US Democratic lawmaker switches to Republican party

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 03, 2004

US Democratic lawmaker switches to Republican party

US Representative Ralph Hall, a Democrat from Texas, switched to the Republican Party Friday night, a news report said.

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US Representative Ralph Hall, a Democrat from Texas, switched to the Republican Party Friday night, a news report said.

With Hall's switch, the Republicans strengthened their grip on power in the House, with 229 representatives against 204 Democrats. There is one Democrat-leaning independent and one vacancy in the lower house of parliament.

Hall, 80, was first elected to the House in 1980.

His move was seen as a result of the Republicans' drive to remake Texas' congressional districts more to their liking, which has been strongly opposed by Democrats arguing the redistricting plan violates minority rights.

The plan has been approved by the Justice Department, and a court ruling on its legality is expected.

Hall, who has filed to run for re-election as a Republican after serving more than 20 years in the Congress as a most conservative Democrat, reportedly said he would switch or resign if it hurt his district to be a Democrat.

source:xinhua

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