Party switching in the United States

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In the United States politics, party switching is any change in party affiliation of a partisan public figure, usually one who is currently holding elected office. Use of the term "party switch" can also connote a transfer of held power in an elected governmental body from one party to another.

Motivations

There are a number of reasons why an elected official, or someone seeking office, might choose to switch parties. One reason is ethical obligation—the person feels their views are no longer aligned with those of their current party.

A second reason is to gain power and influence. The incumbent may be a member of the minority party in a legislature and would like to gain the advantages of being in the majority party, such as the potential to chair a committee.

Another reason is simply to get elected. This may be the primary reason when the opposing party's base in a constituency is reaching a size that threatens the safe reelection of the incumbent.

History

The 19th century

The shifting of allegiance between political parties was much more common during the 19th century than it is today. It took several years for political parties as we know them today to coalesce after the founding of the United States, and many parties formed and fell apart rapidly.

A massive party switch occurred in the 19th century and 1810s when many members of the United States Federalist Party joined the United States Democratic-Republican Party. When this party fell apart in the 1820s, its members all switched to various political parties, including the United States Whig Party, as well as the Democratic, National Republican, Anti-Jackson and Anti-Mason Parties. The Republican Party was also formed by a massive party switch in 1854 when northern members of the Whig, American and Free Soil parties, along with a few northern Democrats, formed the Republican Party, and many Southern Whigs became Democrats. Following the United States Civil War the Republican Party faced several massive party switches. As Reconstruction ended, many Southern Republicans became Democrats. In 1872 Republicans dissatisfied with President Ulysses S. Grant formed the Liberal Republican Party and had a joint presidential campaign with the Democrats. Most Liberal Republicans soon returned to the main Republican Party, however. A similar situation occurred in 1884 when the mugwumps left the Republican Party and supported the Democratic presidential candidate, later rejoining the Republican party. The next major conflict in the Republican Party occurred in 1896 when Republican supporters of free silver left the party to form the Silver Republicans, though again most of these politicians later rejoined the Republican Party. By the late 19th century, as the Democratic and Republican parties became more established, however, party switching became less frequent.

The 20th century

The shifts in American voter demographics beginning in the second half of the 20th century - the southern states from Democratic to Republican, and New England and the West Coast states from Republican to Democratic - have prompted several incumbent federal legislators and many state legislators to switch parties. In addition, as changes in state laws made it harder and harder for members of third parties to be elected or re-elected, many former members of these parties became members of the two dominant parties.

Notable party switchers

Notable party switchers of the modern era include:

Democratic to Republican

1800s

• 1855 – Reuben Fenton, Congressman who opposed the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854; lost election that year. In 1856 switched to Republican to run for his old seat and won it back. Switched to Liberal Republican Party in 1872 while Governor of New York. Once again became a Democrat when the Liberal Republicans fused with the Democratic Party.
• 1856 – Hannibal Hamlin, the U.S. Senator for Maine (1848–1857, 1857–1861 and 1869–1881), before running for Governor of Maine (1857), later 15th Vice President of the United States (1861–1865)
• 1856 – Simon Cameron, before running for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and was later 26th 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 – Benjamin Franklin Butler, later became a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts (1867–1875 and 1877–1879) and 33rd Governor of Massachusetts (1883–1884)
• 1860s – James M. Hinds, later became a U.S. Representative from Arkansas (1868)
• mid-1860s – Thompson Campbell, former U.S. Representative from Illinois (1851–1853)
• mid-1860s – John A. Logan, while U.S. Representative from Illinois, resigned to volunteer to fight in American Civil War; after the war elected as Republican U.S. Rep. (1867–1871) and also U.S. Senator from Illinois (1871–1877 and 1879–1886)
• mid-1860s – John Adams Dix, former United States Secretary of the Treasury (1861) & U.S. Senator from New York (1845–1849); later elected as the 24th Governor of New York (1873–1874)
• 1869 – David P. Lewis, before running successfully for Governor of Alabama
• 1870 – James Lawrence Orr, 26th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1857–1859) and U.S. Representative (1849–1859), before running for Governor of South Carolina (1865–1868)
• 1893 – James A. Walker, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (1878–1882), turned Republican before running for Congress. Later U.S Representative for Virginia (1895–1899)

