COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Republican Party picked up another member of the South Carolina House on Tuesday and may have picked up a second.

Hemingway Rep. John "Bubber" Snow filed for re-election with the GOP. His switch gives Republicans 74 of the House's 124 seats.

And in an unusual twist, Rep. George Bailey of St. George had earlier filed as Democrat and then filed again as a Republican for the same seat.

Bailey's move infuriated Democratic leaders, who said Democrats would be deprived of a choice in the election. "We will do everything within our power to protect the right of Dorchester County voters to ensure a fair election for their Statehouse seat," House Minority Leader James Smith, D-Columbia, said.

"We will get to the bottom of these underhanded tactics employed by the Republican Party," Dorchester County Democratic Party Chairman A.J. Glover said.

Snow served in the House twice, from 1977 to 1994 and again starting in 2001. He is chairman emeritus of the Agriculture Committee.

Ware Shoals Sen. Billy O'Dell said in September he was switching to the Republican Party. Myrtle Beach Sen. Luke Rankin said earlier this month he's switching to the GOP.

While Republicans applauded Snow's switch, Democrats panned it, noting that Snow faced opposition in the Democratic primary.

Smith said Snow's move was "for political expediency rather than an actual change of heart."

The district "has always been a Democratic seat and we expect it to always remain a Democratic seat," said Rep. Vida Miller, D-Pawleys Island.