# List of American politicians who switched parties in office

The following American politicians switched parties while they were holding elected office.

## Federal
### House of Representatives

| Name | State | District | Date of party switch | Congress | Old party | New party | Notes |
| Rodney Alexander | Louisiana | 5th | August 9, 2004 | 108th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Justin Amash | Michigan | 3rd | July 4, 2019 | 116th | Republican | Independent | |
| Justin Amash | Michigan | 3rd | May 1, 2020 | 116th | Independent | Libertarian | |
| Eugene Atkinson | Pennsylvania | 25th | October 14, 1981 | 97th | Democratic | Republican | Lost re-election in 1982 after being redistricted to the 4th district. |
| William Carney | New York | 1st | October 7, 1985 | 99th | Conservative | Republican | |
| Nathan Deal | Georgia | 9th | April 11, 1995 | 104th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Jo Ann Emerson | Missouri | 8th | January 3, 1997 | 105th | Republican | Independent | Emerson was re-elected to a full term as an independent after running under that designation to comply with Missouri's electoral law. |
| Jo Ann Emerson | Missouri | 8th | January 8, 1997 | 105th | Independent | Republican | Emerson was re-elected to a full term as an independent after running under that designation to comply with Missouri's electoral law. |
| Michael Forbes | New York | 1st | July 17, 1999 | 106th | Republican | Democratic | |
| Virgil Goode | Virginia | 5th | January 24, 2000 | 106th | Democratic | Independent | Caucused with the Republican Party. |
| Virgil Goode | Virginia | 5th | August 1, 2002 | 107th | Independent | Republican | |
| Phil Gramm | Texas | 6th | 1983 | 98th | Democratic | Republican | Gramm resigned his seat as a Democrat on January 5, 1983, and then won a special election as a Republican on February 12, 1983. |
| James W. Grant | Florida | 2nd | February 21, 1989 | 101st | Democratic | Republican | |
| Parker Griffith | Alabama | 5th | December 22, 2009 | 111th | Democratic | Republican | Later rejoined the Democratic party. |
| Galusha A. Grow | Pennsylvania | 14th | 1856 | 34th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Ralph Hall | Texas | 4th | January 2004 | 108th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Jimmy Hayes | Louisiana | 7th | December 1, 1995 | 104th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Andy Ireland | Florida | 10th | July 5, 1984 | 98th | Democratic | Republican | Announced the switch on March 17, 1984, but didn't officially make it until July 5 in order to keep his Democratic committee assignments for as long as possible. |
| John Jarman | Oklahoma | 5th | January 24, 1975 | 94th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Greg Laughlin | Texas | 14th | June 26, 1995 | 104th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Matthew G. Martínez | California | 31st | July 27, 2000 | 106th | Democratic | Republican | Switched parties after losing the Democratic primary for re-election |
| Paul Mitchell | Michigan | 10th | December 14, 2020 | 116th | Republican | Independent | Switched parties during the lame duck session, three weeks before his retirement. |
| Michael Parker | Mississippi | 4th | November 10, 1995 | 104th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Ogden Reid | New York | 26th | March 22, 1972 | 92nd | Republican | Democratic | |
| Donald Riegle | Michigan | 7th | 1973 | 93rd | Republican | Democratic | |
| Tommy F. Robinson | Arkansas | 2nd | July 28, 1989 | 101st | Democratic | Republican | |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. | New York | 20th | January 3, 1951 | 82nd | Liberal | Democratic | Roosevelt was re-elected as a Democrat. |
| Bob Stump | Arizona | 3rd | September 24, 1981 | 98th | Democratic | Republican | Did not officially change party until the 1982 election for a term beginning January 3, 1983. |
| Billy Tauzin | Louisiana | 3rd | August 8, 1995 | 104th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Jeff Van Drew | New Jersey | 2nd | January 7, 2020 | 116th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Albert Watson | South Carolina | 2nd | 1965 | 90th | Democratic | Republican | Watson resigned his seat as a Democrat on February 1, 1965, and then won a special election as a Republican on June 15, 1965. |
| Hendrick Bradley Wright | Pennsylvania | 12th | 1879 | 46th | Democratic | Greenback | |

