(Abdul–Rahman Oladimeji Bello, Headline USA) Panic struck in a wave for the Democrat party this week, as yet another state lawmaker announced he was switching to the GOP.
The latest to make the leap was Louisiana state Rep. Jeremy LaCombe, who announced Monday that he would be switching to the GOP, according to The Advocate. The report further stated that the lawmaker’s switch was very low-profile, and he also did not state his reasons.
LaCombe was the second Louisiana Democrat to switch party affiliations in less than a month, Fox News reported. Furthermore, the lawmaker’s departure is the third nationwide, joining North Carolina’s Rep. Tricia Cotham, a former Democrat from a blue county, who flipped to the GOP.
The Advocate report recalled that leftists once dominated Louisiana. However, the tides have turned in recent years as the GOP now holds a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature.
Louisiana state Rep. Francis Thompson gave Republicans a state House supermajority after registering with the GOP last month. Cotham also gave Republicans in the N.C. House a supermajority with her switch.
LaCombe’s switch reportedly gives Democrats only 32 members in the 105-member House, while the GOP holds 71 as there are two independents. Moreso, only 70 votes are required to make crucial decisions including veto overrides and tax measures.
Though Democrats still maintain an edge in the number of registered voters in Louisiana, party registration has tilted towards the GOP. Latest data from the secretary of state revealed 39% of registered voters are Democrats, while nearly 34% are Republicans with others being independents.
The party switches occur as President Biden faces a near-record low approval rating among key groups, including women (43% now vs. 42% low), voters ages 45+ (41% vs. 39% low). His ratings are also low among suburban voters (41% vs. 39% low), rural voters (31% vs. 30% low), and Democrats (81% vs. 78% low) – Democratic men in particular (79% vs. 78% low), according to a recent Fox News poll.
