List of United States Senators who changed parties
The following are United States Senators who switched parties while serving in the Senate.
Senator |
State |
Date |
Congress |
Old party |
New party |
Notes |
William M. Stewart |
Nevada |
1893 |
53rd |
Republican |
Silver Republican |
The Silver Republicans' seniority and committee assignments were not affected by their having left the party.[1] |
John P. Jones |
Nevada |
September 4, 1894 |
Republican |
Silver Republican |
Henry M. Teller |
Colorado |
June 17, 1896 |
54th |
Republican |
Silver Republican |
Lee Mantle |
Montana |
Republican |
Silver Republican |
Richard F. Pettigrew |
South Dakota |
Republican |
Silver Republican |
Frank J. Cannon |
Utah |
Republican |
Silver Republican |
Fred Dubois |
Idaho |
1896 |
Republican |
Silver Republican |
William M. Stewart |
Nevada |
December 4, 1899 |
56th |
Silver Republican |
Republican |
John P. Jones |
Nevada |
1901 |
Silver Republican |
Republican |
Fred Dubois |
Idaho |
Silver Republican |
Democratic |
DuBois 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. Teller |
Colorado |
March 4, 1901 |
Silver Republican |
Republican |
Miles Poindexter |
Wisconsin |
1913 |
63rd |
Republican |
Progressive |
1915 |
64th |
Progressive |
Republican |
Robert M. La Follette, Jr. |
Wisconsin |
1935 |
74th |
Republican |
Progressive |
Caucused with the Republicans; briefly returned before losing in 1946. |
George W. Norris |
Nebraska |
1937 |
75th |
Republican |
Independent |
Henrik Shipstead |
Minnesota |
1940 |
76th |
Farmer–Labor |
Republican |
Wayne Morse |
Oregon |
1953 |
83rd |
Republican |
Independent |
Wayne Morse |
Oregon |
February 17, 1955 |
84th |
Independent |
Democratic |
Strom Thurmond |
South Carolina |
September 16, 1964 |
88th |
Democratic |
Republican |
Harry F. Byrd, Jr. |
Virginia |
1970 |
91st |
Democratic |
Independent |
Kept seniority, but did not caucus with the Democrats |
Richard Shelby |
Alabama |
November 9, 1994 |
103rd |
Democratic |
Republican |
Ben N. Campbell |
Colorado |
March 3, 1995 |
104th |
Democratic |
Republican |
Robert Smith |
New Hampshire |
July 13, 1999 |
Republican |
Independent |
November 1, 1999 |
Independent |
Republican |
Jim Jeffords |
Vermont |
June 6, 2001 |
107th |
Republican |
Independent |
Caucused with the Democrats |
Joe Lieberman |
Connecticut |
2006 |
110th |
Democratic |
Independent- Democrat |
Caucused with the Democrats |
Arlen Specter[2] |
Pennsylvania |
April 28, 2009 |
111th |
Republican |
Democratic |
See also
References