Switches by Democrats

Democratic to Republican

1800–1899

• 1855 – Reuben Fenton, while U.S. Representative from New York (1853–1855 and 1857–1864), later Governor of New York (1865–1868) & U.S. Senator from New York (1869–1875).
• 1856 – Hannibal Hamlin, while U.S. Senator for Maine (1848–1861 and 1869–1881), later Governor of Maine (1857) and 15th Vice President of the United States (1861–1865) during the first term of Abraham Lincoln
• 1856 – Simon Cameron, while U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (1857–1861 and 1867–1877) and United States Secretary of War (1861–1862)
• 1856 – Galusha A. Grow, while U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1851–1863 and 1894–1903), later 28th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1861–1863)
• 1856 – Glenni William Scofield, while U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1863–1875)
• 1860s – Ambrose Burnside, erstwhile House candidate, later Union General and Governor and Senator (Rhode Island)
• 1860s – Benjamin Franklin Butler, later became U.S. Representative from Massachusetts (1867–1875 and 1877–1879) and Governor of Massachusetts (1883–1884)
• 1860s – James M. Hinds, later U.S. Representative from Arkansas (1868)
• 1864 – Thompson Campbell, former U.S. Representative from Illinois (1851–1853)
• 1865 – John A. Logan, while U.S. Representative from Illinois, later U.S. Senator from Illinois (1871–1877 and 1879–1886)
• 1867 – John Adams Dix, former United States Secretary of the Treasury (1861) & U.S. Senator from New York (1845–1849); later elected as Governor of New York (1873–1874)
• 1869 – David P. Lewis, later Governor of Alabama (1872–1874)
• 1870 – James Lawrence Orr, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1857–1859) and 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 for Virginia (1895–1899)

1900–1949

• 1911 – Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, later Governor of New Mexico (1919–1921) and U.S. Senator from New Mexico (1928–1929)^[1]
• 1933 – Raymond Moley, adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt^[2]
• 1939 – Wendell Willkie, later Republican nominee for president in 1940^[3]
• 1940 – Jack Porter, challenger to Lyndon Johnson in the 1948 Texas Senate elections.^[4]
• 1942 – Martin F. Howard, former member of Wisconsin State Assembly^[5]
• 1942 – Max Galasinski, former member of Wisconsin State Senate^[5]
• 1946 – Rudolph G. Tenerowicz, former U.S. Representative from Michigan (1939–1943)^[6]
• 1947 – John Aspinwall Roosevelt, Son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt^[7]
• 1949 – Joseph A. McArdle, former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1939–1942)^[8]
• 1949 – Rush D. Holt Sr., former U.S. Senator from West Virginia (1935–1941)^[9]
• 1949 – William C. Cramer, later U.S. Representative from Florida (1955–1971)^[10]

1950–1959

• 1951 – John Tower, later became U.S. Senator from Texas (1961–1985)^[11]
• 1952 – Henry Hyde, later became U.S. Representative from Illinois (1975–2007)^[12]
• 1955 – Ben Adamowski, later Cook County State's Attorney (1956–1960)^[13]
• 1958 – Odell Pollard
• 1959 – Francis Grevemberg, former Louisiana State Police Superintendent
• 1959 – Dud Lastrapes, later mayor of Lafayette, Louisiana

1960–1969

• 1960s – Arthur Ravenel Jr., South Carolina State Representative, later U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1987–1995)
• 1960 – Claude R. Kirk Jr., later Governor of Florida (1967–1971)^[14]
• 1960 – Robert Daniel, U.S. Representative from Virginia
• 1962 – Dave Treen, later U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1973–1980) and Governor of Louisiana (1980–1984)
• 1962 – Jack M. Cox, former Texas State Representative
• 1962 – James D. Martin, later U.S. Representative from Alabama (1965–1967)
• 1962 – Ronald Reagan, while an actor and former Screen Actors Guild president.^[15] Later 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975) and 40th President of the United States (1981–1989)
• 1962 – Floyd Spence, South Carolina State Representative, later a U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1971–2001)
• 1963 – Rubel Phillips, former Mississippi Public Service Commissioner
• 1963 – Stanford Morse, Mississippi State Senator
• 1963 – James H. Boyce
• 1963 – Edward Lunn Young, U.S. Representative from South Carolina
• 1964 – William Dickinson, U.S. Representative from Alabama
• 1964 – Arthur Glenn Andrews, U.S. Representative from Alabama
• 1964 – Alfred Goldthwaite, Alabama State Representative
• 1964 – Clarke Reed
• 1964 – George M. McMath, Virginia House of Delegates
• 1964 – Faith Whittlesey, United States Ambassador to Switzerland
• 1964 – Howard Callaway, later U.S. Representative from Georgia (1965–1967) and United States Secretary of the Army (1973–1975)^[16]
• 1964 – Iris Faircloth Blitch, former Georgia U.S. Representative (1955–1963)
• 1964 – Charles W. Pickering, later Mississippi State senator and judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi (2004)
• 1964 – Strom Thurmond, while U.S. senator from South Carolina (1954–2003).^[17]
• 1965 – Albert W. Watson, while U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1963–1971) (resigned before switching parties and regained his seat in a special election)^[18]
• 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 from South Carolina (1956)
• 1966 – Len E. Blaylock, later U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas (1975–1978)
• 1966 – Jerry Thomasson, Arkansas State Representative
• 1966 – Henry Grover, Texas State Representative
• 1967 – Thad Cochran, later U.S. Senator from Mississippi (1978–2018)
• 1967 – William E. Dannemeyer, later U.S. Representative from California (1979–1992)^[19]
• 1967 – Allison Kolb, former Louisiana State Auditor (1952–1956)
• 1968 – William Reynolds Archer Jr., while a Texas State Senator, later U.S. Representative from Texas (1971–2001)
• 1968 – Will 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 for the Eastern District of Louisiana (1970–1978)

1970–1979

• 1970 – Jesse Helms, later U.S. Senator from North Carolina (1973–2003)
• 1970 – A. C. Clemons, Louisiana State Senator
• 1970 – William Oswald Mills, later U.S. Representative from Maryland (1971–1973)
• 1970 – Bob Barr, later U.S. Representative from Georgia (1995–2003)
• 1971 – Tillie K. Fowler, later U.S. Representative from Florida (1993–2001)
• 1972 – Ed Karst, Mayor of Alexandria
• 1972 – Graham Purcell Jr., former U.S. Representative from Texas (1962–1973)
• 1972 – Robert R. Neall, later Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health (2018–present)
• 1972 – Thomas F. Hartnett, former U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1981–1987)
• 1972 – Trent Lott, later U.S. Representative from Mississippi (1973–1989) and U.S. Senator from Mississippi (1989–2007)^[20]
• 1973 – Mills E. Godwin Jr., former governor of Virginia (1966–1970) and lieutenant Governor of Virginia (1962–1966). Later Governor of Virginia (1974–1978)
• 1973 – Samuel I. Hayakawa, later U.S. Senator from California (1977–1983)^[21]
• 1973 – John Connally, former United States Secretary of the Treasury (1971–1972) and former governor of Texas (1963–1969)
• 1975 – Elizabeth Dole, later United States Secretary of Transportation (1983–1987), United States Secretary of Labor (1989–1990) and U.S. Senator from North Carolina (2003–2009)
• 1975 – John Jarman, while U.S. Representative from Oklahoma (1951–1977)^[22]
• 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 from New Jersey (1981–present).^[23]
• 1978 – Thomas Bliley, Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and later U.S. Representative from 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 from Alabama (1953–1969) and United States Ambassador to New Zealand (1974–1979)

