Notable party switchers Party switching in the United States

1 notable party switchers

1.1 democratic republican

1.1.1 1800s
1.1.2 1900–1949
1.1.3 1950s
1.1.4 1960s
1.1.5 1970s
1.1.6 1980s
1.1.7 1990s
1.1.8 2000s
1.1.9 2010s


1.2 democratic third party/independent or third party democratic
1.3 republican democratic

1.3.1 before 1960
1.3.2 1960s
1.3.3 1970s
1.3.4 1980s
1.3.5 1990s
1.3.6 2000s
1.3.7 2010s


1.4 republican third party/independent or third party republican
1.5 democratic republican democratic
1.6 other

notable party switchers

notable party switchers of modern era include:

democratic republican
1800s

1855 – reuben fenton, while u.s. representative new york (1853–1855 , 1857–1864), later governor of new york (1865–1868) & u.s. senator new york (1869–1875).
1856 – hannibal hamlin, while u.s. senator maine (1848–1861 , 1869–1881), later governor of maine (1857) , 15th vice president of united states (1861–1865) during first term of abraham lincoln
1856 – simon cameron, while u.s. senator pennsylvania (1857–1861 , 1867–1877) , united states secretary of war (1861–1862)
1856 – galusha a. grow, while u.s. representative pennsylvania (1851–1863 , 1894–1903), later 28th speaker of united states house of representatives (1861–1863)
1856 – glenni william scofield, while u.s. representative pennsylvania (1863–1875)
1860s – benjamin franklin butler, later became u.s. representative massachusetts (1867–1875 , 1877–1879) , governor of massachusetts (1883–1884)
1860s – james m. hinds, later u.s. representative arkansas (1868)
1864 – thompson campbell, former u.s. representative illinois (1851–1853)
1865 – john a. logan, while u.s. representative illinois, later u.s. senator illinois (1871–1877 , 1879–1886)
1867 – john adams dix, former united states secretary of treasury (1861) & u.s. senator new york (1845–1849); later elected governor of new york (1873–1874)
1869 – david p. lewis, later governor of alabama (1872–1874)
1870 – james lawrence orr, former speaker of united states house of representatives (1857–1859) , u.s. representative (1849–1859), later governor of south carolina (1865–1868)
1893 – james a. walker, lieutenant governor of virginia (1878–1882), later u.s representative virginia (1895–1899)

1900–1949

1911 – octaviano ambrosio larrazolo, later governor of new mexico (1919–1921) , u.s. senator new mexico (1928–1929)
1921 – theodore a. bell, former u.s. representative california (1903–1905)
1933 – raymond moley, adviser president franklin d. roosevelt
1939 – wendell willkie, republican nominee president in 1940
1942 - martin f. howard, former member of wisconsin state assembly
1942 – max galasinski, former member of wisconsin state senate
1946 – rudolph g. tenerowicz, former u.s. representative michigan (1939–1943)
1949 – joseph a. mcardle, former u.s. representative pennsylvania (1939–1942)
1949 – rush d. holt, sr., former u.s. senator west virginia (1935–1941)
1949 – william c. cramer, later u.s. representative florida (1955–1971)

1950s

1952 – henry hyde, later became u.s. representative illinois (1975–2007)
1956 – cora brown, michigan state senator
1958 – odell pollard
1959 – francis grevemberg, former louisiana state police superintendent
1959 – dud lastrapes, later mayor of lafayette, louisiana

1960s

1960s – arthur ravenel, jr., south carolina state representative, later u.s. representative south carolina (1987–1995)
1960s – james f. byrnes, former governor of south carolina (1951–1955) , united states secretary of state (1945–1947)
1960 – claude r. kirk, jr., later governor of florida (1967–1971)
1960 – charlton lyons
1961 – perle mesta, former united states ambassador luxembourg (1949–1953)
1962 – dave treen, later u.s. representative louisiana (1973–1980) , governor of louisiana (1980–1984)
1962 – jack m. cox, former texas state representative
1962 – james d. martin, later u.s. representative alabama (1965–1967)
1962 – ronald reagan, while actor , former screen actors guild president. later 40th president of united states (1981–1989)
1962 – floyd spence, south carolina state representative, later u.s. representative south carolina (1971–2001)
1963 – rubel phillips, former mississippi public service commissioner
1963 – stanford morse, mississippi state senator
1963 – james h. boyce
1964 – alfred goldthwaite, alabama state representative
1964 – clarke reed
1964 – howard callaway, later u.s. representative georgia (1965–1967) , united states secretary of army (1973–1975)
1964 – iris faircloth blitch, former georgia u.s. representative (1955–1963)
1964 – charles w. pickering, later mississippi state senator , judge of united states district court southern district of mississippi (2004)
1964 – strom thurmond, while u.s. senator south carolina (1954–2003).
1965 – albert w. watson, while u.s. representative south carolina (1963–1971) (resigned before switching parties , regained seat in special election)
1965 – roderick miller, louisiana state representative
1966 – marshall parker, south carolina state senator
1966 – joseph o. rogers, jr., south carolina state representative
1966 – thomas a. wofford, former u.s. senator south carolina (1956)
1966 – len e. blaylock, later u.s. marshal eastern district of arkansas (1975–1978)
1966 – jerry thomasson, arkansas state representative
1966 – henry grover, texas state representative
1967 - thad cochran, u.s. senator mississippi 1978–present, representative mississippi s 4th district
1967 – william e. dannemeyer, later u.s. representative california (1979–1992)
1967 – allison kolb, former louisiana state auditor (1952–1956)
1968 – william reynolds archer, jr., while texas state senator, later u.s. representative texas (1971–2001)
1968 – wilson, former attorney general of texas (1957–1963)
1968 – james l. bentley, comptroller general of georgia (1963–1971)
1968 – gerald j. gallinghouse, later united states attorney eastern district of louisiana (1970–1978)