### Senate

| Name | State | Date of party switch | Congress | Old party | New party | Notes |
| James L. Buckley | New York | 1976 | 94th | Conservative | Republican | |
| Ben Nighthorse Campbell | Colorado | March 4, 1995 | 104th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Reuben Fenton | New York | 1872 | 42nd | Republican | Liberal Republican | The Liberal Republican Party was new and short-lived. Did not seek re-election in the 1874–75 United States Senate elections. |
| Reuben Fenton | New York | 1873 | 43rd | Liberal Republican | Republican | The Liberal Republican Party was new and short-lived. Did not seek re-election in the 1874–75 United States Senate elections. |
| Jim Jeffords | Vermont | May 24, 2001 | 107th | Republican | Independent | Caucused with the Democrats after becoming an independent, giving Democrats a majority in the US Senate. His switch became the only time in US history that a party switch resulted in a change of party control of the Senate. |
| Robert M. La Follette Jr. | Wisconsin | May 1934 | 74th | Republican | Wisconsin Progressive | Co-founded the Wisconsin Progressive Party and was re-elected to Senate on that ticket in 1934 and 1940. |
| Robert M. La Follette Jr. | Wisconsin | 1946 | 79th | Wisconsin Progressive | Republican | The Wisconsin Progressive Party was dissolved in 1946. Lost re-election to the Senate when defeated by Joseph McCarthy in the Republican primary later that same year. |
| Joe Lieberman | Connecticut | 2006/2007 (see note) | 110th | Democratic | Independent | Lieberman left the Democratic Party after losing the Democratic primary for re-election. Technically, he ran under the party named Connecticut for Lieberman but he himself never officially joined that party. He called himself an Independent Democrat after winning re-election. |
| Joe Manchin | West Virginia | May 31, 2024 | 118th | Democratic | Independent | |
| Richard Shelby | Alabama | November 9, 1994 | 103rd | Democratic | Republican | Switch announced the day after the 1994 United States Senate elections, in which Shelby was not up for reelection, but the Republicans gained the majority in the Senate. |
| Kyrsten Sinema | Arizona | December 9, 2022 | 118th | Democratic | Independent | |
| Bob Smith | New Hampshire | July 1999 | 106th | Republican | Independent | |
| Bob Smith | New Hampshire | November 1999 | 106th | Independent | Republican | |
| Arlen Specter | Pennsylvania | April 28, 2009 | 111th | Republican | Democratic | |
| Strom Thurmond | South Carolina | September 16, 1964 | 88th | Democratic | Republican | |
| Lyman Trumbull | Illinois | 1871 | 42nd | Republican | Liberal Republican | The Liberal Republican Party was new and short-lived. Lost re-election in the 1872–73 United States Senate elections to the Republican candidate. |