1980–1989

• 1980s – S. S. DeWitt, Louisiana State Representative
• 1980s – Mike Pence, U.S Representative for Indiana. Later Governor of Indiana (2013–2017) and Vice President of the United States (2017–2021)^[24]
• 1980 – Sam Yorty, former U.S. Representative for California (1951–1955) and Mayor of Los Angeles (1961–1973)
• 1980 – Mac Collins, later U.S. Representative from 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)^[25]
• 1980 – J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert, Louisiana State Representative
• 1981 – Bob Stump, while U.S. Representative from Arizona (1977–2003)
• 1981 – Eugene Atkinson, while U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1979–1983)^[26]
• 1981 – Larry Kudlow, later Director of the National Economic Council (2018–2021)
• 1982 – Condoleezza Rice, later United States National Security Advisor (2001–2005) and United States Secretary of State (2005–2009)^[27]
• 1982 – Joseph P. Wyatt Jr., former U.S. Representative from Texas (1979–1981)
• 1983 – Phil Gramm, while U.S. Representative from Texas (1979–1985) and later U.S. Senator from Texas (1985–2002)
• 1983 – Bob Martinez, while Mayor of Tampa. Later Governor of Florida (1987–1991) and Director of the National Drug Control Policy (1991–1993)
• 1983 – Edward D.L.G. Pangelinan, while Resident Representative from the Northern Mariana Islands (1978–1984)^[28]
• 1984 – V.J. Bella, Louisiana State Representative
• 1984 – Andy Ireland, while U.S. Representative from Florida (1977–1993)
• 1984 – H. Edward Knox, Mayor of the City of Charlotte
• 1984 – Sonny Callahan, Alabama State Senator. Later U.S Representative from Alabama (1985–2003)
• 1985- Syd Hedlog, Former US House of Representatives from Florida (1949-1969)
• 1985 – Jeane Kirkpatrick, while U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1981–1985)^[29]
• 1985 – Edward J. King, former governor of Massachusetts (1979–1983)^[30]
• 1985 – Dexter Lehtinen, Florida State Representative. Later U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida (1988–1992)
• 1985 – Kent Hance, former U.S. Representative from Texas (1979–1985)
• 1985 – Jock Scott (politician), 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)^[31]
• 1986 – Richard Baker, Louisiana State Representative. Later U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1987–2008)
• 1986 – Charles T. Canady, Florida State Representative. Later U.S. Representative from Florida (1993–2001), Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida (2008–present) and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida (2010–2012)
• 1986 – Frank Rizzo, former mayor of Philadelphia^[32]
• 1986 – James David Santini, former U.S. Representative from Nevada (1975–1983)
• 1987 – Paul Hardy, former secretary of state of Louisiana (1976–1980), later Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (1988–1992)^[33]
• 1987 – Roy Moore, later Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court (2001–2003)
• 1987 – Edward Vrdolyak, member of the Chicago City Council and chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party. He joined the Republican Party after a failed effort to oust Harold Washington as the nominee of the Illinois Solidarity Party in the 1987 mayoral election.^[34]
• 1987 – Sam Panayotovich, Illinois State Representative and political ally of Vrdolyak.^[35]
• 1987 – James C. Smith, Attorney General of Florida (1979–1987), later Florida Secretary of State (1987–1995)
• 1988 – Jim McCrery, later U.S. Representative from 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) and U.S. Senator from Nebraska (2009–2015)
• 1988 – John Rice, Alabama State Senator^[36]
• 1989 – John Amari, Alabama State Senator
• 1989 – Pete Johnson, while State Auditor of Mississippi (1988–1992)
• 1989 – Bill Grant, while U.S. Representative from Florida (1987–1991)
• 1989 – Tommy F. Robinson, while U.S. Representative from Arkansas (1985–1991)
• 1989 – Rick Perry, Agriculture Commissioner of Texas. Later Governor of Texas (2000–2015)^[37]
• 1989 – W. Fox McKeithen, Secretary of State of Louisiana (1988–2005)

1990–1999

• 1990 – Jason Chaffetz, later U.S. Representative from Utah (2009–2017)^[38]
• 1990 – Tom Vandergriff, former U.S. Representative from Texas (1983–1985). Later elected as a County Judge (1991–2007)
• 1990 – Joseph F. Toomy, Louisiana State Representative
• 1990 – Vito Fossella, later U.S. Representative from New York (1997–2009)
• 1990 – Lauch Faircloth, later U.S. Senator from North Carolina (1993–1999)^[39]
• 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)^[40]
• 1992 – Byron Looper, Tennessee State Representative
• 1993 – Edward H. Krebs, Pennsylvania State Representative
• 1993 – Don W. Williamson, Louisiana State Senator
• 1994 – Eli Bebout, Wyoming State Representative
• 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 as a Democrat for U.S. Representative from North Carolina. U.S. Representative from North Carolina (1995–2019)
• 1994 – Ed Whitfield, the day before filing as a candidate for the U.S. House in Kentucky. U.S. Representative from Kentucky (1995–2016)
• 1994 – Ron Gomez, Louisiana state representative
• 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 from Alabama (1987–present)
• 1995 – Jimmy Hayes, while U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1987–1997)
• 1995 – Greg Laughlin, while U.S. Representative from Texas (1989–1997)
• 1995 – Ben Nighthorse Campbell, while U.S. Senator from Colorado (1993–2005)
• 1995 – Billy Tauzin, while U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1980–2005)^[41]
• 1995 – Nathan Deal, while U.S. Representative from Georgia (1993–2011). Later became the 82nd Governor of Georgia (2011–2019)
• 1995 – Mike Parker, while U.S. Representative from Mississippi (1989–1999)^[42]
• 1995 – Susana Martinez, later Governor of New Mexico (2011–2019)
• 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.^[43]
• 1996 – Norm Coleman, while Mayor of St Paul. Later U.S. Senator from Minnesota (2003–2009)^[44]
• 1996 – Jay Blossman, later Louisiana Public Service Commissioner (1997–2008)
• 1996 – John Hoeven, later Governor of North Dakota (2000–2010), later U.S. Senator from 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, Alabama State Representative
• 1997 – Ronald "Ron" Johnson, Alabama State Representative
• 1998 – Harry C. Goode Jr., Florida State Representative
• 1998 – George Wallace Jr., former Alabama State Treasurer (1987–1995)
• 1998 – Gerald Allen, Alabama State Representative
• 1998 – Steve Flowers, Alabama State Representative
• 1998 – Tim Parker Jr., Alabama State Representative
• 1998 – Herman Badillo, former U.S. Representative from New York (1971–1977)
• 1998 – David G. Boschert, Maryland State Delegate
• 1998 – Sonny Perdue, Georgia State Senator. Later became the 81st Governor of Georgia (2003–2011) and the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture
• 1999 – Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, New York State Senator