1970s

1970 – jesse helms, later u.s. senator north carolina (1973–2003)
1970 – a. c. clemons, louisiana state senator
1970 – william oswald mills, later u.s. representative maryland (1971–1973)
1970 – bob barr, later u.s. representative georgia (1995–2003)
1971 – tillie k. fowler, later u.s. representative florida (1993–2001)
1972 – ed karst, mayor of alexandria
1972 – robert r. neall
1972 – trent lott, later u.s. representative mississippi (1973–1989) , u.s. senator mississippi (1989–2007)
1973 – mills e. godwin jr., former governor of virginia (1966–1970) , lieutenant governor of virginia (1962–1966). later governor of virginia (1974–1978)
1973 – samuel i. hayakawa, later u.s. senator california (1977–1983)
1973 – john connally, former united states secretary of treasury (1971–1972) , former governor of texas (1963–1969)
1975 – elizabeth dole, later united states secretary of transportation (1983–1987), united states secretary of labor (1989–1990) , u.s. senator north carolina (2003–2009)
1975 – john jarman, while u.s. representative oklahoma (1951–1977)
1976 – rob couhig
1977 – a. j. mcnamara, louisiana state representative
1977 – lane carson, louisiana state representative
1978 – robert g. jones, louisiana state senator
1978 – chris smith, later u.s. representative new jersey (1981–present).
1978 – thomas bliley, mayor of richmond, virginia, , later u.s. representative virginia (1981–2001)
1978 – michael f. mike thompson, louisiana state representative
1979 – charles grisbaum, jr., louisiana state representative
1979 – ed scogin, louisiana state representative
1979 – armistead i. selden, jr., former u.s. representative alabama (1953–1969) , united states ambassador new zealand (1974–1979)

1980s

1980s – s. s. dewitt, louisiana state representative
1980 – sam yorty, former u.s representative california (1951–1955) , mayor of los angeles (1961–1973)
1980 – mac collins, later u.s representative georgia (1993–2005)
1980 – jim donelon, later louisiana insurance commissioner (2006–present)
1980 – jesse monroe knowles, louisiana state senator
1980 – frank d. white, later governor of arkansas (1981–1983)
1980 – j.c. sonny gilbert, louisiana state representative
1981 – bob stump, while u.s. representative arizona (1977–1003)
1981 – eugene atkinson, while u.s. representative pennsylvania (1979–1983)
1982 – condoleezza rice, later united states national security advisor (2001–2005) , united states secretary of state (2005–2009)
1982 - joseph p. wyatt, jr., former u.s. representative texas (1979-1981)
1983 – phil gramm, while u.s. representative texas (1979–1985) , later u.s. senator texas (1985–2002)
1983 – bob martinez, while mayor of tampa. later governor of florida (1987–1991) , director of national drug control policy (1991–1993)
1984 – v.j. bella, louisiana state representative
1984 – andy ireland, while u.s. representative florida (1977–1993)
1984 – h. edward knox, mayor of city of charlotte
1984 - sonny callahan, alabama state senator. later u.s representative alabama (1985-2003)
1985 – jeane kirkpatrick, while u.s. ambassador united nations (1981–1985)
1985 – edward j. king, former governor of massachusetts (1979–1983)
1985 – dexter lehtinen, florida state representative. later u.s. attorney southern district of florida (1988–1992)
1985 – kent hance, former u.s. representative texas (1979–1985)
1985 – jock scott, louisiana state representative
1985 – carole keeton strayhorn, later texas comptroller of public accounts (1999–2007)
1986 – william bennett, while u.s. secretary of education (1985–1988)
1986 – richard baker, louisiana state representative. later u.s. representative louisiana (1987–2008)
1986 – charles t. canady, florida state representative. later u.s. representative florida (1993–2001), justice of supreme court of florida (2008–present) , chief justice of supreme court of florida (2010–2012)
1986 – frank rizzo, former mayor of philadelphia (1972–1980)
1986 – james david santini, former u.s. representative nevada (1975–1983)
1987 – paul hardy, former secretary of state of louisiana (1976–1980), later lieutenant governor of louisiana (1988–1992)
1987 – roy moore, later chief justice of alabama supreme court (2001–2003)
1987 – edward vrdolyak
1987 – james c. smith, attorney general of florida (1979–1987), later florida secretary of state (1987–1995)
1988 – jim mccrery, later u.s. representative louisiana (1988–2009)
1988 – david duke, louisiana state representative
1988 – mike johanns, later governor of nebraska (1999–2005), united states secretary of agriculture (2005–2007) , u.s. senator nebraska (2009–2015)
1988 – john rice, alabama state senator
1989 – john amari, alabama state senator
1989 – pete johnson, while state auditor of mississippi (1988–1992)
1989 – bill grant, while u.s. representative florida (1987–1991)
1989 – tommy f. robinson, while u.s. representative arkansas (1985–1991)
1989 – rick perry, agriculture commissioner of texas. later governor of texas (2000–2015)
1989 – w. fox mckeithen, secretary of state of louisiana (1988-2005)

