Texas State Representative Aaron Peña officially switched from the Democrat party to the Republican party during a press conference in Austin on Tuesday afternoon.
The Rio Grande Guardian first reported that the Edinburg-based lawmaker was considering switching parties this weekend.
Peña had been sitting on the fence and kept a low profile that past few days but made an official announcment at a 3 p.m. press conference.
Republicans had won 99 seats in the 150 member Texas House during the November month’s election.
Peña's move gives the Republicans a 101-49 super-majority in the Texas House of Representatives.
Hispanic Republicans of Texas co-founder George Antuna released a statement on Tuesday afternoon welcoming Peña to the Republican party.
"Aaron Peña is a man of integrity who embraces our Latino values of hard work, economic freedom for our small business owners, family and faith," Antuna said in the statement.
Peña, who normally makes regular posts to his blog and twitter account, has been silent over the past three days.
On Tuesday morning, Peña posted a quote from former U.S. President John F. Kennedy on Twitter saying, "A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on."
The Associated Press quoted Peña as saying he will "stand as a member of the Republican Party" and will run as a Republican in his next election.
According to The Associated Press, Peña said Texas Democrats have strayed too far from his conservative views.
Peña joined Texas State Rep. Allan Ritter (D-Nederland) who also is announced his switch to the GOP Tuesday.
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