pendeja #PowerTakeBackCA“

Democratic Sen. Lena Gonzalez — who is chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus and who also serves as Senate Majority Leader — kicked Marie Alvarado-Gil out of the Latino Caucus earlier this year after Alvarado-Gil switched parties, leaving the Democratic Party for the Republican Party in the middle of her term.

Legislators swiftly issued statements condemning Monday’s post.

“The online racist attack by Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil yesterday targeting Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez is abhorrent and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by both sides of the aisle,” said Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire.

“There is absolutely no excuse for a member of the California Legislature to invoke one of the worst terror organizations in our nation’s history. Words have meaning, and her hate speech is downright dangerous.

“Senator Alvarado-Gil has enough troubles as it is and she has crossed yet another line, which will not be tolerated. She owes Senator Gonzalez and the people of California a public apology for her hate-filled tirade.”

The “has enough troubles as it is” may refer to a lawsuit filed against Alvarado-Gil for alleged sexual harassment in September by former staffer Chad Condit. She filed a countersuit last month.

Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, a Republican whose district stretches from Poway to Borrego Springs and who leads the Senate Republican Caucus, also released a statement.

“Racism and personal attacks have no place in our political discourse or within any governing body on either side of the aisle,” the statement said.

“Yesterday’s conflict stems from a history of ongoing tensions between some members that have escalated since Senator Alvarado-Gil switched parties.”

Jones’ statement said that he urged all legislative members to “resolve workplace conflicts privately and professionally.”