List of United States senators who switched parties explained

This list includes United States senators who switched parties while serving in the Senate.

List

19th century

SenatorStateDateCongressOld partyNew partyNotes
nowrapJames H. KyleSouth Dakota189152ndIndependentPopulist
nowrapWilliam Morris StewartNevada189353rdRepublicanSilver
Republican		The Silver Republicans' seniority and committee assignments were not affected by their having left the party.[1]
John P. JonesNevadaSeptember 4, 1894RepublicanSilver
Republican
Henry M. TellerColoradoJune 17, 189654thRepublicanSilver
Republican
Lee MantleMontanaRepublicanSilver
Republican
nowrapRichard F. PettigrewSouth DakotaRepublicanSilver
Republican
nowrapFrank J. CannonUtahRepublicanSilver
Republican
Fred DuboisIdaho1896RepublicanSilver
Republican
James H. KyleSouth Dakota189755thPopulistRepublican
William Morris StewartNevadaDecember 4, 189956thSilver
Republican		Republican

20th century

SenatorStateDateCongressOld partyNew partyNotes
John P. JonesNevada190156thSilver
Republican		Republican
Fred DuboisIdahoSilver
Republican		DemocraticDuBois lost his re-election bid in 1896, was again elected as a Silver Republican in 1900, but became a Democrat early in the term.
Henry M. TellerColoradoMarch 4, 1901Silver
Republican		Democratic
Miles PoindexterWashington191363rdRepublicanProgressive
191564thProgressiveRepublican
nowrapRobert M. La Follette Jr.Wisconsin193574thRepublicanProgressiveCaucused with the Republicans; briefly returned before losing in 1946.
nowrapGeorge W. NorrisNebraska193775thRepublicanIndependent
nowrapHenrik ShipsteadMinnesota194076thFarmer–LaborRepublican
Wayne MorseOregon195383rdRepublicanIndependent
February 17, 195584thIndependentDemocratic
nowrapStrom ThurmondSouth CarolinanowrapSeptember 16, 196488thDemocraticRepublican
nowrapHarry F. Byrd Jr.Virginia197091stDemocraticIndependentKept seniority, but did not caucus with the Democrats
nowrapJames L. BuckleyNew York197694thConservativeRepublican
nowrapRichard ShelbyAlabamaNovember 9, 1994103rdDemocraticRepublican
nowrapBen Nighthorse CampbellColoradoMarch 3, 1995104thDemocraticRepublican
Robert SmithNew Hampshire
July 13, 1999106thRepublicanTaxpayers
August 1999TaxpayersIndependent
November 1, 1999IndependentRepublican

21st century

SenatorStateDateCongressOld partyNew partyNotes
nowrapJim JeffordsVermontJune 6, 2001107thRepublicanIndependentCaucused with the Democrats. Gave Democrats temporary control of the senate.
nowrapJoe LiebermanConnecticut2006110thDemocraticIndependent
Democrat		Caucused with the Democrats. Lieberman was re-elected on the Connecticut for Lieberman ticket; however, he never formally joined that political party.
nowrapArlen Specter[2] PennsylvaniaApril 28, 2009111thRepublicanDemocraticOriginally a Democrat
nowrapKyrsten Sinema[3] ArizonaDecember 9, 2022117thDemocraticIndependentCaucused with the Democrats
nowrapJoe Manchin[4] West VirginiaMay 31, 2024118thDemocraticIndependentCaucused with the Democrats

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senators Who Changed Parties During Senate Service (Since 1890) . United States Senate.
  2. News: Longtime GOP Sen. Arlen Specter becomes Democrat . April 28, 2009 . . April 28, 2009 .
  3. News: Sinema leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent . December 9, 2022 . . December 9, 2022 .
  4. Web site: Irwin . Lauren . 2024-05-31 . Joe Manchin leaves Democratic Party, files as independent . 2024-05-31 . The Hill . en-US.

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