Ana Navarro Stays Republican to Influence Florida Primaries

Former Republican strategist Ana Navarro shared her reasoning for remaining registered as a Republican during an appearance on “The View.” Speaking with actor Michael Douglas, Navarro said she maintains her Republican status to influence primary elections in Florida, a state with closed primaries.

Douglas queried Navarro, “Why aren’t you independent? How can you still be a Republican?” His question prompted laughter from Navarro, her co-hosts, and the audience on Tuesday.

Navarro responded, “I’ll tell you why; I live in Florida where the primaries are closed, and I want to vote in the primaries to influence the results.” She emphasized her desire to “make a difference” in primary elections.

Navarro’s political stance has attracted criticism from conservatives. Although she is a registered Republican, she often supports policies similar to those of her more liberal co-hosts. Navarro previously hosted at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and backed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Addressing criticism in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Navarro stated, “Anyone who shares Donald Trump’s views isn’t a traditional Republican. I won’t be lectured on what a Republican is or isn’t.”

Navarro also highlighted her support for concepts like free trade, strong foreign policy, and pro-immigration stances, identifying herself as an “old-fashioned Republican.” This sparked discussion with co-host Sunny Hostin, where Navarro drew a parallel with her Catholic belief system, saying, “Why are you still a Catholic? You don’t agree with everything about the Catholic Church.”

Recently, Navarro faced scrutiny after encouraging “The View” viewers to support a Democratic candidate in a key Florida congressional race.

Republican consultant Mary Marslender criticized Navarro’s role on “The View,” labeling her a “fake Republican” meant to criticize fellow Republicans. Marslender alleged that Navarro’s Republican registration serves as a credential for media appearances.

Marslender said, “‘The View’ needs a fake Republican to criticize actual Republicans, the president, and party donors. She keeps the title as a business plan to wield the Republican card meaninglessly.”