Original sentence: (Five years later it was revealed that she had been in a sexual relationship with Labor deputy leader Gareth Evans).In October 1997, party leader Cheryl Kernot resigned, announcing that she would be joining the Australian Labor Party.Kernot resigned from the Senate and was replaced by Andrew Bartlett, while deputy Meg Lees became the new party leader.The party's representation increased to nine senators, and they regained the balance of power, and held it until the Coalition gained a Senate majority at the 2004 election
Edited sentence: Following the 1998 election the Australian Democrats again held the balance of power, until the Coalition gained a Senate majority at the 2004 election.The party's integrity as a neutral third party suffered a serious blow from the resignation and defection of leader Cheryl Kernot in October 1997, with revelations of her sexual relationship with Gareth Evans and her aspirations to a ministerial position in a Labor government.The party's representation increased to nine senators