### Other

| Name | Office | Date of party switch | Old party | New party | Notes | Refs |

## State

| Name | Office | Date of party switch | Old party | New party | Notes |
| Max Abramson | Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Rockingham-20 district | May 2016 | Republican | Libertarian | Left office to run for Governor of New Hampshire in 2016 as a Libertarian. Was re-elected to the New Hampshire House in 2018 as a Republican. |
| Max Abramson | Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Rockingham-20 district | June 28, 2019 | Republican | Independent | Became an independent as he campaigned to be the nominee for President of the United States in 2020 of the Libertarian Party, the Veterans Party, and the Reform Party. Was elected to a seat in a different district in the New Hampshire House in 2020 as a Republican. |
| Roy Daryl Adams | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 62nd district | April 27, 2023 | Independent | Democratic | |
| Dawn Addiego | Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 8th district | January 28, 2019 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Robert Adley | Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 36th district | December 10, 2007 | Democratic | Republican | Switched parties after the 2007 Louisiana elections to align with incoming governor Bobby Jindal. |
| Marie Alvarado-Gil | Member of the California State Senate from the 4th district | August 8, 2024 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Scott Angelle | Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana | October 26, 2010 | Democratic | Republican | Appointed by Republican Bobby Jindal to serve until the conclusion of the 2010 special election to replace Mitch Landrieu, who had been elected Mayor of New Orleans. Previously served as Louisiana Secretary of Natural Resources, appointed by Democrat Kathleen Blanco. Re-appointed by Jindal to that position following the election. |
| Aidan Ankarberg | Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Strafford-7 district | November 20, 2024 | Republican | Independent | |
| Bill Archer | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 22nd district, 5th seat | December 7, 1967 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Karen Awana | Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 44th district | December 19, 2007 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Richard Baker | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from East Baton Rouge Parish | May 31, 1985 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Thomas Baker | Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 40th district | May 16, 2024 | Republican | Independent | |
| Robert Barham | Louisiana State Senator from the 33rd district | February 9, 2001 | Democratic | Republican | Announced after a visit to the White House following an invitation from President George W. Bush. |
| Taylor Barras | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Iberia Parish | August 12, 2011 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Eli Bebout | Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from the 55th district | April 26, 1994 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Walter Boasso | Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 1st district | April 26, 2007 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Audie Bock | Member of the California State Assembly from the 16th district | 1999 | Green | No party preference | |
| Barbara Bollier | Member of the Kansas Senate from the 7th district | December 12, 2018 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Mike Bowers | Attorney General of Georgia | 1994 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Michael Don Brandenburg | Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 28th district | October 2, 1994 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Nickey Browning | Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 3rd district | March 27, 2013 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Buddy Caldwell | Attorney General of Louisiana | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Sonny Callahan | Member of the Alabama Senate | January 30, 1984 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Charles T. Canady | Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 44th district | June 1999 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Videt Carmichael | Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 33rd district | May 2002 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Hillary Cassel | Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 101st district | December 27, 2024 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Lincoln Chafee | Governor of Rhode Island | May 30, 2013 | Independent | Democratic | Previously served in the U.S. Senate (1999-2007) as a Republican before becoming an Independent. |
| Stephanie Clayton | Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 19th district | December 19, 2018 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Matthew Coker | Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Belknap-2 district | February 8, 2024 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Linda Collins | Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 61st district | August 2011 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Charlie Conrad | Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 12th district | June 20, 2024 | Republican | Independent Party of Oregon | Switched parties after losing renomination over his vote to protect access to abortion and gender-affirming care. |
| Tricia Cotham | Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 112th district | April 5, 2023 | Democratic | Republican | Switched parties after receiving backlash for missing a vote on an assault weapons ban. |
| Charlie Crist | Governor of Florida | May 13, 2010 | Republican | Independent | Later elected to congress as a Democrat. |
| William Daniel | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from East Baton Rouge Parish | 2005 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Hunt Downer | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes | February 9, 2001 | Democratic | Republican | Announced after a visit to the White House following an invitation from President George W. Bush. |
| Aubrey Dunn Jr. | New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands | January 2018 | Republican | Libertarian | |
| Noble Ellington | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives | 2010 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Kirk England | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 106th district | September 20, 2007 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Bernard Erickson | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 58th district | December 31, 1993 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Ryan Ferns | Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 3rd district | November 2013 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Shaun Filiault | Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Cheshire-7 district | June 7, 2023 | Democratic | Independent | |
| Beth Fukumoto | Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 36th district | 2017 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Mike Gabbard | Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 19th district | August 30, 2007 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Avel Gordly | Member of the Oregon Senate from the 23rd district | 2006 | Democratic | Independent | |
| Sherry Gould | Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Merrimack-8 district | May 2024 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Mark Grisanti | Member of the New York Senate from the 60th district | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Henry Grover | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 23rd district | February 3, 1966 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Elbert Guillory | Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 24th district | May 31, 2013 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Ryan Guillen | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 31st district | November 15, 2021 | Democratic | Republican | Was one of the "Killer Ds" during the 2003 Texas redistricting |
| Barbara Hafer | Treasurer of Pennsylvania | 2003 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Bob Hanner | Member of the Georgia House of Representatives | 2010 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Jim Hendren | Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 2nd district | February 18, 2021 | Republican | Independent | Left the Republican Party following the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. |
| Michelle Henry | Attorney General of Pennsylvania | March 2023 | Republican | Democratic | Joined the Democratic Party after succeeding Josh Shapiro as Attorney General. |
| Joy Hofmeister | Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction | October 7, 2021 | Republican | Democratic | Switched after announcing her intention to challenge to Republican Governor Kevin Stitt in the 2022 election. |
| Chuck Hopson | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 11th district | November 6, 2009 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Eric Hutchings | Member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 38th district | 2001 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Cindy Hyde-Smith | Member of the Mississippi Senate from the 39th district | December 28, 2010 | Democratic | Republican | Later appointed and elected to the U.S. Senate as a Republican. |
| Dan Hynes | Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Hillsborough-2 district | June 13, 2023 | Republican | Independent | |