1900–1949

• 1911 – Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, switched to Republican after the State Convention denied his request that half of all statewide nominees be Hispanic (request not granted as Republican either). Later 4th Governor of New Mexico (1919–1921) and U.S. Senator from New Mexico (1928–1929)
• 1921 – Theodore A. Bell, former U.S. Representative from California (1903–1905)
• 1933 – Raymond Moley, adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, due to anger over the New Deal
• 1939 – Wendell Willkie of Indiana, before running for President in the 1940 election
• 1942 – Max Galasinski, former member of Wisconsin State Senate and 1938 Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, unseated in the Democratic primary for his Senate seat, ran as a Republican in 1942 to oppose the Democrat who'd taken his seat
• 1949 – Joseph A. McArdle, former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1939–1942)
• 1949 – Rush D. Holt, Sr., former U.S. Senator from West Virginia (1935–1941), after unsuccessful candidacy for the 1948 Democratic nomination for United States Senator [37]
• 1949 - William C. Cramer prior to running in 1950 s a Republican for the Florida House of Representatives; later Florida's first Republican U.S. representative since Reconstruction from 1955–1971.

1950s

• 1952 – Henry Hyde, later became U.S. Representative from Illinois (1975–2007)
• 1956 – Cora Brown, State Senator, left Democratic Party because she believed it was too heavily influenced by the Congress of Industrial Organizations
• 1958 – Odell Pollard, later became Arkansas State Republican Chairman (1966–1970)
• 1959 – Francis Grevemberg, former Louisiana State Police superintendent, before running for Governor of Louisiana in 1960
• 1959 – Dud Lastrapes of Louisiana, as a television anchorman long before he was elected mayor of Lafayette, Louisiana in 1980

1960s

• early 1960s – Arthur Ravenel, Jr., before running for the South Carolina Senate, later U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1987–1995)
• 1960s – James F. Byrnes, the former 104th Governor of South Carolina (1951–1955) and 49th United States Secretary of State (1945–1947)
• 1960 - Claude R. Kirk, Jr., later 36th Governor of Florida (1967–1971)
• 1961 – Charlton Lyons to run for Louisiana's 4th congressional district seat
• 1962 – Dave Treen, later U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1973–1980) and 51st Governor of Louisiana (1980–1984)
• 1962 – Jack M. Cox, to run for Governor of Texas; losing to later Republican convert John B. Connally, Jr.
• 1962 – James D. Martin, former U.S. Representative from Alabama (1965–1967)
• 1962 – Ronald Reagan of California, while an actor and former Screen Actors Guild president[38]. Later 40th President of the United States (1981–1989)
• 1962 – Floyd Spence, while a South Carolina state Representative; later a U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1971–2001)
• 1963 - Rubel Phillips, former Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, to run for governor of Mississippi
• 1964 - Howard Callaway, prior to becoming the first Republican U.S. representative from Georgia since Reconstruction (1965–1967) and later 11th United States Secretary of the Army
• 1964 - Charles W. Pickering, later 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) switched to the Republican party on September 16, 1964.
• 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)
• 1965 – Arlen Specter, while running for District Attorney of Philadelphia (1966–1974), later U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (1981–2011); in 2009, he switched back to the Democratic Party but later criticized Democratic party leadership [39].
• 1965 – Roderick Miller, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, after unsuccessful run for judgeship in 1964
• 1966 - Marshall Parker, to run for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina; twice defeated by Fritz Hollings
• 1966 – Thomas A. Wofford, former U.S. Senator from South Carolina (1956), before write-in campaign for State Senator from South Carolina
• 1966 – Len E. Blaylock, to support Winthrop Rockefeller for Governor of Arkansas, later U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas (1975–1978)
• 1966 – Jerry Thomasson, switched from Democrat to Republican while an state Representative to run for Attorney General of Arkansas
• 1966 – Henry Grover of Texas, switched from Democrat to Republican while a state Representative before successfully running for Texas Senate.
• 1967 – William E. Dannemeyer, while serving as a superior court judge before returning to the California State Assembly, later U.S. Representative from California (1979–1992)
• 1967 – Allison Kolb, former Louisiana State Auditor (1952–1956), while seeking a political comeback running unsuccessfully for state Treasurer, lost 1956 Democratic primary for state auditor
• 1968 – William Reynolds Archer, Jr., while a member of the Texas House of Representatives, later U.S. Representative from Texas (1971–2001)
• 1968 – Will Wilson, former Texas Attorney General (1957–1963) switched to support Richard M. Nixon in the 1968 presidential election
• 1968 – James L. Bentley, Comptroller General of Georgia (1963–1971), switched to Republican, along with four other statewide constitutional officers. Bentley then lost the 1970 Republican gubernatorial nomination.