2000–2009

• 2000 – Robert J. Barham, Louisiana State Senator
• 2000 – Tom McVea, Louisiana State Representative
• 2001 – Blaine Galliher, Alabama State Representative^[45]
• 2001 – Clinton LeSueur
• 2001 – Hunt Downer, Louisiana State Representative
• 2002 – Amy Tuck, Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi^[46]
• 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 – Terry Burton, Mississippi State Senator^[47]
• 2002 – Videt Carmichael, Mississippi State Senator^[47]
• 2002 – Kay Ivey, Alabama State Treasurer (2003-2011), Lieutenant Governor of Alabama (2011-2017), Governor of Alabama (2017–present)
• 2003 – James David Cain, Louisiana State Senator
• 2003 – Travis Little, Mississippi State Senator
• 2003 – Larry Baker, Mississippi State Representative^[48]
• 2003 – Jim Barnett, Mississippi State Representative^[48]
• 2003 – Herb Frierson, Mississippi State Representative^[48]
• 2003 – Frank Hamilton, Mississippi State Representative^[48]
• 2003 – John Read, Mississippi State Representative^[48]
• 2003 – Melinda Schwegmann, former lieutenant governor of Louisiana (1992–1996)
• 2003 – Rick Sheehy, Mayor of Hastings, Nebraska
• 2004 – Ralph Hall, while U.S. Representative from Texas (1981–2015)^[49][50]
• 2004 – Rodney Alexander, while U.S. Representative from Louisiana (2004–2013)^[51]
• 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 – Will Kendrick, Florida State Representative
• 2006 – Billy Montgomery, Louisiana State Representative
• 2006 – Jimmy Holley, Alabama State Senator^[52]
• 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^[53]
• 2007 – John Neely Kennedy, State Treasurer of Louisiana. Later U.S. Senator for Louisiana (2017–present)
• 2007 – Robert Adley, Louisiana State Senator
• 2008 – Nolan Mettetal, Mississippi State Senator^[54]
• 2008 – Sid Bondurant, Mississippi State Representative
• 2008 – Gil Pinac, former Louisiana State Representative
• 2009 – Chuck Hopson, Texas State Representative^[55]
• 2009 – Billy Nicholson, Mississippi State Representative^[56]
• 2009 – Tom Salmon, Vermont Auditor of Accounts^[57]
• 2009 – Tom Saviello, Maine State Representative, elected to Maine Senate as a Republican in 2010^[58]

2010–2019

• 2010 – Steve Levy, County Executive of Suffolk County, New York^[59]
• 2010 – C. Scott Bounds, Mississippi State Representative^[60]
• 2010 – Scott Angelle, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (2010). Later Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (2017–present)
• 2010 – Alan Boothe, Alabama State Representative^[61]
• 2010 – Steve Hurst, Alabama State Representative^[61]
• 2010 – Mike Millican, Alabama State Representative^[61]
• 2010 – Lesley Vance, Alabama State Representative^[61]
• 2010 – Ellis Black, Georgia State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Amy Carter, Georgia State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Mike Cheokas, Georgia State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Bubber Epps, Georgia State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Gerald Greene, Georgia State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Bob Hanner, Georgia State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Doug McKillip, Georgia State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Alan Powell, Georgia State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Tim Golden, Georgia State Senator^[62]
• 2010 – Chris Steineger, Kansas State Senator^[62]
• 2010 – Simone B. Champagne, Louisiana State Representative^[63]
• 2010 – Noble Ellington, Louisiana State Representative^[63]
• 2010 – Walker Hines, Louisiana State Representative^[63]
• 2010 – Fred Mills, Louisiana State Representative^[63]
• 2010 – Jim Preuitt, Alabama State Senator^[52]
• 2010 – John Alario, Louisiana State Senator^[62][63]
• 2010 – John Smith, Louisiana State Senator^[62]
• 2010 – Mike Willette, Maine State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Bobby Shows, Mississippi State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi State Senator, State Agriculture Commissioner, United States Senator^[62]
• 2010 – Eldon Nygaard, South Dakota State Senator^[62]
• 2010 – Aaron Pena, Texas State Representative^[62]
• 2010 – Allan Ritter, Texas State Representative^[62]
• 2011 – Tom Butler, Alabama State Senator^[64][65]
• 2011 – Buddy Caldwell, Louisiana Attorney General (2008–2016)^[66]
• 2011 – Russ Nowell, Mississippi State Representative^[67]
• 2011 – Margaret Rogers, Mississippi State Representative^[67]
• 2011 – Jeff Smith, Mississippi State Representative^[67]
• 2011 – Ezell Lee, Mississippi State Senator^[68]
• 2011 – Charles Graddick, Alabama Circuit Judge and former attorney general of Alabama (1979–1987)
• 2011 – Charles "Bubba" Chaney, Louisiana State Representative^[67]
• 2011 – Billy Chandler, Louisiana State Representative^[67]
• 2011 – Mike "Pete" Huval, Louisiana State Representative
• 2011 – Bob Hensgens, Mayor of Gueydan, Louisiana
• 2011 – Jody Amedee, Louisiana State Senator^[67]
• 2011 – Norby Chabert, Louisiana State Senator^[67]
• 2011 – Mark Grisanti, New York State Senator,^[69]
• 2011 – D. Bruce Goforth, former North Carolina State Representative^[70]
• 2011 – Linda Collins, Arkansas State Representative^[67]
• 2011 – Taylor Barras, Louisiana State Representative^[67]
• 2011 – Bert Jones, North Carolina State Representative
• 2011 – Jim Slezak, Michigan State Representative^[71]
• 2011 – Gray Tollison, Mississippi State Senator^[72]
• 2011 – Donnie Bell, Mississippi State Representative^[72]
• 2011 – Sarah Maestas-Barnes, New Mexico State Representative
• 2012 – J. M. Lozano, Texas State Representative^[73]
• 2012 – Roy Schmidt, Michigan State Representative^[67]
• 2012 – Arthur J. Williams, North Carolina State Representative^{[citation needed]}
• 2012 – Christine Watkins, Utah State Representative^[74]
• 2012 – Jason White, Mississippi State Representative^[72][75]
• 2012 – Alan Harper, Alabama State Representative^[76]
• 2012 – Jerry L. Fielding, Alabama State Senator^[77]
• 2013 – Lindsey Holmes, Alaska State Representative^[78]
• 2013 – Nickey Browning, Mississippi State Senator^[79][72]
• 2013 – Elbert Guillory, Louisiana State Senator^[80]
• 2013 – Rick Ward, III, Louisiana State Senator^[80]
• 2013 – James R. Fannin, Louisiana State Representative^[80]
• 2013 – Andy Nuñez, New Mexico State Representative^[81]
• 2013 – Ryan Ferns, West Virginia State Representative^[82]
• 2014 – Charles Newton, Alabama State Representative^[83]
• 2014 – Andy Nuñez, New Mexico State Representative^[84]
• 2014 – Randall Patterson, Mississippi State Representative^[72]
• 2014 – Daniel Hall, West Virginia State Senator^[85]
• 2014 – Linda Black, Missouri State Representative^[86]
• 2014 – Mark Miloscia, Washington State Representative^[87]
• 2014 – Gene Taylor, former U.S. Representative from Mississippi (1989–2011)^[88]
• 2015 – Mike Holcomb, Arkansas State Representative^[89]
• 2015 – Kim Davis, County Clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky^[90]
• 2015 – Jody Steverson, Mississippi State Representative^[91]
• 2015 – Denver Butler, Kentucky State Representative^[92]
• 2015 – Carlyle Begay, Arizona State Senator^[93]
• 2015 – Jim Gooch, Kentucky State Representative^[94]
• 2015 – Eric Greitens, later Governor of Missouri (2016–2018)^[95]
• 2015 – Omarosa Manigault, later director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison (2017)^[96]
• 2016 – Karen MacBeth, Rhode Island State Representative^[97]
• 2016 – Yancey McGill, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina (2014–2015)^[98]
• 2016 – David Hillman, Arkansas State Representative^[99]
• 2016 – Jeff Wardlaw, Arkansas State Representative^[99]
• 2016 – Joe Jett, Arkansas State Representative^[99]
• 2016 – Wilbur Ross, later United States Secretary of Commerce (2017–present)^{[citation needed]}
• 2017 – Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, former Florida State Representative^[100]
• 2017 – Mariellen MacKay, New Hampshire State Representative^[101]
• 2017 – William Brisson, North Carolina Assemblyman^[102]
• 2017 – Rupert Phillips, West Virginia State Delegate^[103]
• 2018 – Mike Oliverio, former West Virginia State Senator^[104]
• 2018 – Bobby Bright, former U.S. Representative from Alabama (2009–2011)^[105]
• 2018 – Ken Luttrell, Oklahoma State Representative^[106]
• 2018 – Johnny Tadlock, Oklahoma State Representative^[107]
• 2018 – Ivanka Trump, Daughter of President Donald Trump, Advisor to the President
• 2019 – Nick Bain, Mississippi State Representative^[108]
• 2019 – Carroll Hubbard, former U.S. Representative from Kentucky (1975–1993)
• 2019 – Jeff Van Drew, U.S Representative from New Jersey (2019–present)^[109]
• 2019 – Wanda Vázquez Garced, Governor of Puerto Rico (2019–2021) and former Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico (2017–2019)^{[110][111][112]}

