HONOLULU (AP) – A leader in Hawaii’s fight against same-sex marriage, state Sen. Mike Gabbard, said he’s considering switching parties to become a Democrat.

If Gabbard changes parties, he’ll leave Republicans with an even smaller minority in the Democrat-dominated Legislature. Democrats currently hold a 20-5 advantage over Republicans in the Senate.

Gabbard, R-Kalaeloa-Makakilo, is expected to meet with Democratic activists this weekend and could make a decision soon afterward.

He said his daughter, former Democratic state Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo, has been urging him to make the switch.

“Tulsi has been twisting my arm,” Gabbard said of his daughter, who now works for U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. “But I haven’t made a decision yet.”

Gabbard first became a public figure in the 1990s as a leader in the campaign to ban same-sex marriages in the islands. He served on the Honolulu City Council from 2003 to 2005 and was elected to the state Senate last year.

Gabbard was more likely than other Senate Republicans to break ranks and vote with the Democrats last session.

He joined Democrats to cast the deciding vote to override Gov. Linda Lingle’s veto of a bill that created an advisory council to help select appointments to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

State Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings, R-Lanikai-Waimanalo, urged Gabbard not to abandon the Republican party Monday night after he heard about the potential switch.

“There’s really two parties in this state: the party of the status quo and the party of reform,” Hemmings said. “It would be sad to see Mike go to the party of the status quo.”

Some Democratic activists were wary of the party embracing Gabbard after his opposition to same-sex marriage.

“I think he’s been a vicious demagogue on civil rights for gay couples,” said Bart Dame, who is co-chair of the state party’s legislation committee.

Other Democrats said there’s room for people who oppose same-sex marriage or civil unions.

“That’s not the issue with Mike Gabbard,” said Doug Pyle, the committee’s other co-chair. “It’s his history of extreme rhetoric.”