1970s

• 1970 – Jesse Helms, two years before running for the U.S. Senate from North Carolina (1973–2003)
• 1970 – A. C. Clemons, while serving in the Louisiana Senate
• 1970 – William Oswald Mills, later became U.S. Representative from Maryland (1971–1973)
• 1970 – Bob Barr, who later became U.S. Representative from Georgia (1995–2003); later left the GOP to run as a Libertarian for U.S. president in 2008
• 1971 – Tillie K. Fowler, who later became U.S. Representative from Florida (1993–2001)
• 1972 - Ed Karst, while serving as the mayor of Alexandria, Louisiana; later returned to the Democrats and then became "No Party"
• 1972 – Robert R. Neall, before serving in the Maryland House of Delegates. He switched back to the Democratic Party in 1999
• 1972 – Trent Lott, prior to running to become U.S. Representative from Mississippi (1973–1989) and later U.S. Senator from Mississippi (1989–2007) . He was administrative assistant to Rules Committee chairman William Colmer, who endorsed Lott as his successor despite Lott's party switch.
• 1973 – Mills E. Godwin Jr., 60th Governor of Virginia from 1966 to 1970 and Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (1962–1966). Later 62th Governor (1974–1978)
• 1973 – Samuel I. Hayakawa, later U.S. Senate from California (1977–1983)
• 1973 – John Connally, former 61st United States Secretary of the Treasury (1971–1972) and former 39th Governor of Texas (1963–1969)
• 1975 – Elizabeth Dole, while employed by the Federal Trade Commission. Later 8th United States Secretary of Transportation (1983–1987), 20th 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). He had served for 24 years in the House and said he was fed up with the Democratic Party, which had been "taken over by liberals"..
• 1977 – A. J. McNamara, while serving in the Louisiana House
• 1977 – Lane Carson, while serving in the Louisiana House
• 1978 – Robert G. Jones, after leaving the Louisiana Senate
• 1978 – Chris Smith, managed the unsuccessful 1976 New Jersey Senate primary campaign of Democrat Steve Foley. Later became the U.S. Representative from New Jersey (1981-present) [40].
• late 1970s – Thomas Bliley, after being Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and later U.S. Representative from Virginia (1981–2001)
• late 1970s – Michael F. "Mike" Thompson, while serving in the Louisiana House
• 1979 – Charles Grisbaum, Jr., member of the Louisiana House from Jefferson Parish
• 1979 – Ed Scogin, member of the Louisiana House from St. Tammany Parish