2020–present

• 2020 – Jason Barrett, West Virginia State Representative^[113]
• 2021 – Vernon Jones, Georgia State Representative^[114]
• 2021 – John Jay Lee, North Las Vegas Mayor^[115]
• 2021 – Mick Bates, West Virginia State Delegate^[116]
• 2021 – Ryan Guillen, Texas State Representative^[117]

Democratic to other (third) party

• 1878 – Hendrick Bradley Wright, U.S Representative from Pennsylvania (1853–1855, 1861–1863 and 1877–1881), ran for reelection on the Greenback Party
• 1884 – Absolom M. West, member of the Mississippi State Senate. He joined the Greenback Party and was their vice presidential candidate in 1884.^[118]
• 1996 – Daniel Hamburg, former U.S. Representative (1993–1995) to Green Party^[119]
• 1999 – Audie Bock, California State Assemblywoman to Green Party^[120]
• 2000 – Matt Gonzalez, Supervisor of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to Green Party.^[121]
• 2003 – Matt Ahearn, New Jersey State Representative to Green Party.^[122]
• 2002 – Tim Penny, former U.S Representative from Minnesota (1983–1995) to Independence Party of Minnesota
• 2005 – Jim Lendall, Arkansas State Representative joined the Green Party.^[123]
• 2006 – Bill Paparian, Mayor of Pasadena to Green Party.
• 2007 – Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. Representative from Georgia (1993–2003 and 2005–2007) to Green Party^[124]
• 2012 – Adolfo Carrión Jr., former Bronx Borough President and Director of the Office of Urban Affairs, to Independence Party of New York.^[125][126]
• 2012 – Fred Smith, Arkansas State Representative to Green Party.^[127]
• 2017 – Henry John Bear, Maine State Representative to Maine Green Independent Party.^[128][129]
• 2017 – Ralph Chapman, Maine State Representative to Maine Green Independent Party.^[130]
• 2017 – Joseph Stallcop, New Hampshire State Representative to Libertarian Party^[131]
• 2018 – Shane Robinson, Maryland House Representative to Maryland Green Party.^[132]

Democratic to independent

• 1970 – Harry F. Byrd Jr., while U.S. Senator from Virginia (1965–1983)^[133]
• 2006 – Joe Lieberman, while U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1989–2013), to run as an independent, on the Connecticut for Lieberman ballot line, for US Senate in Connecticut, after losing to challenger Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary.^[134]
• 2006 – Avel Gordly, Oregon State Senator.^[135][136]
• 2009 – Timothy P. Cahill, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (2003–2011)^[137]
• 2009 – Juan Arambula, California State Assemblyman^[138]
• 2009 – Kathleen Curry, Colorado State Representative^[139]
• 2010 – Bob Ziegelbauer, Wisconsin State Assemblyman.^[140]
• 2013 – Richard Laird, Alabama State Representative^[141]
• 2013 – John Olumba, Michigan State Representative.
• 2014 – Terry Hayes, Maine State Treasurer.^[142]
• 2015 – Keith English, Missouri State Representative.^[143]
• 2015 – Paul Tine, North Carolina State Representative.^[144]
• 2016 – Ben Jones, former U.S. Representative from Georgia (1989–1993).^[145]
• 2016 – Mike Huether, Mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.^[146]
• 2017 – Denise Harlow, Maine State Representative^[147][148]
• 2017 – Martin Grohman, Maine State Representative^[147]
• 2017 – Cheri Jahn, Colorado State Senator^[149]
• 2019 – Stephen Holland and Angela Cockerham, Mississippi State Representatives^[150]
• 2019 – John Yudichak, Pennsylvania State Senator^[151]
• 2021 – Andrew Yang, candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries and the 2021 New York City Democratic mayoral primary^[152]

