In a political move that caught some San Diegans by surprise and could have a statewide impact, San Diego Assemblyman Brian Maienschein announced on Thursday that he was switching his political party allegiance from Republican to Democrat.

Here are a few things to know about this move:

Remind me. Who is Brian Maienschein?

Maienschein is a former two-term San Diego City Councilman who was termed out in 2008 and was first elected to the state Assembly as a Republican in 2012 after defeating a Democrat by almost 20 percent.

Maienschein, who represents the 77th district in the California Assembly, recently defeated his Democratic opponent Sunday Gover by a margin of some 600 votes — less than one percent — in the November elections.

The district Maienschein represents covers parts of north San Diego County, which includes Fairbanks Ranch, Poway, and Rancho Santa Fe. His district also covers parts of the city of San Diego, which includes Carmel Valley, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa and others.

He is a graduate of the University of California in Santa Barbara and he earned his law degree from the California Western School of Law. Before his switch, he was one of only 20 Republicans in the 80-member Assembly. His move leaves just 19 Republicans in Sacramento alongside 61 Democrats .

What has he said about his party switch?

Update: In a statement, Maienschein said has been at odds with the Republican Party and has previously voted across party lines.

“Leaving the Republican Party is not easy. I can either keep fighting to change the Republican Party or I can fight for my constituents. I choose to use my energy and skills for the people I represent,” Maienschein said.

“ Donald Trump has led the Republican Party to the extreme on issues that divide our country, but his leadership is not the lone reason for my change in party affiliation. I too have changed. As the Republican Party has drifted further right, I – and my votes – have changed. As a single father to two girls I am guided by my hopes and dreams for their future.”

How did his Republican colleagues react?

Assembly Republican Party leader Marie Waldron called his party switch “unfortunate.”

Members of the Republican Party in the California Assembly. U-T

“It’s unfortunate that Brian’s takeaway from his extremely close reelection was that his political future depended on becoming a turncoat. Unfortunately some people run for office simply because they want a job, regardless of political philosophy,” Waldron said in a statement. “It appears that Brian falls into this category.

“While Brian is enjoying the perks of his new status as a member of the Democrat majority in the Legislature, we Republicans will continue to stand for the people of California.”

By Thursday, Maienschein’s name and photo was removed from the Assembly Republicans website, which shows the now 19 members of the party.

In a statement, San Diego GOP chairman Tony Krvaric called Maienschein “the absolute worst kind of politician.”

“By running for re-election as a Republican he was making a statement about who he was and now he is switching parties for self-preservation and political games," he said.

"Blaming President Trump doesn't cut it as we had the same president in 2018 as today. I call on Brian Maienschein to do the honorable thing and resign immediately, allowing voters to elect someone under honest pretenses," Krvaric added.

What are Democrats saying about this?

Close to two months after being sworn in for another term, Maienschein was embraced by Assembly Democrats.

Assembly speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, said in a tweet that Maienschein’s “legislation, his actions, and his presence in the Assembly have always shown him to be a man committed to ideas for making California better, not to ideology that divides us.”

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego, shared a photo of herself and other Democrats with a caption that read “this beautiful San Diego delegation.”

Gover, his former Democratic opponent in the November election, called Maienschein’s party switch "good news" but added that "simply switching parties doesn’t address the issues our community needs championed in Sacramento."

So was it really a surprise or was this foreshadowed?

Whether Maienschein had previously planned to switch political parties or was nudged by a majority-Democratic Assembly, a number of political observers had mixed reactions.

Some were surprised. Others, not so much.

So is there a back story?

Maienschein’s re-election in 2018 was a nail-biter with ballot counting extending for days beyond election night. Gover touted many endorsements in that close campaign but conspicuously absent from her list were members of the San Diego delegation who had worked with Maienschein for years in Sacramento. Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and San Diego assembly members Gonzalez Fletcher, Todd Gloria, Shirley Weber.

Read more: 77th District Assemblyman Brian Maienschein on the issues

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez

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