1980s

• 1980s – S. S. DeWitt, after having left the Louisiana House of Representatives
• 1980 – Sam Yorty, former U.S Representative for California (1951–1955) and Mayor of Los Angeles (1961–1973)
• 1980 – Mac Collins, while county commissioner, later U.S Representative from Georgia (1993–2005)
• 1980 – Jim Donelon, to run for Congress in a special election. Later Louisiana Insurance Commissioner (2006-present)
• 1980 – Jesse Monroe Knowles, while serving near the end of his term in the Louisiana Senate
• 1980 – Frank D. White, to run for and become the 41st Governor of Arkansas (1981–1983), defeated Bill Clinton, the incumbent Governor.
• 1980s – J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert, after having left office as a member of both houses of the Louisiana legislature
• 1981 – Bob Stump, while U.S. Representative from Arizona (1977–1003)
• 1981 – Eugene Atkinson, while U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1979–1983)
• 1982 – Condoleezza Rice, became a Republican citing the influence of her father, who switched from Democrat to Republican after being denied voting registration by a Democratic registrar in Alabama 1952. Later 66th United States Secretary of State (2005–2009)
• 1983 – Jimmy Fitzmorris, former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (1972–1980)
• 1983 – Phil Gramm, while U.S. Representative from Texas (1979–1985) (resigned before switching parties and re-won his seat in a special election). Later U.S. Senator from Texas (1985–2002)
• 1983 – Bob Martinez, whilst Mayor of Tampa. Later 40th Governor of Florida (1987–1991) and 2nd Director of the National Drug Control Policy (1991–1993)
• 1984 – V.J. Bella, while serving in the Louisiana House of Representatives
• 1984 – Andy Ireland, while U.S. Representative from Florida (1977–1993)
• 1984 – H. Edward Knox; became an independent in 2005
• 1985 – Jeane Kirkpatrick, while U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1981–1985) [41]
• 1985 – Edward J. King, former 66th Governor of Massachusetts (1979–1983)
• 1985 – Dexter Lehtinen, while serving in the Florida House of Representatives. Later U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida (1988–1992)
• 1985 – Kent Hance, former U.S. Representative from Texas (1979–1985), after losing the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in Texas
• 1985 – Jock Scott, near the end of his tenure in the Louisiana House of Representatives
• 1985 – Carole Keeton Strayhorn, later became Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (1999–2007) (she ran for Texas Governor as an independent in 2006)
• 1986 – William Bennett, while 3rd U.S. Secretary of Education (1985–1988)
• 1986 – Richard Baker, while in Louisiana House of Representatives. Later became U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1987–2008)
• 1986 – Charles T. Canady, while serving in the Florida House of Representatives. Later became 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 72nd Mayor of Philadelphia (1972–1980)
• 1986 – James David Santini, former U.S. Representative from Nevada (1975–1983)
• 1987 – Paul Hardy, former Secretary of State of Louisiana (1976–1980), later became Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (1988–1992)
• 1987 – Roy Moore, prior to being appointed to an Alabama circuit judgeship. Later Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court (2001–2003)
• 1987 – Edward Vrdolyak, after running for Mayor of Chicago as Solidarity Party candidate earlier in the year switched to Republican on September 16, 1987 [42]
• 1987 - James C. Smith, Attorney General of Florida (1979–1987) later Florida Secretary of State (1987–1995)
• 1988 – Jim McCrery, while running for U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1988–2009)
• 1988 – David Duke, prior for running for a seat in the lower house of the Louisiana state legislature
• 1988 - Mike Johanns, later 38th Governor of Nebraska (1999–2005), 28th United States Secretary of Agriculture (2005–2007) and U.S. Senator from Nebraska (2009-present)
• 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, before running for Agriculture Commissioner of Texas. Later 47th Governor of Texas (2000-present)
• 1989 – W. Fox McKeithen, while Louisiana Secretary of State

