Former Republican strategist Ana Navarro explained her choice to remain registered as a Republican to actor Michael Douglas on The View. Navarro emphasized the importance of her role in Florida, where closed primaries allow her to influence Republican candidates.
Douglas questioned Navarro about her political stance, noting her consistent criticism of Donald Trump. She responded by explaining her desire to vote in the primaries against candidates she disagrees with. “I want to be able to vote in the primaries and vote against those sons of b—-es,” Navarro said, aiming to impact the outcomes.
Navarro faces criticism from conservatives for holding onto her Republican identity despite advocating for policies similar to her co-hosts on The View. Additionally, she supported Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election and hosted the Democratic National Convention.
In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Navarro addressed the criticism, arguing her views align with traditional Republican values. She believes in free trade, strong foreign policy, and is pro-immigration.
Her party affiliation comes into question often, notably during debates with co-host Sunny Hostin. Navarro drew parallels between her Republican identity and religious affiliation by asking, “Why are you still a Catholic? You don’t agree with everything about the Catholic Church.”
ABC and The View faced backlash when Navarro encouraged viewers to support a Democratic congressional candidate in Florida. Republican consultant Mary Marslender criticized Navarro, labeling her a “fake Republican” who retains her party affiliation to maintain media relevance. Marslender contends that Navarro’s role on The View involves criticizing Republicans while benefiting from her GOP identity.