Party Switch by Texas Democrat Likely
A conservative Democratic congressman from Texas who last week quit a campaign committee over a dispute with Democratic leaders will jump to the Republican Party on Monday, GOP sources said Friday.
A party switch by Rep. Greg Laughlin would make him the fourth congressional Democrat to change parties since Republicans recaptured control of Congress in November. House Republicans would have a 232-202 majority with Laughlin, who represents a huge rural district in South Texas.
For well over a week, Republicans have floated rumors that Laughlin would defect. He would become the second House Democrat to defect this year, joining Rep. Nathan Deal of Georgia, who switched parties in April.
A Democratic congressional source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Laughlin was close to nailing down a commitment from the Republicans guaranteeing him a seat on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
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