1990s

• 1990 – Eli Bebout, Wyoming State Rpresenatatives
• 1990 – Tom Vandergriff, former U.S. Representative from Texas (1983–1985), Mayor of Arlington (1951–1977). Later elected as a County Judge (1991–2007)
• 1990 – Joseph F. Toomy, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
• 1990 – Vito Fossella, later U.S. Representative from New York (1997–2009)
• 1990 – Lauch Faircloth, later became U.S. Senator from North Carolina (1993–1999)
• 1991 – Bret Schundler, before running for the New Jersey Senate
• 1991 – David Beasley, later 113th Governor of South Carolina (1995–1999)
• 1991 – Buddy Roemer, 76th Governor of Louisiana (1988–1992)
• 1992 – Byron Looper, before running for State Representative in Tennessee
• 1993 – Edward H. Krebs, Pennsylvania State Representative
• 1993 – Don W. Williamson, former Louisiana state senator who opposed the Clinton administration
• 1994 – Ron Gomez, former member of the Louisiana House
• 1994 – Walter B. Jones, while running as a Democrat for U.S. Representative from North Carolina. U.S. Representative from North Carolina (1995-present)
• 1994 – Ed Whitfield, the day before filing as a candidate for the U.S. House in Kentucky. U.S. Representative from Kentucky (1995-present)
• 1994 – Ron Gomez, Louisiana State Representative
• 1994 – Mike Bowers, while Attorney General of Georgia (1981–1997)
• 1994 – Fob James, former 48th Governor of Alabama (1979–1983). Later elected Governor of Alabama (1995–1999)
• 1994 – Richard Shelby, while U.S. Senator from Alabama (1994-present)
• 1994 – Woody Jenkins, while Louisiana state House member
• 1994 – Dan Richey, Louisiana State Representative
• 1994 – Ed Austin, while Mayor of Jacksonville
• 1995 – Donald Ray Kennard, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
• 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)
• 1995 – Nathan Deal, while U.S. Representative from Georgia (1993–2011). Laterbecame the 82nd Governor of Georgia (2011-present)
• 1995 – Mike Parker, while U.S. Representative from Mississippi (1989–1999)
• 1995 – Susana Martinez, later became the 31st Governor of New Mexico (2011-present)
• 1995 – Mike Foster, later became the 53rd Governor of Louisiana (1996–2004)
• 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 from Minnesota (2003–2009)
• 1996 – Jay Blossman, later became the Louisiana Public Service Commissioner (1997–2008)
• 1997 – Kevin Mannix, after losing Democratic nomination for Oregon Attorney General in 1996
• 1997 – Michael J. Michot, Louisiana House of Representatives
• 1998 – Harry C. Goode, Jr., member of the Florida House of Representatives
• 1998 – George Wallace, Jr., former Alabama State Treasurer
• 1998 – Herman Badillo, former U.S. Representative from New York (1971–1977)
• 1998 – David G. Boschert
• 1998 - Steve Windom, Alabama State Senator, later Lieutenant Governor of Alabama (1999–2003)
• 1998 – Sonny Perdue, Georgia State Senator. Later 81st Governor of Georgia (2003–2011)
• 1999 – Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, New York State Senator
• 1999 – Joel Giambra, before running for County Executive in Erie County, New York

2000s

• 2000 – Robert J. Barham, Louisiana State Senater
• 2000 – Matthew G. Martinez, while U.S. Representative from California (1983–2001)
• 2000 – John Hoeven to run successfully for Governor of North Dakota and in 2011 became the United States Senator for North Dakota.
• 2000 - Tom McVea, former State Representative from Louisiana, before running as Republican for State Rep
• 2001 – Clinton LeSueur, before running for U.S. Representative from Mississippi
• 2001 – Michael Bloomberg, before running for Mayor of New York City (2002-present)
• 2001 – Hunt Downer, before running for Governor of Louisiana
• 2002 – Amy Tuck, while Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
• 2002 – Olga A. Méndez, while New York State Senator
• 2002 – Don Cheeks, while a Georgia State Senator
• 2002 – Dan Lee, while a Georgia State Senator
• 2002 – Rooney Bowen, while a Georgia State Senator
• 2002 – Jack Hill, while a Georgia State Senator
• 2002 – Virgil Goode, while U.S. Representative from Virginia (1997-20090
• 2003 – James David Cain, prior to his final election to the Louisiana Senate
• 2003 – Melinda Schwegmann, while State House member in Louisiana
• 2003 – Rick Sheehy, while mayor of Hastings, Nebraska
• 2003 – Gabriel Vasquez, Houston City Councilmember (council seat is nonpartisan)
• 2003 – Johnny Ford, Alabama State Representative, became first black Republican in the state legislature in over 100 years
• 2004 – Ralph Hall, while U.S. Representative from Texas (1981-present)
• 2004 – Rodney Alexander, while U.S. Representative from Louisiana (2004-present)
• 2004 – Steve Beren, before running for U.S. Representative from Washington
• 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 – Henry Burns, while serving on the Bossier Parish School Board
• 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 [43]
• 2007 – John Neely Kennedy, State Treasurer of Louisiana
• 2007 – Robert Adley, Louisiana State Senator
• 2008 – Nolan Mettetal, Mississippi State Senator
• 2008 – Gil Pinac, Louisiana State Senator
• 2008 – Billy Nicholson, Mississippi State Representative
• 2009 – Paul Vallas, School Superintendent of the Recovery School District of New Orleans, Louisiana
• 2009 – Tom Salmon, Vermont Auditor of Accounts
• 2009 – Chuck Hopson, Texas State Representative
• 2009 – Parker Griffith, whilst serving as U.S. Representative from Alabama (2009–2011)

