At least 13 state lawmakers have switched parties following the midterm elections, with the South in particular seeing the greatest number of defections.
In Alabama, the announced switch of four Democrats will give the House a Republican supermajority that will allow legislation to pass without any support of the opposition.
In Louisiana, State Rep. Walker Hines of New Orleans switched from Democrat to Republican, giving the state House a Republican majority for the first time since Reconstruction.
Sixteen states saw switches to GOP control in at least one of their chambers this year, as the national Democratic Party moved more to the left. Election experts expect more switches from Democrat to GOP in coming months in state legislatures because of the general shift of opinion and support in the last election cycle.
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