It has come to the attention of Burnt Orange Report that Republican Kirk England of HD-106 will announce he's switching parties tomorrow in Grand Prairie. England won by only a couple hundred votes in 2006 against Democrat Katy Hubener who had contested the seat in an earlier special election. For past coverage of HD-106 click here.
State Rep. Kirk England of Grand Prairie is switching to the Democratic Party, the first such switch by a Texas legislator in decades.
England, the son of longtime Republican and Grand Prairie Mayor Charles England, first won the seat representing District 106 in a special election in March 2006, after the retirement of state Rep. Ray Allen. The district includes most of Grand Prairie and south Irving.
"After one session in the House, I found that the Republican leadership in Austin had no tolerance for the values and priorities of the folks I represent," England said in a statement released Wednesday. "That is why [Thursday] at 10 a.m., I will announce my intention to seek re-election to the Texas House as a Democrat."
Theresa Huchingson, a spokeswoman for England, said England would explain his decision in greater detail at the news conference.
I have no further comment at this time. Below is an official release from Rep. England.
Grand Prairie, TX // Today, State Representative Kirk England released the following statement:
"In December of 2005, when I filed to run for office, I made a promise to the hardworking families in our community to fight for our public schools, fight for affordable health care and to fight for them on pocketbook issues. After one session in the House, I found that the Republican leadership in Austin had no tolerance for the values and priorities of the folks I represent.
"That is why tomorrow at 10 AM, I will announce my intention to seek reelection to the Texas House as a Democrat.
"I was born and raised in Grand Prairie , and I have lived here my whole life. My wife Marcy and I raised our two sons, Sam and Charlie, in this community and I own a small business here. I trust the voters in District 106 and I am confident that my friends and neighbors agree that doing what is right is more important than partisan politics.
"I am prepared to roll up my sleeves and work hard to be reelected in 2008. I am confident that the voters in our district want a representative who will fight for public education and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and who believes that the folks struggling to pay skyrocketing utility bills every month are more important than TXU's profits. I am committed to returning to Austin to keep the promises I made to citizens of District 106."
"I look forward to discussing this important issue in greater detail tomorrow."
(Again great stuff from RBH. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Using the data on the election analysis page (for 2004, I'll update slightly when the 2006 data is posted), here are the 7 Republicans who are in the bluest districts.
Haggerty (HD78), Murphy (HD133), Goolsby (HD102), England (HD106), Harper-Brown (HD105), Latham (HD101), and Branch (HD108).
Haggerty hasn't been challenged by a Democrat since 1998. He was almost unseated in the primary though.
Murphy and Latham are freshmen. Murphy won with 56%. Latham beat an incumbent in the primary and didn't face a Democrat.
Goolsby won with 52%, England won with 49%, Brown won with 55%, and Branch won with 56%.