2010s

• 2010 – Steve Levy, County Executive of Suffolk County, New York
• 2010 – John C. Andrews, Sheriff of Pepin County Wisconsin.
• 2010 – Scott Angelle, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
• 2010 – Jane C. Smith, Alabama Circuit Clerk from Madison County
• 2010 – Alan Boothe, Steve Hurst, Mike Millican, and 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, and Alan Powell, Georgia State Representatives
• 2010 – Tim Golden, Georgia State Senator
• 2010 – Chris Steineger, Louisiana State Senator
• 2010 – Simone B. Champagne, Noble Ellington, Walker Hines, and Fred Mills, Louisiana State Representatives
• 2010 – John Alario and 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 for the Central District
• 2010 – Christine Schaumburg, New Jersey Mayor of Clinton
• 2010 – Eldon Nygaard, South Dakota State Senator
• 2010 – Aaron Pena, and Allan Ritter, Texas State Representatives
• 2011 - Buddy Caldwell, Louisiana Attorney General
• 2011 - Russ Nowell, and Margaret Rogers, Mississippi State Representative
• 2011 - Ezell Lee, Mississippi State Senator
• 2011 - Charles Graddick, Alabama Circuit Judge and former Attorney General of Alabama
• 2011 - Charles "Bubba" Chaney and Billy Chandler, Louisiana State Representatives
• 2011 - Mike "Pete" Huval, Louisiana State Representative
• 2011 - Bob Hensgens, Mayor of Gueydan, Louisiana
• 2011 – Jody Amedee, and Norby Chabert, Louisiana State Senator
• 2011 - Jennifer Champion, Jefferson County (Alabama) Treasurer
• 2011 - Lamar County District Attorney Gary Young; Pct. 1 County Commissioner Lawrence Mallone; Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace (JP) Don Denison; Pct. 3 JP Tim Risinger; Pct. 4 JP Ken Ruthart; Pct. 5, Place 1 JP Cindy Ruthart; Pct. 1 Constable Madaline Chance; Pct. 3 Constable Larry Cope; and Pct. 5 Constable Gene Hobbs, all switch to the Republicans.
• 2011 - Brad Warren, Former Chairman of the Mobile County, Alabama
• 2011 - D. Bruce Goforth, North Carolina State Representative
• 2011 - Linda Collins-Smith, Arkansas State Representative
• 2011 - Taylor Barras, Louisiana State Representative
• 2011 - Joel Robideaux, 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
• 2012 - JM Lozano, Texas State Representative
• 2012 - Roy Schmidt, Michigan State Representative[44]
• 2012 - Artur Davis, Former United States Representative from Alabama (2003–2011)
• 2012 - Christine Watkins, Utah State Representative
• 2012 - Jason White, Mississippi State Representative
• 2013 - Lindsey Holmes, Alaska State Representative
• 2013 - Jose Evans, Indianapolis City-County Councilmember
• 2013 - Nickey Browning, Mississippi State Senator
• 2013 - Christine Watkins, Utah State Representative
• 2013 - Adolfo Carrión, Jr., former Director of the Office of Urban Affairs in order to run for New York City mayoral election, 2013