| Virginia Isbell | Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 5th district | December 23, 1987 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Mike Jacobs | Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 80th district | June 19, 2007 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Glenn Jeffries | Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 8th district | December 1, 2022 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Evan Jenkins | Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 5th district | July 2013 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Woody Jenkins | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from East Baton Rouge Parish | 1994 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Aaron Ling Johanson | Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 31st district | December 29, 2014 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Dean Johnson | Minnesota State Senator | 2000 | Republican | DFL | |
| Jim Justice | Governor of West Virginia | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Justice had previously been a Republican until switching to the Democratic Party in 2015 to run for Governor of West Virginia. |
| John Kennedy | Treasurer of Louisiana | August 27, 2007 | Democratic | Republican | Later elected to the U.S. Senate as a Republican. |
| Bob Krist | Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 10th district | February 2018 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Jeremy LaCombe | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 18th district | April 10, 2023 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Steve Lebsock | Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 34th district | March 2, 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Changed party affiliation prior to expulsion from the Colorado House of Representatives due to allegations of sexual harassment. |
| Jan Lee | Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 10th district | June 2001 | Republican | Independent | |
| Jan Lee | Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 10th district | 2001 | Independent | Democratic | |
| J. M. Lozano | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 43rd district | March 8, 2012 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Mesha Mainor | Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 56th district | July 11, 2023 | Democratic | Republican | Switched parties after receiving backlash for being the only Democrat to vote for a school voucher bill. |
| Kevin Mannix | Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 32nd district | 1997 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Chad Mayes | Member of the California State Assembly from the 42nd district | December 6, 2019 | Republican | Independent | |
| Mike McDonnell | Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 5th district | April 3, 2024 | Democratic | Republican | Switched parties after being censured by the Nebraska Democratic Party for voting against abortion rights. |
| Andy McKean | Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 58th district | April 2019 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Stanford Morse | Member of the Mississippi State Senate from Harrison and Stone Counties | March 27, 1963 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Robert R. Neall | Member of the Maryland State Senate from the 33rd district | November 12, 1999 | Republican | Democratic | Later re-joined the Republican Party. |
| Howard Oda | Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 22nd district | November 7, 1975 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Marshall Parker | Member of the South Carolina Senate from Oconee County | March 9, 1966 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Aaron Peña | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 40th district | December 14, 2010 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Sonny Perdue | Member of the Georgia State Senate from the 18th district | 1998 | Democratic | Republican | Later elected Governor of Georgia. |
| Maria Perez | Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Hillsborough-43 district | October 2, 2023 | Democratic | Independent | |
| Rick Perry | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 64th district | September 29, 1989 | Democratic | Republican | Later elected Governor of Texas. |
| Rupie Phillips | Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 24th district | January 26, 2017 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Kevin Priola | Member of the Colorado Senate from the 25th district | August 22, 2022 | Republican | Democratic | Switched parties after expressing concern about the Republican embrace of 2020 election conspiracies. |
| Elliott Pritt | Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 50th district | April 17, 2023 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Allan Ritter | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 21st district | December 14, 2010 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Joel Robideaux | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Lafayette Parish | 2011 | Independent | Republican | |
| Shane Robinson | Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 39th district | November 21, 2018 | Democratic | Green | |
| Buddy Roemer | Governor of Louisiana | March 1991 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Thomas M. Salmon | Vermont Auditor of Accounts | 2009 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Jarrod Sammis | Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from the Rutland-3 district | May 3, 2023 | Republican | Libertarian | |
| Meagan C. Simonaire | Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 31B | October 15, 2018 | Republican | Democratic | |
| J. Roland Smith | Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 84th district | August 18, 1993 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Mike Spano | Member of the New York State Assembly | 2007 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Floyd Spence | Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Lexington County | April 14, 1962 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Chris Steineger | Member of the Kansas Senate from the 6th district | 2010 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Dale Swenson | Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 97th district | 2008 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Dinah Sykes | Member of the Kansas Senate from the 21st district | December 2018 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Johnny Tadlock | Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 1st district | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Shawn Thierry | Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 146th district | August 30, 2024 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Francis C. Thompson | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 19th district | March 17, 2023 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Samuel D. Thompson | Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 12th district | February 13, 2023 | Republican | Democratic | Switched parties after Republicans supported his primary challenger. |
| Gray Tollison | Member of the Mississippi Senate from the 9th district | November 11, 2011 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Amy Tuck | Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi | 2002 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Susan Valdes | Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 64th district | December 10, 2024 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Wanda Vázquez Garced | Governor of Puerto Rico | 2019 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Jesse Ventura | Governor of Minnesota | 2000 | Reform | Independence | |
| Christine Watkins | Member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 69th district | December 2012 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Kent Williams | Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 4th district | February 9, 2009 | Republican | Independent | Expelled by Tennessee Republican Party. |
| Kate Witek | Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts | August 2006 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Ernest Wooton | Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Charles Parishes | 2005 | Democratic | Republican | |

## Local

| Name | Office | Date of party switch | Old party | New party | Notes |
| Michael Bloomberg | Mayor of New York City | 2007 | Republican | Independent | Later ran for president in the 2020 presidential election as a Democrat. |
| Norm Coleman | Mayor of St. Paul | 1996 | DFL | Republican | |
| Kim Davis | Clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Matt Gonzalez | Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from District 5 | November 2000 | Democratic | Green | |
| Eric Johnson | Mayor of Dallas | September 22, 2023 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Ari Kagan | Member of the New York City Council from the 47th district | November 2022 | Democratic | Republican | Cited the city's criminal reforms and rising crime as the main reasons he was switching parties. |
| John Lindsay | Mayor of New York City | 1971 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Bob Martinez | Mayor of Tampa | 1983 | Democratic | Republican | |
| Kymberly Pine | Member of the Honolulu City Council from the 1st district | November 9, 2016 | Republican | Democratic | |
| Rick Sheehy | Mayor of Hastings, Nebraska | 2003 | Democratic | Republican | |
| David Tubiolo | Member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators from the 14th district | February 7, 2020 | Republican | Democratic | |