Switches by Republicans

Republican to Democratic

Before 1960

• 1860s – Henry George
• 1860s – Andrew Gregg Curtin, former governor of Pennsylvania (1861–1867), later U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania (1881–1887)
• 1860s – Alonzo Garcelon, later served as Governor of Maine (1879–1880)
• 1867 – John Quincy Adams II, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and grandson of President John Quincy Adams^[153]
• 1868 – Salmon P. Chase, former senator from Ohio (1849–1855, 1861), Governor of Ohio (1856–1860) and Secretary of the Treasury (1861–1864) and later Chief Justice of the United States (1864–1873)
• 1872 – Edmund G. Ross, former U.S. Senator from Kansas (1866–1871)
• 1877 – James B. Weaver, later U.S. Representative from Iowa (1879–1889)
• 1880 – Benjamin Butler, former U.S. Representative from Massachusetts (1867–1879), later Governor of Massachusetts (1883–1884)
• 1880 – C. H. J. Taylor, African American journalist. He was later Minister of Liberia (1887–1888) and Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia (1893–1897)^[154][155]
• 1893 – George Edwin Taylor, newspaper editor and later president of the National Negro Democratic League.^[156]
• 1905 – John Francis Wheaton, previously first African American to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives (1899–1900)^[157]
• 1920s – Ferdinand Lee Barnett, founding editor of The Chicago Conservator and husband of Ida B. Wells.^[158]
• 1922 – Royal S. Copeland, later U.S. Senator from New York (1923–1938)^[159]
• 1930s – Charles Edison, later the 42nd Governor of New Jersey (1941-1944).^[160][161]
• 1932 – Robert Lee Vann, publisher and editor of the Pittsburgh Courier^[162]
• 1932 – Mary McLeod Bethune, activist and member of the Black Cabinet during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration.^[163]
• 1932 – Robert Russa Moton, principal of Tuskegee Institute.^[164]
• 1932 – Phelps Phelps, New York Assemblyman, later Governor of American Samoa (1951–1952)
• 1932 – Arthur W. Mitchell, later U.S. Representative from Illinois (1935–1943)^[165]
• 1932 – Charles Diggs Sr., later member of the Michigan Senate (1937-1944).^[166]
• 1936 – Ellis E. Patterson, California state assemblyman, later Lieutenant Governor of California (1939–1943) and U.S. Representative from California (1945–1947)^[167]
• 1936 – Elizabeth Simpson Drewry, later the first African American member of the West Virginia House of Delegates (1951–1966)^[168][169]
• 1939 – William L. Dawson, later U.S. Representative from Illinois (1943–1970)^[170]
• 1939 – Corneal A. Davis, later a member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1943–1979)^[170]
• 1940 – Perle Mesta, later United States Ambassador to Luxembourg (1949–1953)^[171]
• 1940 – George W. Crockett, Jr., later Congressman from Michigan's 13th congressional district (1980–1991)^[172]
• 1951 – James C. Oliver, former U.S. Representative from Maine (1937–1943), Democratic nominee for Governor of Maine in 1952, later served as U.S. Representative from Maine (1959–1961).^[173]

1960–1969

• 1960s – Pete Stark, later served as U.S. Representative from California (1973–2013)
• 1960s – Howard Dean, later Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (1987–1991), Governor of Vermont (1991–2003) and Chair of the Democratic National Committee (2005–2009)
• 1960s – Archibald Carey Jr., later Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
• 1962 – Calhoun Allen, Commissioner of Public Utilities
• 1962 – Don Edwards, later Congressman from California (1963–1995).^[174]
• 1964 – William Cousins, later member of the Chicago City Council (1967–1976)^[175]
• 1966 – Jay Rockefeller, later United States Senator from West Virginia (1985-2015)^[176][177]
• 1968 – Hillary Clinton, later First Lady of the United States (1993–2001), U.S. Senator from New York (2001–2009), United States Secretary of State (2009–2013) and nominee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States in the 2016 election.

1970–1979

• 1970 – Floyd K. Haskell, later served as U.S. Senator from Colorado (1973–1979)^[178]
• 1970 – William G. Barr, while Illinois State Representative^[179][180]
• 1971 – John Lindsay, Mayor of New York City^[181]
• 1971 – Leon Panetta, later served as U.S. Representative from California (1977–1993), White House Chief of Staff (1994–1997), Director of the C.I.A. (2009–2011) and U.S. Secretary of Defense (2011–2013)
• 1972 – Ogden R. Reid, while U.S. Representative from New York (1963–1975)
• 1972 – Herman Goldner, Mayor of St. Petersburg^[182]
• 1972 – Harvey Milk, later a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1978).^[183]
• 1973 – Joan Finney, later Kansas State Treasurer (1974–1991) and Governor of Kansas (1991–1995)
• 1973 – Don Riegle, while U.S. representative from Michigan (1967–1976) and later U.S. Senator from Michigan (1976–1995)
• 1973 – Edward Meyer, New York State Assemblyman
• 1974 – Patrick A. Ribellia, Hawaii State Representative
• 1976 – James Glisson, Florida State Senator
• 1976 – Howard Oda, Hawaii State Representative^[184]
• 1976 – James Aki, Hawaii State Representative
• 1977 – Lloyd H. Kincaid, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
• 1977 – Peter Peyser, U.S. Representative from New York (1971–1977 and 1979–1983)
• 1978 – John Peavey, Idaho State Senator
• 1978 – Robert McNamara, US Secretary of Defence (1961-1968)^[185]

1980–1989

• 1980 – Thomas M. Foglietta, Member of the Philadelphia City Council, later served as U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1981–1997) and United States Ambassador to Italy (1997–2001)
• 1985 – John Yarmuth, later served as U.S. Representative from Kentucky (2007–present)^[186]
• 1985 – Chris Coons, later U.S. Senator from Delaware (2010–present)^[187]
• 1987 – Martha Ezzard, Colorado State Senator
• 1987 – Patrick A. Ribellia, Hawaii State Representative
• 1988 – Albio Sires, later served as U.S. Representative from New Jersey (2006–present)
• 1988 – Duane Woodard, Colorado Attorney General
• 1988 – Donna Akeda, Hawaii State Representative^[188]
• 1988 – Ann Kobayashi, Hawaii State Senator^[188]
• 1988 – Milton Marks, California State Senator^[189]

1990–1999

• 1991 – Markos Moulitsas, later founder of Daily Kos^[190]
• 1992 – Loretta Sanchez, later served as U.S. Representative from California (1997–2017)^[191]
• 1992 – Frank Pecora, Pennsylvania State Senator^[192]
• 1992 – Mike Doyle, later served as U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1995–present)^[192]
• 1992 – Mark Takano, later served as U.S. Representative from California (2013–present)^[193]
• 1994 – Bernard Erickson, Texas State Representative^[194]
• 1995 – Elizabeth Warren, later served as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (2013–present)^[195]
• 1996 – Carolyn McCarthy, later served as U.S. Representative from New York (1997–2015)^[196]
• 1996 – Ralph Neas, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights^[197]
• 1996 – Russell W. Peterson, former governor of Delaware (1969–1973)^[198]
• 1997 – Debra J. Mazzarelli, New York State Assemblywoman^[199]
• 1997 – Harley Rouda, later served as U.S. Representative for California (2019–2021)^[200]
• 1999 – Michael Forbes, while serving as U.S. Representative from New York (1995–2001)^[201]
• 1999 – Gabrielle Giffords, later U.S. Representative from Arizona (2007–2012)^[202]