1990s

1990 – eli bebout, wyoming state representative
1990 – tom vandergriff, former u.s. representative texas (1983–1985). later elected county judge (1991–2007)
1990 – joseph f. toomy, louisiana state representative
1990 – vito fossella, later u.s. representative new york (1997–2009)
1990 – lauch faircloth, later u.s. senator north carolina (1993–1999)
1991 – bret schundler, mayor of jersey city
1991 – david beasley, later governor of south carolina (1995–1999)
1991 – buddy roemer, while governor of louisiana (1988–1992)
1992 – byron looper, tennessee state representative
1993 – edward h. krebs, pennsylvania state representative
1993 – don w. williamson, louisiana state senator
1994 – ron gomez, louisiana state representative
1994 – woody jenkins, louisiana state representative
1994 – dan richey, former louisiana state senator
1994 – ed austin, while mayor of jacksonville
1994 – walter b. jones, while running democrat u.s. representative north carolina. u.s. representative north carolina (1995–present)
1994 – ed whitfield, day before filing candidate u.s. house in kentucky. u.s. representative kentucky (1995–present)
1994 – ron gomez, louisiana state representative
1994 - stan spears, south carolina adjutant general
1994 – mike bowers, while attorney general of georgia (1981–1997)
1994 – fob james, former governor of alabama (1979–1983). later governor of alabama (1995–1999)
1994 – richard shelby, while u.s. senator alabama (1994–present)
1995 – jimmy hayes, while u.s. representative louisiana (1987–1997)
1995 – greg laughlin, while u.s. representative texas (1989–1997)
1995 – ben nighthorse campbell, while u.s. senator colorado (1993–2005)
1995 – billy tauzin, while u.s. representative louisiana (1980–2005)
1995 – nathan deal, while u.s. representative georgia (1993–2011). later became 82nd governor of georgia (2011–present)
1995 – mike parker, while u.s. representative mississippi (1989–1999)
1995 – susana martinez, later governor of new mexico (2011–present)
1995 – mike foster, later governor of louisiana (1996–2004)
1995 – donald ray kennard, louisiana state representative
1995 – rusty crowe, tennessee state senator
1995 – milton h. hamilton, jr, tennessee state senator
1996 – ronnie culbreth, georgia state representative.
1996 – norm coleman, while mayor of st paul. later u.s. senator minnesota (2003–2009)
1996 – jay blossman, later louisiana public service commissioner (1997–2008)
1996 – john hoeven, later governor of north dakota (2000-2010), later u.s. senator north dakota (2011–present)
1997 – steve windom, alabama state senator, later lieutenant governor of alabama (1999–2003)
1997 – kevin mannix, oregon state representative
1997 – michael j. michot, louisiana house of representatives
1997 – chip bailey, alabama state senator
1997 – h. mac gipson , ronald ron johnson, alabama state representatives
1998 – harry c. goode, jr., florida state representative
1998 – george wallace, jr., former alabama state treasurer (1987-1995)
1998 – gerald allen, steve flowers, , tim parker, jr., alabama state representatives
1998 – herman badillo, former u.s. representative new york (1971–1977)
1998 – david g. boschert, maryland state delegate
1998 – sonny perdue, georgia state senator. later governor of georgia (2003–2011)
1999 – nancy larraine hoffmann, new york state senator
1999 – joel giambra, city comptroller of buffalo

2000s

2000 – robert j. barham, louisiana state senator
2000 – matthew g. martinez, while u.s. representative california (1983–2001)
2000 – tom mcvea, louisiana state representative
2001 – blaine galliher, alabama state representative
2001 – clinton lesueur
2001 – michael bloomberg, before running mayor of new york city (2002–2014)
2001 – hunt downer, louisiana state representative
2002 – amy tuck, lieutenant governor of mississippi
2002 – olga a. méndez, new york state senator
2002 – don cheeks, georgia state senator
2002 – dan lee, georgia state senator
2002 – rooney bowen, georgia state senator
2002 – jack hill, georgia state senator
2002 – virgil goode, while u.s. representative virginia (1997–2009)
2002 – terry burton , videt carmichael, mississippi state senators
2003 – james david cain, louisiana state senator
2003 – travis little, mississippi state senator
2003 – larry baker, jim barnett, herb frierson, frank hamilton, , john read, mississippi state representatives
2003 – melinda schwegmann, former lieutenant governor of louisiana (1992–1996)
2003 – rick sheehy, mayor of hastings, nebraska
2004 – ralph hall, while u.s. representative texas (1981–2015)
2004 – rodney alexander, while u.s. representative louisiana (2004–2013)
2004 – steve beren
2004 – ralph doxey, mississippi state senator
2005 – michael diven, pennsylvania state representative
2005 – dan morrish, louisiana state representative
2006 – sheri mcinvale, florida state representative
2006 – don mcleary, tennessee state senator
2006 – john giannetti, maryland state senator
2006 – mickey channell, georgia state representative
2006 – kendrick, florida state representative
2006 – billy montgomery, louisiana state representative
2006 – henry burns, bossier parish school boardman
2006 – jimmy holley, alabama state senator
2007 – james walley, mississippi state senator
2007 – tommy gollott, mississippi state senator
2007 – dawn pettengill, iowa state representative
2007 – frank a. howard, sheriff of vernon parish
2007 – mike jacobs, georgia state representative
2007 – john neely kennedy, state treasurer of louisiana
2007 – robert adley, louisiana state senator
2008 – nolan mettetal, mississippi state senator
2008 – sid bondurant, mississippi state representative
2008 – gil pinac, former louisiana state representative
2009 – billy nicholson, mississippi state representative
2009 – paul vallas, school superintendent of recovery school district of new orleans, louisiana
2009 – tom salmon, vermont auditor of accounts
2009 – chuck hopson, texas state representative
2009 – parker griffith, while u.s. representative alabama (2009–2011)

