State Rep. Ben Chipman of Portland has enrolled as a Democrat, dropping his independent status.

Chipman, who is in his third term, said he believes joining the majority party in the House will give him more sway to counter what he said have been abuses of power by Gov. Paul LePage.

Chipman was one of the lawmakers who asked the legislature’s oversight committee to look into LePage’s threat to withhold state funds from a private school for at-risk children after the school offered its top job to House Speaker Mark Eves, a Democrat.

The school ultimately withdrew the job offer. The Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability is expected to report on the matter next week after investigating it this summer.

The switch gives the Democrats 77 seats in the chamber. Republicans hold 67 seats, five are held by independents and two are vacant.

Chipman said he re-registered as a Democrat on Friday.

“I’ve been kind of like a Bernie Sanders independent,” Chipman said, referring to the Vermont senator. “Slightly to the left of the Democratic Party.”