NH Rep. Dale Girard Switches from Democrat to Republican

Claremont, New Hampshire State Representative Dale Girard, who also serves as mayor of the city, announced on Monday that he has changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican at Claremont City Hall.

In a Facebook post, Girard stated the decision followed "a great deal of thought and consideration." He emphasized that it stemmed from a realization during his time in Concord that "my personal ideologies did not align as closely with the party as I once believed." Girard described himself as having been labeled a Blue Dog Democrat, a more conservative faction within the party that he noted is less common today. He added that his voting record over the past two years "has often aligned more closely with Republican positions, and this change reflects that reality."

The switch does not affect Girard's role as mayor, which is officially nonpartisan. However, it alters the balance in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, increasing the Republican majority from 214-178 to 215-177. This comes amid other changes to the chamber's composition this session, including the February resignation of Keene Democrat Dylan Germana amid an Attorney General's investigation into his...