Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

Kirk England

Dallas-area Democrats are getting another Republican Party defector.

State Rep. Kirk England, R-Grand Prairie, has announced that he's switching to the Democratic Party.

"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," Mr. England said in a statement. "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... I will announce my intention to seek re-election to the Texas House as a Democrat."

By late Wednesday afternoon, Democrats were already welcoming him to the party.

"Kirk will bring a different perspective," said state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas. "... He's trying to represent the views of his district."

The news of Mr. England's departure stunned Republican leaders.

Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Kenn George said Wednesday that Mr. England's move caught him by surprise.

"I hadn't heard about it at all," he said. "Needless to say, I'm disappointed."

Mr. England's decision has created strong political buzz in an area already humming from the surprise retirement of state Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson.

What's more, Dallas County Democrats will gather today at their Fair Park headquarters to welcome Criminal Court Judge John Creuzot back to the fold.

Judge Creuzot, a former Democrat turned Republican, is running in the March primary as a Democrat.

Though several area judges are expected to switch political affiliation in the wake of last November's Democratic countywide sweep, few predicted Republican lawmakers would change parties as well.

Mr. England becomes the first Republican lawmaker in recent memory to become a Democrat. And his departure illustrates the changing political face of urban Texas counties where demographic shifts are creating opportunities for Democrats.

And though Mr. England's defection only mildly dents the Republican majority in the Texas House – it's currently 81-69 GOP – it signals that the Democratic strategy of targeting swing districts with vulnerable Republican incumbents is working.

"In the south, all the shifts have been in the other direction, said Southern Methodist University political scientist Matthew Wilson. "Ten or 15 years ago, Democrats were switching to the Republican Party and now there's a move back to parity or beyond parity.

"We're not going to see in the near future Democratic dominance like Republican dominance in the last 10 years, but certainly Democrats are becoming a lot more competitive in urban Texas areas. These are the building blocks of statewide competitiveness down the road."

Mr. England, 46, comes from local GOP stock. His father, Charles England, is a Republican and the mayor of Grand Prairie.

In his brief legislative career, he often has voted with Democrats and opposed the leadership of House speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland.

Mr. England's District 106, which encompasses most of Grand Prairie and parts of southern Irving, has grown increasingly Democratic over the years.

In November, Mr. England squeaked by Democrat Katy Hubener by less than 200 votes.

Ms. Hubener, a real estate agent who had planned to make another run for the seat, said she was considering her options in light of Mr. England's switch. She now must be prepared to wage two campaigns – a primary race against Mr. England in March and a general election in November 2008.

Dallas County Democratic chairwoman Darlene Ewing said Mr. England's move was a positive. But she said that many grassroots party activists would not support Mr. England if Ms. Hubener decided on another run.

Though the party remains neutral in primary elections, Ms. Ewing said she personally backs Ms. Hubener.

"If Katy runs, I'm sticking with her," Ms. Ewing said. "He's going to have trouble beating her in the primary. The grassroots Democrats are going to back Hubener."

Mr. England has represented District 106 since he won a special election in 2006 to replace Republican Ray Allen.

He said he looked forward to running as a Democrat.

"I am prepared to roll up my sleeves and work hard to be re-elected in 2008," Mr. England said. "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."