2010s

2010 – steve levy, county executive of suffolk county, new york
2010 – john c. andrews, sheriff of pepin county wisconsin.
2010 – c. scott bounds, mississippi state representative
2010 – scott angelle, lieutenant governor of louisiana (2010-2010)
2010 – jane c. smith, alabama circuit clerk madison county
2010 – alan boothe, steve hurst, mike millican, , lesley vance, alabama state representatives
2010 – ashley bell, georgia hall county commissioner
2010 – ellis black, amy carter, mike cheokas, bubber epps, gerald greene, bob hanner, doug mckillip, , alan powell, georgia state representatives
2010 – tim golden, georgia state senator
2010 – chris steineger, kansas state senator
2010 – simone b. champagne, noble ellington, walker hines, , fred mills, louisiana state representatives
2010 – jim preuitt, alabama state senator
2010 – john alario , john smith, louisiana state senators
2010 – mike willette, maine state representative
2010 – bobby shows, mississippi state representative
2010 – cindy hyde-smith, mississippi state senator
2010 – joe welch, simpson county (mississippi) superintendent of education
2010 – lynn posey, mississippi public service commissioner central district
2010 – christine schaumburg, new jersey mayor of clinton
2010 – eldon nygaard, south dakota state senator
2010 – aaron pena , allan ritter, texas state representatives
2011 - tom butler, alabama state senator
2011 – buddy caldwell, louisiana attorney general
2011 – russ nowell, margaret rogers, , jeff smith, mississippi state representatives
2011 – ezell lee, mississippi state senator
2011 – charles graddick, alabama circuit judge , former attorney general of alabama (1979-1987)
2011 – charles bubba chaney , billy chandler, louisiana state representatives
2011 – mike pete huval, louisiana state representative
2011 – bob hensgens, mayor of gueydan, louisiana
2011 – jody amedee , norby chabert, louisiana state senators
2011 – jennifer champion, jefferson county (alabama) treasurer
2011 – brad warren, chairman of mobile county, alabama
2011 – mark grisanti, new york state senator
2011 – d. bruce goforth, north carolina state representative
2011 – linda collins-smith, arkansas state representative
2011 – taylor barras, louisiana state representative
2011 – bert jones, north carolina state representative
2011 – jim slezak, michigan state representative
2011 – gray tollison, mississippi state senator
2011 – donnie bell, mississippi state representative
2011 – sarah maestas-barnes, new mexico state representative
2012 – j. m. lozano, texas state representative
2012 – roy schmidt, michigan state representative
2012 – arthur j. williams, north carolina state representative
2012 – christine watkins, utah state representative
2012 – jason white, mississippi state representative
2012 – artur davis, former u.s. representative alabama (2003–2011)
2012 – alan harper, alabama state representative
2012 – jerry fielding, alabama state senator
2013 – lindsey holmes, alaska state representative
2013 – nickey browning, mississippi state senator
2013 – elbert guillory, louisiana state senator
2013 – evan jenkins, west virginia state senator. later u.s. representative west virginia (2015–present)
2013 – rick ward, iii, louisiana state senator
2013 – james r. fannin, louisiana state representative
2013 – andy nuñez, new mexico state representative
2013 – ryan ferns, west virginia state representative
2014 – charles newton, alabama state representative
2014 – randall patterson, mississippi state representative
2014 – daniel hall, west virginia state senator
2014 – linda black, missouri state representative
2014 - mark miloscia, washington state representative
2015 - sandra doorley, monroe county, new york, district attorney
2015 - mike holcomb, arkansas state representative
2015 – kim davis, rowan county, kentucky, clerk
2015 - jody steverson, mississippi state representative
2015 - denver butler, kentucky state representative
2015 – carlyle begay, arizona state senator
2015 – jim gooch, kentucky state representative
2015 - eric greitens, later governor of missouri (2016–present)
2015 - omarosa manigault, later director of communications office of public liaison (2017–present)
2016 - karen macbeth, rhode island state representative
2016 - yancey mcgill, lieutenant governor of south carolina (2014-2015)
2016 - david hillman, arkansas state representative
2016 - jeff wardlaw, arkansas state representative
2016 - joe jett, arkansas state representative
2016 - wilbur ross, later united states secretary of commerce (2017–present)
2017 - michelle rehwinkel vasilinda, former florida state representative
2017 - mariellen mackay, new hampshire state representative
2017 - jim justice, governor of west virginia (2017–present), had been republican prior 2015
2017 - dan pope, mayor of lubbock, texas
2017 - william brisson, north carolina assemblyman

