Mike Holcomb, a state representative from Pine Bluff and retired county judge, has switched parties and will now represent his district as a Republican.
"I believe it's my job to represent the views of those who elected me and I can best represent them by being a Republican," he said Thursday. "I believe in the sanctity of life. I believe in traditional marriage. I believe in helping Arkansans."
He announced his decision at the Republican Party of Arkansas' headquarters in Little Rock.
He said Democratic opposition to Gov. Asa Hutchinson's decision to end the state's contract with Planned Parenthood was a breaking point. He also said he did not support same-sex marriage.
Doyle Webb, chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, said Holcomb's decision shows that the Democratic party is out of touch with Arkansans.
"The people of Arkansas have consistently had the same values and the same views, but they have seen the state Democratic party change in its views and values and leave them behind," he said. "For that reason, we've seen elected officials at the county level change party. We're now starting to see others looking at running as Republicans this fall."
H.L. Moody, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, said Holcomb already seemed more like a Republican than a Democrat.
"This comes as absolutely no surprise. During the last legislative session, he voted with House Republicans and caucused with House Republicans," Moody said. "His change in party affiliation won't change any legislative outcome."
"If standing against mammograms and STD treatments, prenatal checkups and equality for all Arkansans is important to Rep. Holcomb, then he's found the right home in the Republican Party of Arkansas."
Since Holcomb joined the state House of Representatives in 2013, he has been the lead sponsor of four bills. He currently serves as vice chairman of the House Public Transportation Committee.
Holcomb's record shows he has voted with both Democrats and Republicans.
He voted for both 12-week and 20-week abortion bans and the Arkansas Religious Freedom Restoration Act -- issues supported by Republicans.
"We look forward to working with him," said Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan, House majority leader. "We've already worked with him in the past."
Holcomb voted against a voter-ID law supported by conservatives, but for Arkansas' Medicaid expansion, which has split Republicans.
"I'm supportive of it as we're going right now," Holcomb said of the private option. "We're going to follow the governor's recommendations and the committee's recommendations as to how we proceed -- or whether we proceed or not."
"I'm not going to do anything different than I did before," he added. "I'm going to vote the same way and do the same things."
Hutchinson, who attended the announcement, said the defection showed the national Democratic party is having too much influence on the state.
"In fact, what we've seen over the past couple weeks is that the national Democratic party has now subsumed the state Democratic party," Hutchinson said. "They used to make the case that there's a difference. They can't make the case that there's a difference anymore."
Metro on 08/21/2015