Democratic to third party/independent or third party to Democratic

• 1848 – The anti-slavery "Barnburner" faction of the Democratic Party, along with members of the Liberty Party, splintered into creating the Free Soil Party in 1848 including former Democratic President Martin Van Buren who was the party's presidential nominee the same year. Most returned to the Democratic Party after it dissolved.
• 1878 – Hendrick Bradley Wright, U.S Representative from Pennsylvania (1853–1855, 1861–1863 and 1877–1881), ran for reelection on the Greenback Party
• 1880s – Brigadier General Absolom M. West
• 1890 – Thomas E. Watson switched to the Populist Party. Later U.S. Senator for Georgia (1921–1922)
• 1946–48 – Henry A. Wallace, Vice President of the United States (1941–1945), United States Secretary of Commerce (1945–1946) & United States Secretary of Agriculture (1933–1940)
• 1948 – The States' Rights Democratic Party
• 1955 – Wayne Morse, U.S. Senator from Oregon (1945–1969), changed from an Independent to a Democrat on February 17, 1955
• 1964 – The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was founded.
• 1970 – Harry F. Byrd, Jr., U.S. senator from Virginia (1965–1983), became an independent.
• 1974 – D. French Slaughter, Jr., while serving in the Virginia House of Delegates. Later elected to Congress as a Republican (1985–1991).
• 1980 - Lyndon LaRouche
• 1994 – Wes Watkins, Democratic U.S Congressman from Oklahoma (1977–1991), Democratic (1990) & Independent (1994) candidate for Governor of Oklahoma & Republican U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma (1997–2003)
• 1998 – Jerry Brown, former Governor of California (1975–1983) and 1976, 1980 and 1992 candidate for Democratic presidential nomination. Left Democratic Party and registered as Decline to State (unaffiliated voter in California). Then he was elected to the nonpartisan post of Mayor of Oakland, California. He re-entered his old party shortly thereafter, became Attorney General of California (2007–2011), and is again Governor of California (2011-present).
• 2000 – Virgil Goode, U.S Representative from Virginia (1997–2009) became an independent. He joined the Republican Party in 2002.
• 2000 – Matt Gonzalez
• 2000 – Audie Bock, California State Assemblyman joined the Green.
• 2002 – Tim Penny, former U.S Representative from Minnesota (1983–1995) to Independence Party of Minnesota to run for the Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2002
• 2003 – Matt Ahearn, New Jersey State Representative to the Green Party
• 2004 – Peter Clavelle
• 2005 – Jim Lendall, Arkansas State Representative, to Green Party
• 2006 – Joe Lieberman, U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1989–2013), to run as an independent (on the Connecticut for Lieberman ticket) for US Senate in Connecticut, after losing to challenger Ned Lamont in the Democratic Primary.
• 2006 – David Segal
• 2006 – Avel Gordly, Oregon State Senater
• 2006 – William M. Paparian, former Mayor Pasadena, California to Green Party
• 2006 – Barbara Becnel, to the Green Party]
• 2006 – Ben Westlund, later became Oregon State Treasurer (2009–2010)
• 2007 – Eric Eidsness
• 2007 – Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia (1993–2003 and 2005–2007) switched to Green Party, became their presidential candidate in 2008
• 2008 – Mike Gravel, former U.S. Senator from Alaska (1969–1981) and 2008 presidential candidate switched from Democrat to Libertarian.
• 2008 – Rick Singleton, Rhode Island State Representative
• 2009 – Juan Arambula, California State Assemblyman
• 2009 – Timothy P. Cahill, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (2003–2011)
• 2009 – Richard Carroll, Arkansas Representative. The only Green Party state legislator in the U.S., switched to the Democratic Party.
• 2009 - Kathleen Curry, Colorado State Representative
• 2010 – Bob Ziegelbauer, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
• 2011 - Andrew Nunez, New Mexico State Representative
• 2012 - Alice Nichol, Adams County Commissioner
• 2013 - John Olumba, Michigan State Representative