democratic third party/independent or third party democratic

1848 – anti-slavery barnburner faction of democratic party, along members of liberty party, splintered creating free soil party in 1848 including former democratic president martin van buren party s presidential nominee same year. returned democratic party after dissolved.
1878 – hendrick bradley wright, u.s representative pennsylvania (1853–1855, 1861–1863 , 1877–1881), ran reelection on greenback party
1880s – brigadier general absolom m. west
1890 – thomas e. watson switched populist party. later u.s. senator georgia (1921–1922)
1946–48 – henry a. wallace, vice president of united states (1941–1945), united states secretary of commerce (1945–1946) & united states secretary of agriculture (1933–1940)
1948 – states rights democratic party
1955 – wayne morse, u.s. senator oregon (1945–1969), changed independent democrat on february 17, 1955
1964 – mississippi freedom democratic party founded.
1970 – harry f. byrd, jr., u.s. senator virginia (1965–1983), became independent.
1974 – d. french slaughter, jr., while serving in virginia house of delegates. later elected congress republican (1985–1991).
1980 – lyndon larouche
1994 – wes watkins, democratic u.s congressman oklahoma (1977–1991), democratic (1990) & independent (1994) candidate governor of oklahoma & republican u.s. congressman oklahoma (1997–2003)
1998 – jerry brown, former governor of california (1975–1983)
2000 – virgil goode, u.s representative virginia (1997–2009) became independent. joined republican party in 2002.
2000 – matt gonzalez
2000 – audie bock, california state assemblyman joined green.
2002 – tim penny, former u.s representative minnesota (1983–1995) independence party of minnesota
2003 – matt ahearn, new jersey state representative green party
2004 – peter clavelle, mayor of burlington
2005 – jim lendall, arkansas state representative green party
2006 – joe lieberman, u.s. senator connecticut (1989–2013), run independent (on connecticut lieberman ticket) senate in connecticut, after losing challenger ned lamont in democratic primary.
2006 – david segal
2006 – avel gordly, oregon state senater
2006 – william m. paparian, former mayor pasadena, california green party
2006 – barbara becnel, green party
2006 – ben westlund, later became oregon state treasurer (2009–2010)
2007 – eric eidsness, joins democratic party
2007 – cynthia mckinney, former u.s. congresswoman georgia (1993–2003 , 2005–2007) switched green party, became presidential candidate in 2008
2008 – mike gravel, former u.s. senator alaska (1969–1981) , 2008 presidential candidate switched democrat libertarian.
2008 – rick singleton, rhode island state representative
2008 – michael l. jackson, louisiana state representative, switched independent
2009 – juan arambula, california state assemblyman
2009 – timothy p. cahill, treasurer , receiver-general of massachusetts (2003–2011)
2009 – richard carroll, arkansas representative. green party state legislator in u.s., switched democratic party.
2009 – kathleen curry, colorado state representative
2010 – bob ziegelbauer, wisconsin state assemblyman
2011 – andrew nunez, new mexico state representative. later switched republican.
2012 – charlie crist, former republican governor of florida (2007–2011) , independent senatorial candidate in 2010, switched democrat
2012 - adolfo carrión, jr., director of office of urban affairs
2013 – john olumba, michigan state representative becomes independent.
2013 – richard laird, alabama state representative
2013 – nathan fletcher, california state assemblyman, became independent, later joined democrats.
2013 – lincoln chafee, governor of rhode island (2011–2015), former republican u.s. senator rhode island (1999–2007), switched democrat
2014 - lori saldaña, california state assemblywoman
2015 – paul tine, north carolina state representative
2015 - keith english, missouri state representative
2015 - ben chipman, maine house of representatives, independent switched democrat
2016 - mike huether, mayor of sioux falls, south dakota, democrat switched independent
2017 – rupert phillips, west virginia state delegate, democrat independent, sat independent until membership republican party approved
2017 - joseph stallcop, new hampshire state representative, switched libertarian party
2017 - beth fukumoto, hawaii state representative, republican independent democrat

republican democratic
before 1960

1860s – henry george
1860s – salmon p. chase, former senator (1849–1855, 1861), governor of ohio (1856–1860) , secretary of treasury (1861–1864) , later chief justice of united states (1864–1873)
1860s – andrew gregg curtin, former governor of pennsylvania (1861–1867), later u.s. congressman pennsylvania (1881–1887)
1860s – alonzo garcelon, later served governor of maine (1879–1880)
1872 – edmund g. ross, former u.s. senator kansas (1866–1871)
1877 - james b. weaver, later u.s. congressman iowa (1879-1889)
1880 - benjamin butler, former congressman massachusetts (1867-1879), later governor of massachusetts (1883-1884)
1932 - phelps phelps, new york assemblyman, later governor of american samoa (1951–1952)
1932 – arthur w. mitchell, later u.s. congressman illinois (1935–1943)
1933 – henry a. wallace, later united states secretary of agriculture (1933-1940), vice president of united states (1941–1945) , united states secretary of commerce (1945-1946)
1936 - ellis e. patterson, california state assemblyman, later lieutenant governor of california (1939-1943) , u.s. congressman california (1945-1947)
1939 – william l. dawson, later u.s. congressman illinois (1943–1970)

1960s

1960s – pete stark, later served u.s. representative california (1973–2013)
1960s – howard dean, later served lieutenant governor of vermont (1987–1991), governor of vermont (1991–2003) , chairman of democratic national committee (2005–2009)
1960s – archibald carey, jr.
1962 – calhoun allen, commissioner of public utilities in shreveport
1968 – hillary clinton, later first lady of united states (1993–2001), u.s. senator new york (2001–2009), united states secretary of state (2009–2013) , nominee of democratic party president of united states in 2016 election.