2000–2009

• 2000 – Jeff Enfinger, Alabama State Senator^[203]
• 2000 – Scott Heidepriem, South Dakota State Senator
• 2000 – Dean Elton Johnson, Minnesota State Senator.^[44][204]
• 2000 – Mark DeSaulnier, Contra Costa County Supervisor. Later U.S. Representative for California (2015–present)^[205]
• 2000 – Judi Dutcher, Minnesota State Auditor (1995–2003)^[201]
• 2000 – Margaret Gamble, South Carolina State Representative^[206]
• 2000 – Mickey Whatley, South Carolina State Representative^[206]
• 2000 – Randy Sauder, Georgia State Representative
• 2000 – Ed Schultz^[207]
• 2001 – John A. Lawless, Pennsylvania House of Representatives.^[208]
• 2001 – Kathy Ashe, Georgia State Representative
• 2001 – Barbara McIlvaine Smith, Pennsylvania State Representative
• 2002 – Charles Wayne Goforth, former member of the Illinois State Representative.^[209]
• 2002 – D. G. Anderson, Hawaii State Senator
• 2002 – Charles R. Larson, former Superintendent of United States Naval Academy (1983–1986 and 1994–1998).^[210]
• 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)^[211]
• 2003 – Corey Corbin, New Hampshire State Representative^[212]
• 2003 – Stan Moody, Maine State Representative
• 2003 – Nancy Boyda, later served as U.S. Representative from Kansas (2007–2009)
• 2003 – John E. Moore, later Lieutenant Governor of Kansas (2003–2007)
• 2003 – Bazy Tankersley, horse breeder, conservationist, and daughter of Senator Joseph M. McCormick.^[213]
• 2004 – Arthur Mayo, Maine State Senator
• 2004 – Scott Dix, Georgia State Representative
• 2004 – Teresa Heinz, Widow of Senator John Heinz and Current wife of John Kerry.
• 2005 – Tim Mahoney, later served as U.S. Representative for Florida (2007–2009)
• 2005 – Paul J. Morrison, district attorney for Johnson County, Kansas, later Kansas Attorney General (2006–2007)^[214][215]
• 2005 – Steve Lukert, Kansas State Representative^[216]
• 2006 – James Webb, former United States Secretary of the Navy (1987–1988), later U.S. Senator from Virginia (2007–2013)
• 2006 – Mark Parkinson, Kansas State Senator, later Lieutenant Governor of Kansas (2007–2009) and Governor of Kansas (2009–2011)^[215][217]
• 2006 – Charles Barkley
• 2006 – Nancy Riley, Oklahoma State Senator
• 2006 – Kate Witek, Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts (1999–2007)^[218]
• 2006 – Sam Kitzenberg, Montana State Senator.^[219]
• 2006 – Rodney Tom, Washington State Representative
• 2006 – Diana Urban, Connecticut State Representative
• 2006 – Cindy Neighbor, Kansas State Representative
• 2006 – Wendy Davis, Member of the Fort Worth City Council, later Texas State Senator and 2014 Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas
• 2007 – Pete McCloskey, former U.S. Representative from California (1967–1983)^[220][221]
• 2007 – Walter Boasso, Louisiana State Senator
• 2007 – Janet DiFiore, district attorney of Westchester County, New York^[222][223]
• 2007 – Paul D. Froehlich, Illinois State Representative.^[35]
• 2007 – Robert Garcia, later Mayor of Long Beach, California^[224]
• 2007 – Mike Spano, New York State Assemblyman
• 2007 – Chris Koster, Missouri State Senator, later Missouri Attorney General (2009–2017) and 2016 Democratic nominee for Governor of Missouri^[225]
• 2007 – Milward Dedman, Kentucky State Representative
• 2007 – Melvin B. Henley, Kentucky State Representative
• 2007 – Kirk England, Texas State Representative^[226]
• 2007 – James Hovland, Mayor of Edina, Minnesota
• 2007 – Francis Bodine, New Jersey State Representative
• 2007 – Debbie Stafford, Colorado State Representative^[227]
• 2007 – Fred Jarrett, Washington State Representative
• 2007 – Karen Awana, Hawaii State Representative^[188]
• 2007 – Mike Gabbard, Hawaii State Senator^[188][228]
• 2008 – David L. Hogue, Utah State Representative^[229]
• 2008 – Stacey Plaskett, later served as Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the United States Virgin Islands (2015–present).^[230]
• 2008 – Gil Cisneros, later served as U.S. Representative for California (2019–2021)^[231]
• 2009 – Dale Swenson, Kansas State Representative^[232][233]

2010–2019

• 2010 – Steve Fox, California State Assemblyman
• 2011 – Wade Hurt, Kentucky State Representative
• 2011 – Patrick Murphy, later served as U.S. Representative from Florida (2013–2017)
• 2012 – Ron Erhardt, Minnesota State Representative
• 2012 – Gil Riviere, while Hawaii State Representative^[188]
• 2012 – Peter Koo, New York City Councilman^[234]
• 2013 – Jean Schodorf, Kansas State Senator
• 2013 – Tom O'Halleran, Arizona State Senator, later U.S. Representative from Arizona (2017–present).^[235]
• 2013 – Brad Ashford, Nebraska State Senator, later U.S. Representative from Nebraska (2015–2017)
• 2013 – John Bohlinger, former lieutenant governor of Montana (2005–2013)
• 2013 – Lawrence E. Meyers, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge.
• 2013 – Nathan Fletcher, California State Assemblyman.^[236]
• 2014 – Aaron Johanson, Hawaii State Representative^[237]
• 2014 – Ana Rivas Logan, previously a member of the Florida Senate.^[238][239]
• 2015 – John Ceretto, New York State Assemblyman
• 2015 – Jane Castor, later Mayor of Tampa (2019–present).^[240]
• 2016 – William Mundell, former Arizona Corporation Commissioner^[241]
• 2017 – Kymberly Pine, Honolulu City Councillor
• 2017 – Beth Fukumoto, Hawaii State Representative and Republican Minority Leader.^[242]
• 2018 – Ken Maddox, former California State Assemblyman.^[243]
• 2018 – Bob Krist, Nebraska State Senator^[244]
• 2018 – Richard Painter, Chief White House Ethics Lawyer (2005–2007)^[245][246]
• 2018 – Steve Schmidt, political strategist and operations chief for John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, as well as co-founder of The Lincoln Project.^[247]
• 2018 – Aundre Bumgardner, former Connecticut State Representative.^[248]
• 2018 – Meagan Simonaire, Maryland State Delegate^[249]
• 2018 – Grant Woods, former attorney general of Arizona (1991–1999)^[250]
• 2018 – Barbara Bollier, Kansas State Senator^[251]
• 2018 – Joy Koesten, Kansas State Representative^[252]
• 2018 – Stephanie Clayton, Kansas State Representative^[253]
• 2018 – Dinah Sykes, Kansas State Senator^[254]
• 2019 – Brian Maienschein, while California State Assemblyman^[255][256]
• 2019 – Dawn Addiego, New Jersey State Senator^[257]
• 2019 – Andy McKean, Iowa State Representative^[258]
• 2019 – Wayne Gilchrest, former Congressman from Maryland's 1st congressional district (1991–2009).^[259]

2020–present

• 2020 – David Tubiolo, while Westchester County, NY Legislator^[260]
• 2020 – Frank Aguilar, member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives^[261]
• 2021 – William Marsh, New Hampshire State Representative^[262]
• 2021 – Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction^[263]

