SACRAMENTO — Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) released the following statement after Assemblymember Brian Maienschein announced he would be leaving the Republican Party for the Democratic Party:

“I welcome the addition of Assemblymember Brian Maienschein to the Democratic Party. His 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. In particular, he has shown a passion for addressing homelessness since his arrival in this body. As Donald Trump continues to debilitate the Republican Party, Assembly Democrats will continue our work to make things better for Californians.”