Louisiana state rep ditches Dems for GOP, says he stands for the working people

LaCombe is the second Democratic lawmaker in Louisiana and third nationwide to make the switch to the GOP in the past month alone.

According to local news outlet The Advocate, while fellow Louisianian Rep. Francis Thompson marked his switch to the GOP with a party press conference, LaCombe's move was lower profile.

He confirmed with The Advocate on Monday that he had, in fact, switched parties, but refused to go into any specifics regarding exactly what led him to make that decision.

In a statement, Louisiana House Democratic Caucus Chair Sam Jenkins noted that though his party affiliation may have changed, LaCombe still stands for the same values.

"House Democrats will continue to stand up for the working people of Louisiana," Jenkins said. "We look forward to working with Rep. LaCombe during this legislative session to increase wages, lower costs, improve our schools and pass insurance reform that benefit Louisiana families and small businesses."

LaCombe was elected in 2019 to represent District 18 as a Democrat, and while he won that seat, he was easily defeated by Republican challenger Caleb Kleinpeter when he tried to run for state Senate.

As The Advocate reports, in Louisiana's 105-member House, seventy votes are needed to override vetos, and make other important decisions. Thompson's switch brought Republicans up to that threshold, and now with LaCombe, they hold seventy-one seats.

In March, North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham's walk across the aisle also led to the GOP attaining a supermajority. House Democratic Leader Robert Reives argued that because Cotham had campaigned as a "supporter of abortion rights, health care, public education, gun safety and civil rights," she should have resigned upon leaving the party.