The top Democrat in Florida's Senate is leaving his party, declaring that “the Democratic Party in Florida is dead."Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo's announcement on the Senate floor Thursday that he's changing his registration to no party affiliation is the latest blow to a party that has struggled to define itself after a series of crushing electoral losses in recent years.

State Senator Jason Pizzo, the Democratic minority leader, announced in a floor speech that he was leaving the party.

The Democratic Party in Florida is dead. But there are good people that can resuscitate it. But they don’t want it to be me,” Pizzo said.