Republican to other (third) party

• 1891 – James Weaver, Republican turned Greenbacker, later was a founder of the Populist Party and ran for president on that party's ticket in 1892.
• 1893 – William M. Stewart, U.S. Senator from Nevada (1864–1875 and 1887–1905) switched to the Silver Party^[264]
• 1895 – John P. Jones, U.S. Senator from Nevada (1873–1903) switched to Silver Party^[265]
• 1896 – Wharton Barker switched to the Populist Party.
• 1896 – Lee Mantle, U.S. Senator from Montana (1895–1899) switched to Silver Republican Party.^[266]
• 1896 – Richard F. Pettigrew, U.S. Senator from South Dakota (1889–1901) switched to Silver Republican Party.^[267]
• 1896 – Frank J. Cannon, U.S. Senator from Utah (1896–1899) switched to Silver Republican Party.^[268]
• 1897 – Henry M. Teller, U.S. Senator from Colorado (1876–1882 and 1885–1909) switched to Silver Republican Party^[269]
• 1897 – Fred T. Dubois, U.S. Senator from Idaho (1891–1897 and 1901–1907) switched to Silver Republican Party.^[270]
• 1934 – Robert M. La Follette Jr., U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1925–1947) switched to the Progressive Party.^[271]
• 1937 – Vito Marcantonio, U.S. Representative from New York (1935–1937 and 1939–1951) switched to the Labor Party
• 2000 – Rick Jore, Montana State Representative to U.S. Constitution Party.^[272]
• 2012 – Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico (1995–2003), switched to the Libertarian Party and became their nominee for President of the United States in both the 2012 election and 2016 election.
• 2012 – Buddy Roemer, former governor of Louisiana (1988–1992), switched to the Reform Party.
• 2012 – Daniel P. Gordon, Rhode Island State Representative joined the Libertarian Party.^[273][274]
• 2016 – William Weld, former governor of Massachusetts (1991–1997), switched to the Libertarian Party
• 2016 – John Moore, Nevada Assemblyman switched to Libertarian Party^[275]
• 2016 – Laura Ebke, Nebraska State Senator, switched to the Libertarian Party.^[276]
• 2016 – Mary Matalin, deputy campaign manager for George H. W. Bush's 1992 presidential campaign, switched to Libertarian Party^[277]
• 2016 – Mark B. Madsen, Utah State Senator, switched to the Libertarian Party.^[278]
• 2017 – Caleb Dyer, New Hampshire State Representative switched to the Libertarian Party^[131]
• 2017 – Brandon Phinney, New Hampshire State Representative switched to the Libertarian Party^[279]
• 2018 – Sam McCann, Illinois State Senator switched to the Conservative Party.^[280]
• 2018 – Aubrey Dunn Jr., New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands switched to the Libertarian Party.^[281][282]
• 2019-20 – Justin Amash, Former US Congressman from Michigan, became Independent in July 2019, then affiliated with the Libertarian Party in April 2020

Republican to independent

• 1936 – George William Norris, U.S. Senator from Nebraska (1913–1943)^[283]
• 1980 – John Anderson, U.S. Representative from Illinois (1961–1981).
• 1990 – Lowell P. Weicker Jr., former U.S. Senator for Connecticut (1971–1989). Later Independent Governor of Connecticut (1991–1995)^[284]
• 2001 – James M. Jeffords, U.S. senator from Vermont (1989–2007).^{[285][286][287]}
• 2005 – David Durenberger, former U.S. Senator from Minnesota (1979–1995).^[288]
• 2007 – Rick Singleton, Rhode Island State Representative^[289]
• 2007 – Micheal R. Williams, Tennessee State Senator^[290]
• 2008 – Ron Erhardt, Minnesota State Representative.^[291]
• 2009 – Jim Campbell, Maine State Representative^[292]
• 2014 – Larry Pressler, former U.S. Senator from South Dakota (1979–1997)^[293]
• 2014 – Sue Wagner, former lieutenant governor of Nevada (1991–1995)^[294]
• 2014 – Bill Walker, later Independent Governor of Alaska (2014–2018)^[295]
• 2015 – Nate Bell, Arkansas State Representative.^[296]
• 2016 – Tom Campbell, former U.S. Representative from California (1989–2001).^[297]
• 2016 – Larry Dunphy, Maine State Representative^[298]
• 2016 – Gordon J. Humphrey, former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire (1979-1990)^[299]
• 2016 – David Johnson, Iowa State Senator^[300]
• 2016 – Evan McMullin, Republican congressional staff member until July 2016, launched an independent presidential campaign in August 2016
• 2016 – George Will^[301]
• 2017 – Joe Scarborough, former U.S. Representative from Florida (1995–2001) and host of Morning Joe^[302]
• 2017 – Rick Wilson, political strategist and operations chief for Evan McMullin 2016 presidential campaign, as well as co-founder of The Lincoln Project.
• 2017 – Kevin Battle, Maine State Representative^[147]
• 2017 – Norm Higgins, Maine State Representative^[147]
• 2018 – Charles Djou, former U.S. Representative from Hawaii (2010–2011)^[303]
• 2018 – John Doll, Kansas State Senator^[304]
• 2018 – Steve Poizner, former California Insurance Commissioner (2007–2011)^[305]
• 2018 – Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court (2011–present)^[306]
• 2018 – David Jolly, former US Congressman from Florida^[307]
• 2020 – Joe Walsh, former US Congressman from Illinois
• 2020 – Paul Mitchell, former US Congressman from Michigan
• 2021 – Knute Buehler, former Oregon gubernatorial candidate in 2018
• 2021 – Phelps Anderson, New Mexico State Representative^[308]
• 2021 – Arnold Palacios, Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
• 2021 – Joe Camacho, Northern Mariana Islands State Representative^[309]
• 2021 – Kim Wyman, former Secretary of State of Washington
• 2021 – Jim Hendren, Arkansas State Senator^[310]

Switches by independents or other parties

Independent or other party to Democratic

• 1955 – Wayne Morse, U.S. Senator from Oregon (1945–1969), changed from an Independent to a Democrat on February 17, 1955^[311]
• 1996 – Walt Minnick, later Congressman from Idaho's 1st congressional district (2009–2011)^[312]
• 2002 – Joe Bertram, switched from the Green Party.^[313]
• 2004 – Peter Clavelle, while Mayor of Burlington left the Vermont Progressive Party.
• 2004 – Kyrsten Sinema, left the Green Party. Later U.S. Representative from Arizona (2013–2019) and U.S. Senator from Arizona (2019–Present).^[314]
• 2006 – David Segal, initially elected as a Green to the Providence City Council, he joined the Democratic Party to run for the Rhode Island House of Representatives, where he served from 2007 to 2011.^[315][316]
• 2009 – Richard Carroll, Arkansas Representative. At the time of his switch, he was the only Green Party state legislator in the United States.^[317]
• 2015 – Ben Chipman, Maine State Representative.^[318]