1970s

1970 – ralph neas
1970 – floyd k. haskell, colorado state representative , later u.s. senator colorado (1973–1979)
1971 – john lindsay, mayor of new york city
1971 – leon panetta, later served u.s. representative california (1976–1993), white house chief of staff (1994–1997), director of central intelligence agency (2009–2011) , united states secretary of defense (2009–2013)
1972 – ogden r. reid, while u.s. representative new york (1963–1975)
1972 – herman goldner, mayor of st. petersburg
1973 – joan finney, before being elected kansas state treasurer, , later governor of kansas (1991–1995)
1973 – don riegle, while u.s. representative michigan (1967–1976) , later u.s. senator michigan (1976–1995)
1973 – edward meyer, new york state assemblyman
1976 - james glisson, florida state senator
1976 - howard oda, hawaii state representative
1977 – lloyd h. kincaid, wisconsin state assemblyman
1977 – peter peyser, u.s. representative new york (1971–1977 , 1979–1983)
1978 - john peavey, idaho state senator

1980s

1980 – thomas m. foglietta, member of philadelphia city council, later served u.s. representative pennsylvania (1981–1997) & united states ambassador italy (1997–2001)
1985 – john yarmuth, later served u.s. representative kentucky (2007–present)
1987 - martha ezzard, colorado state senator
1988 - albio sires, later served u.s. representative new jersey (2006–present)
1988 - duane woodard, colorado attorney general
1988 - ann kobayashi, hawaii state senator

1990s

1991 – mike doyle, later served u.s. representative pennsylvania (1995–present)
1991 – markos moulitsas
1992 – loretta sanchez, later served u.s. representative california (1997–2017)
1992 – frank pecora, pennsylvania state senator
1994 – bernard erickson, texas state representative
1995 – elizabeth warren, later served u.s. senator massachusetts (2013–present)
1996 – carolyn mccarthy, later served u.s. representative new york (1997–2015)
1997 – betsy mccaughey ross, lieutenant governor of new york (1995–1998)
1997 – debra j. mazzarelli, new york state assemblywoman
1998 – russell w. peterson, former governor of delaware (1969–1973)
1999 – michael forbes, while serving u.s. representative new york (1995–2001)
1999 – robert r. neall, maryland state senator

2000s

2000 – jeff enfinger, alabama state senator
2000 – gabrielle giffords, later u.s. representative arizona (2007–2012)
2000 – scott heidepriem, south dakota state senator
2000 – dean johnson, minnesota state senator
2000 – mark desaulnier, contra costa county supervisor. later u.s. representative california (2015–present)
2000 – judi dutcher, minnesota state auditor (1995–2003)
2000 – margaret gamble, south carolina state representative
2000 – mickey whatley, south carolina state representative
2000 – randy sauder, georgia state representative
2001 – john a. lawless, pennsylvania house of representatives.
2001 – kathy ashe, georgia state representative
2001 – barbara mcilvaine smith, pennsylvania state representative
2002 – d. g. anderson, former hawaii state senator
2002 – charles r. larson, former superintendent of united states naval academy (1983–1986 , 1994–1998)
2002 – ray nagin, later mayor of new orleans (2002–2010)
2002 – douglas stalnaker, west virginia house of delegates
2003 – michael decker, north carolina state representative
2003 – barbara hafer, state treasurer of pennsylvania (1997–2005)
2003 – corey corbin, new hampshire state representative
2003 – stan moody, maine state representative
2003 - nancy boyda, later u.s. representative kansas (2005–2007)
2003 – john e. moore, later lieutenant governor of kansas (2003–2007)
2004 – arthur mayo, maine state senator
2004 – scott dix, georgia state representative
2005 – tim mahoney, later u.s. representative florida (2007–2009)
2005 – paul j. morrison, district attorney johnson county, kansas, later kansas attorney general (2006–2007)
2005 – steve lukert, kansas state representative
2006 – james webb, former united states secretary of navy (1987–1988), later u.s. senator virginia (2007–2013)
2006 – mark parkinson, kansas state senator, later lieutenant governor of kansas (2007–2009) , governor of kansas (2009–2011)
2006 – charles barkley, former nba basketball player, in anticipation of running governor of alabama in 2014
2006 – nancy riley, oklahoma state senator
2006 – kate witek, nebraska auditor of public accounts (1999-2007)
2006 – sam kitzenberg, montana state senator.
2006 – rodney tom, washington state representative
2006 – diana urban, connecticut state representative.
2006 – cindy neighbor, kansas state representative
2006 – barney giese, county prosecutor of richland county, south carolina
2006 – wendy davis, member of fort worth city council, later texas state senator , 2014 democratic nominee governor of texas
2007 – pete mccloskey, former u.s. representative california (1967–1983)
2007 – walter boasso, louisiana state senator
2007 – paul d. froehlich, illinois state representative
2007 – mike spano, new york state assemblyman
2007 – janet difiore, westchester county ny district attorney
2007 – chris koster, missouri state senator, later missouri attorney general (2009–2017) , 2016 democratic nominee governor of missouri
2007 – milward dedman, kentucky state representative
2007 – melvin b. henley, kentucky state representative
2007 – kirk england, texas state representative
2007 – james hovland, mayor of edina, minnesota
2007 – francis bodine, new jersey state representative
2007 – debbie stafford, colorado state representative
2007 – fred jarrett, washington state representative
2007 – karen awana, hawaii state representative
2007 – mike gabbard, hawaii state senator
2008 – lou thieblemont, mayor of camp hill
2009 – dale swenson, kansas state representative

