LOS ANGELES — Gloria Romero, the former Democratic majority leader in the California state Senate who represented East Los Angeles and parts of the San Gabriel Valley in the state Legislature, announced Wednesday that she was switching to the Republican Party.

"Today I say 'goodbye, adios,' I've had enough. I am now another near- lifelong Democrat who is joining the growing number of people ... who are leaving the Democratic Party," Romero said in a news conference on the steps of the state Capital in Sacramento.

"This is not the Democratic Party that I once championed. I do not recognize it anymore, and I cannot continue. I changed my voting registration today as the sun was rising to Republican, which has, under Donald Trump, become the champion of working people, the big tent. And indeed, I will vote for Donald Trump this fall."

Romero, 69, was born in Barstow. She was elected to the California Assembly in 1998 and to the state Senate in 2001. Romero represented the 24th District, including East Los Angeles and parts of the San Gabriel Valley, including the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina and Whittier.

Romero was the first woman to serve as the California Senate's majority leader. She was termed out in 2010.

"Like many frustrated Democrats, Senator Romero no longer recognized her former party," California GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said.

"We welcome everyone to join us in this fight to make safer communities for our families, better schools for our children and a stronger economy for us all to thrive — because California deserves so much better."

State and Democratic Party officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.