Independent or other party to Republican

• 1941 – Henrik Shipstead, while U.S. Senator from Minnesota, switched from the Farmer-Labor Party to the Republican Party.^[319]
• 2011 – Joel Robideaux, while a Louisiana State Representative. He was initially elected as an independent.^[320]
• 2016 – Blake Filippi, Rhode Island State Representative, switched from Independent to Republican; he had also been Republican previously until 2012.^[321]

Multiple party switches

Democratic to Republican to Democratic

• 1854 – Francis Preston Blair, a supporter of presidents Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln who became disillusioned with radical Reconstruction policies.
• 1854 – Francis Preston Blair Jr., Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1868. His family had been unwavering supporters of Republican Abraham Lincoln, but he opposed the post-war Reconstruction policy. He had earlier been a friend of Democrat Thomas Hart Benton, and like his father he had also been a member of the Free Soil Party.
• 1854 – Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General for President Lincoln. His family left the Democratic Party to join the Republican Party, but he re-joined the Democratic Party after the war.
• 1965 – Arlen Specter, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (1981–2011). He was a Republican from 1965 to 2009 and a Democrat from 1951 to 1965 and 2009 to 2012.^[322]
• 2003 – Tommy Dickerson, Mississippi State Senator.^[323]
• 2003 – Johnny Ford, Alabama State Representative.^[324][325]
• 2008 – Jim Bradford, South Dakota State Representative.
• 2009 – Parker Griffith, former U.S. Representative from Alabama (2009–2011). Joined the Republican Party in 2009, but returned to the Democratic Party in 2014.^[326]
• 2012 – Artur Davis, former U.S. Representative from Alabama (2003–2011). Joined the Republican Party in 2012, but returned to the Democratic Party in 2015.^[327]
• 2015 – Joe Baca, former U.S. Representative from California (1999–2013). Joined the Republican Party in 2015, but returned to the Democratic Party in 2018.^[328][329]

Republican to Democratic to Republican

• 1960 – Jerry Solomon, later U.S. Representative from New York (1979–1999)^[330]
• 1974 – Matthew G. Martinez, U.S. Representative from California (1982–2001)^[331]
• 1992 – Evan Jenkins, West Virginia State Delegate. Later U.S. Representative for West Virginia (2015–2019)^[332]
• 1997 – Betsy McCaughey, Lieutenant Governor of New York (1995–1998)
• 2001 – Robert R. Neall, Maryland State Senator.^[333]
• 2017 – Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia (2017–present).^[334]
• 2018 – Daniel Boman, Alabama State Representative.

Other variations

• 1890 – Thomas E. Watson switched to the Populist Party. Later U.S. Senator for Georgia as a Democrat (1921–1922).
• 1908 – Theodore A. Bell, former U.S. Representative from California (1903–1905). He ran in several elections under different party's banners.
• 1913 – Miles Poindexter, U.S. Senator from Washington (1911–1923) switched to the Progressive Party until rejoining the Republican Party two years later.^[335]
• 1936 – Henry A. Wallace, United States Secretary of Agriculture (1933–1940), Vice President of the United States (1941–1945), United States Secretary of Commerce (1945–1946). He was a Republican, then a Democrat (1932-1947), then a Progressive (1947-1953)
• 1974 – D. French Slaughter Jr., while serving in the Virginia House of Delegates became an independent. Later elected to Congress as a Republican (1985–1991).
• 1976 – Harold L. Silverman, elected as a Republican to the Maine House of Representatives (1973–1976), resigned to become a staffer to independent Governor James B. Longley, elected as an independent to the Maine Senate (1979–1980), Democratic nominee for Maine's 2nd congressional district in 1980.
• 1988 – Ron Paul, former U.S. Representative (1976–1977 and 1979–1985), ran for president as a Libertarian. He later returned to Congress as a Republican (1997–2012).
• 1990 – Walter Hickel, former United States Secretary of the Interior (1969–1970) left Republican Party before his successful bid for Governor of Alaska (1966–1969 and 1990–1994), as nominee of the Alaskan Independence Party.^[336] He rejoined the Republican party in 1994.
• 1994 – Wes Watkins, Democratic U.S Congressman from Oklahoma (1977–1991), Democratic (1990) & Independent (1994) candidate for Governor of Oklahoma and Republican U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma (1997–2003)
• 1999 – Bob Smith, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire (1990–2003), left the Republican Party on July 13, 1999, while running for the party's presidential nomination; became an independent and declared himself a candidate for the U.S. Taxpayers Party presidential nomination and an independent candidate. On November 1, 1999, he returned to the Republican Party when a Senate committee chairmanship became open.^[337]
• 1999 – Donald Trump, businessman and real-estate developer, later 45th President of the United States has been at various times a Republican, Democratic, Independent, and Reform Party member.
• 1999 – Joel Giambra, city comptroller of Buffalo, New York (1990–1999), County Executive of Erie County, New York (2000–2007). He joined the Republican Party in 1999. In 2018, he joined the Reform Party of New York State to run for governor.^[338]
• 2000 – Virgil Goode, former U.S. Representative from Virginia (1997–2009). Initially a Democrat, he sat as an Independent and later a Republican during his time in Congress. After Congress, he switched to the Constitution Party and became their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.^[339][340]
• 2001 – Michael Bloomberg, was a Democratic before running for Mayor of New York City as a Republican. He later became an independent before rejoining the Democratic Party in 2018.^[341]
• 2002 – Sheila Kiscaden, while a Minnesota state senator. She joined and won reelection as the Independence Party of Minnesota candidate before accepting an invitation to join the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party in 2006.^[44]
• 2008 – Mike Gravel, former U.S. Senator from Alaska (1969–1981) and 2008 presidential candidate switched from Democrat to Libertarian before returning to the Democratic Party in 2010.^[342]
• 2009 – Jared Kushner, former Senior Advisor to the President (2017–2021) and Director of the Office of American Innovation (2017–2021), has been at various times a Democratic, Independent, and Republican.
• 2012 – Charlie Crist, former Republican governor of Florida (2007–2011) and Independent senatorial candidate in 2010, switched to Democrat, now serves as Democratic US Congressman^[343]
• 2017 – Tom Tancredo, former U.S. Representative from Colorado (1999–2009), switched to the Constitution Party to run for Governor of Colorado, returned to Republican Party in 2011, became an Independent in 2015, returned to the Republican Party again in 2017
• 2019 – Lincoln Chafee, former Independent and Democratic Governor of Rhode Island (2011–2015), former Republican U.S. Senator for Rhode Island (1999–2007), switched from Republican to Independent in 2007, switched from Independent to Democrat in 2013 while serving as Governor of Rhode Island, ran for President in the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries, switched to Libertarian Party in 2019^[344]
• 2021 – Colin Powell, former United States Secretary of State under George W. Bush (2001-2005), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton (1989-1993), former National Security Advisor under Ronald Reagan (1986-1989) switched from Independent to Republican in 1995. After supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, Powell said that he could no longer call himself a fellow Republican. He switched back to Independent.^[345]

Within other parties

• 2000 – Jesse Ventura, while governor of Minnesota, left the Reform Party, along with most of his supporters, to re-found the Independence Party of Minnesota.^[346]