2010s

2010 – steve fox, later california state assemblyman
2011 – daniel boman, alabama state representative
2011 – wade hurt, kentucky state representative
2011 – patrick murphy, later served u.s. representative florida (2013–2017)
2012 - ron erhardt, minnesota state representative
2012 – peter koo, new york city councilman
2013 – jean schodorf, kansas state senator
2013 – tom o halleran, former arizona state senator, later u.s. representative arizona (2017–present)
2013 – brad ashford, nebraska state senator, later u.s. representative nebraska (2015–2017)
2013 – john bohlinger, former lieutenant governor of montana (2005–2013)
2013 - lawrence e. meyers, texas court of criminal appeals judge.
2014 – aaron johanson, hawaii state representative
2015 - john ceretto, new york state assemblyman
2015 - jim justice, later governor of west virginia (2017–present), switched republican in 2017.
2017 - christine scales, indianapolis city-county councilwoman


republican third party/independent or third party republican

1872 – republicans in frustration grant administration formed liberal republican party.
mid-1870s – james weaver, later u.s. representative iowa (1879–1881 , 1885–1889)
1890s – republicans had agreed free silver movement of 1890s formed silver republican party
1893 – william m. stewart, u.s. senator nevada (1864–1875 , 1887–1905) switched silver party
1895 – john p. jones, u.s. senator nevada (1873–1903) switched silver party
1896 – wharton barker switched populist party.
1896 – lee mantle, u.s. senator montana (1895–1899) switched silver republican party.
1896 – richard f. pettigrew, u.s. senator south dakota (1889–1901) switched silver republican party.
1896 – frank j. cannon, u.s. senator utah (1896–1899) switched silver republican party.
1897 – henry m. teller, u.s. senator colorado (1876–1882 , 1885–1909) switched silver republican party , united states secretary of interior (1882–1885)
1897 – fred t. dubois, u.s. senator idaho (1891–1897 , 1901–1907) switched silver republican party.
1912 – theodore roosevelt, former president of united states (1901–1909), republican progressive
1913 – miles poindexter, u.s. senator washington switched progressive party (1911–1923).
1924 – robert m. la follette, sr., u.s. senator wisconsin ran progressive party presidential candidate in 1924.
1926 – herman roethel, former socialist member of wisconsin state assembly, nominated , elected republican same district.
1934 – robert m. la follette, jr., u.s. senator wisconsin, switched republican party progressive party (1906–1925).
1936 – george william norris, u.s. senator nebraska (1913–1943) became independent
1937 or 1938 – vito marcantonio, u.s. representative new york (1935–1937 , 1939–1951)
1952 – wayne morse, u.s. senator oregon. switched independent democrat in 1955. (1945–1969)
1972 – roger macbride
1980 – john anderson, u.s. representative illinois (1961–1981), left republican presidential primary race independent centrist campaign in 1980 presidential election.
1988 – ron paul, former u.s. representative (1976–1977 , 1979–1985), ran president libertarian. later returned congress republican (1997–2012).
1990s? – arianna huffington
1990 – walter hickel, former united states secretary of interior (1969–1970) left republican party before successful bid governor of alaska (1966–1969 , 1990–1994), nominee of alaskan independence party. rejoined republican party in 1994.
1990 – lowell p. weicker, jr., former u.s. senator connecticut (1971–1989) before running first candidate of connecticut party successful campaign governor of connecticut (1991–1995)
1990 – eunice groark
1996 – ed zschau, former u.s representative california (1983–1987), vice presidential running mate former colorado governor dick lamm, democrat, challenged ross perot reform party presidential nomination in 1996.
1999 – pat buchanan
1999 – donald trump, businessman , real-estate developer, later 45th president of united states.
1999 – bob smith, u.s. senator new hampshire (1990–2003), left republican party on july 13, 1999 while running party s presidential nomination; became independent , declared himself candidate u.s. taxpayers party presidential nomination , independent candidate. on november 1, 1999, returned republican party when senate committee chairmanship became open.
2000 – rick jore, montana state representative, u.s. constitution party
2001 – james m. jeffords, while u.s. senator vermont (1989–2007). move changed balance of power in senate 50–50, republican vice president richard b. cheney casting tie-breaking vote , providing 51 majority, 50-49-1, giving democrats majority control of senate until gop regained control in 2003, following 2002 midterm elections. jeffords given nickname jumpin jim jeffords . given committee chairmanship democratic leadership, , caucused democrats until chose not run re-election , left senate.
2001 – robert j. mccabe, sheriff, city of norfolk, virginia
2002 – arne carlson, former governor of minnesota (1991–1999)
2006 – carole keeton strayhorn, texas comptroller of public accounts (1999–2007)
2006 – ben westlund, oregon state senator. later became democrat , served oregon state treasurer (2009–2010)
2006 – bob barr, former u.s. representative georgia (1995–2003), joined libertarian party.
2007 – micheal r. williams, tennessee state senator, became independent.
2007 – michael bloomberg, while mayor of new york city (2002–2014), became independent.
2007 – lincoln chafee, former u.s. senator rhode island (1999–2007), switched unaffiliated.
2007 – rick singleton, rhode island state representative switched independent
2008 – jeff wood, wisconsin state assemblyman
2008 – ron erhardt, minnesota state representative.
2008 – alan keyes, switched constitution party.
2008 – richard weldon, maryland house of delegates
2009 – jim campbell, maine state representative switched independent
2009 – ed thompson, libertarian mayor of tomah, wisconsin switched republican run 31st state senate district
2010 – joel robideaux, louisiana state representative, switched independent republican
2010 – jenna haggar, south dakota state representative, switched independent republican
2010 – daniel p. gordon, rhode island state representative, switched libertarian party
2010 – ernest wooton, louisiana state representative, switched independent run in state s 2010 u.s. senate race.
2010 – charlie crist, governor of florida (2007–2011), switched independent run in state s 2010 u.s. senate race.
2010 – tom tancredo, former u.s. representative colorado (1999–2009), switched constitution party run governor of colorado.
2010 – virgil goode, former u.s. representative virginia (1997–2009), switched constitution party , became nominee president of united states in 2012 election.
2012 – gary johnson, former governor of new mexico (1995–2003), switched libertarian party , became nominee president of united states in both 2012 election , 2016 election.
2012 – buddy roemer, former governor of louisiana (1988–1992), switched reform party , become nominee president of united states in 2012 election.
2013 – joe t. may, virginia state delegate, switched independent after losing in republican primary.
2013 - joe malone, former treasurer , receiver-general of massachusetts (1991-1999)
2014 – sue wagner, former lieutenant governor of nevada (1991–1995)
2014 – bill walker, alaska gubernatorial candidate, running nonpartisan candidate , switched independent when merging campaigns democrat byron mallott
2015 - nate bell, arkansas state representative, switched republican independent.
2016 - john moore, nevada assemblyman switched libertarian party
2016 - william weld, former governor of massachusetts (1991-1997), switched libertarian party
2016 - laura ebke, nebraska state senator, switched libertarian party
2016 - david johnson, iowa state senator, switched independent.
2016 - mark b. madsen, utah state senator, switched libertarian party
2016 - patricia farley, nevada state senator, switched independent.
2016 - blake filippi, rhode island state representative, switched independent republican; had been republican until 2012.
2017 - beth fukumoto, hawaii state representative, republican independent, sat independent until request join democratic party approved
2017 - caleb dyer, new hampshire state representative, switched libertarian party
2017 - joe scarborough, former u.s. congressman florida (1995-2001)
2017 - rupert phillips, west virginia state delegate, democrat independent republican
2017 - brandon phinney, new hampshire state representative, switched libertarian party

democratic republican democratic

2003 – tommy dickerson, mississippi state senator.
2003 – johnny ford, alabama state representative.
2010 – arlen specter, u.s. senator pennsylvania (1981–2011)
2010 – jim bradford, south dakota state representative
2014 – parker griffith, former u.s. representative alabama (2009–2011)
2015 – artur davis, former u.s. representative alabama (2003–2011)

other

1891 – james weaver, republican turned greenbacker, later founder of populist party , ran president on party s ticket in 1892.
1941 – henrik shipstead, while u.s. senator minnesota, switched farmer-labor party republican party.
1980 – thomas m. foglietta, while running u.s. representative pennsylvania independent, having been republican councilman , mayoral candidate, switched democratic party.
2000 – jesse ventura, while governor of minnesota, left reform party, along of supporters, refound independence party of minnesota.
2007 – elaine brown, left green party became independent after withdrawing green party presidential race.

there have been several instances of politicians continuing member of political party while running other campaigns independent. prominent examples include southern democratic segregationists strom thurmond in 1948 , george wallace in 1968, remained in democratic party statewide campaigns mounted national presidential campaigns independents. wallace later ran in 1972 democratic primaries. earlier, liberal republican robert la follette, sr. ran president candidate of progressive party in 1924, while still remaining republican in senate. example senator joseph lieberman, in 2006 ran senate in connecticut under party connecticut lieberman, although still identifying democrat

former u.s. representative jim leach, republican, speaks during first night of 2008 democratic national convention.

other political figures, such ed koch, jim leach, zell miller, colin powell, did not formally leave parties, supported candidate party. miller , koch, though democrats, supported republican george w. bush s 2004 reelection campaign, while powell , leach supported barack obama s 2008 presidential campaign. received media attention in 2004, when democrats bush , republicans kerry groups formed. in new hampshire, former republican governor walter peterson has expressly supported democrat john lynch in bids governor. in virginia, state s first republican governor since reconstruction, linwood holton, has since 2001 supported democrats in statewide races – son-in-law, tim kaine, has been elected governorship , u.s. senate in time, , served chairman of democratic national committee – , endorsed barack obama in 2008. similarly, in 1860, former democratic president martin van buren ended supporting abraham lincoln due van buren s disagreements democratic policies on secession. other examples include former republican senator minnesota david durenberger supporting john kerry in 2004 , former democratic attorney general griffin bell supporting george w. bush in 2004.