Republican to Democratic

• 1860s – Henry George
• late 1860s – Andrew Gregg Curtin, former Governor of Pennsylvania (1861–1867), later U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania (1881–1887)
• late 1860s – Alonzo Garcelon, later served as Governor of Maine (1879–1880)
• 1872 – Edmund G. Ross, former U.S. Senator from Kansas (1866–1871)
• early 1930s – Arthur W. Mitchell, later U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1935–1943)
• 1933 – Henry A. Wallace, later Vice President of the United States (1941–1945)
• mid-1960s – Pete Stark, later served as U.S. Representative from California (1973–2013)
• 1960s – Howard Dean, later served as Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (1987–1991), Governor of Vermont (1991–2003) and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (2005–2009)
• 1960s – Archibald Carey, Jr
• 1962 – Calhoun Allen
• 1968 - Hillary Rodham Clinton, later First Lady of the United States (1993–2001), U.S. Senator from New York (2001–2009) and United States Secretary of State (2009–2013)
• 1970s – Ralph Neas
• 1971 – John Lindsay, Mayor of New York City
• 1971 – Leon Panetta, later served as U.S. Representative from California (1976–93), White House Chief of Staff (1994–1997), Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (2009–2011) and United States Secretary of Defense (2009–2013)
• 1972 – Ogden R. Reid, while U.S. Representative from New York (1963–1975)
• 1973 – Joan Finney, before being elected Kansas State Treasurer, and later 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)
• 1977 - Lloyd H. Kincaid, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
• 1977 – Peter Peyser, U.S. Representative from New York (1971–1977 and 1979–1983)
• 1985 – John Yarmuth, later served as U.S. Representative from Kentucky (2007-present)
• 1991 – Mike Doyle, later served as U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1995-present)
• 1991 – Markos Moulitsas
• 1992 – Loretta Sanchez, later served as U.S. Representative from California (1997-present)
• 1994 – Bernard Erickson, Texas State Representative
• 1995 - Elizabeth Warren, later served as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (2013-present)
• 1996 – Carolyn McCarthy, later served as U.S. Representative from New York (1997-present)
• 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, whilst serving as U.S. Representative from New York
• 1999 – Robert R. Neall, Maryland State Senator
• 2000 – Scott Heidepriem
• 2000 – Dean Johnson, Minnesota State Senator
• 2000 - Mark DeSaulnier, Contra Costa County Supervisor
• 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
• 2002 – D. G. Anderson
• 2002 – Charles R. Larson, former Superintendent of United States Naval Academy (1983–1986 and 1994–1998) before running for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
• 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 – Teresa Heinz Kerry
• 2003 – Barbara Hafer, State Treasurer of Pennsylvania (1997–2005)
• 2003 – Corey Corbin, New Hampshire State Representative
• 2003 – Stan Moody, Maine State Representative
• 2004 – Arthur Mayo, Maine State Senator
• 2004 – Scott Dix, Georgia State Representative
• 2005 – Andy Warren
• 2005 - Tim Mahoney, later U.S. Representative for Florida (2007–2009)
• 2005 – Paul J. Morrison, later Kansas Attorney General (2006–2007)
• 2005 – Robert McCabe, Sheriff of Norfolk, Virginia
• 2005 – Steve Lukert, Kansas State Representative
• 2006 – James Webb, former United States Secretary of the Navy (1987–1988), later U.S. Senator from Virginia (2007–2013)
• 2006 – Mark Parkinson, later Lieutenant Governor of Kansas (2008–2009) and Governor of Kansas (2009–2011)
• 2006 – Charles Barkley, former NBA basketball player, in anticipation of running for Governor of Alabama in 2014
• 2006 – Nancy Riley, Oklahoma State Senator
• 2006 – Kate Witek, Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts
• 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 – Judy Leyerzapf, Abilene, Kansas City Council member
• 2006 – Barney Giese, County Prosecutor of Richland County, South Carolina
• 2007 – Pete McCloskey, former U.S. from 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.
• 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 – Entire Town Council in Lyndhurst, New Jersey
• 2007 – Fred Jarrett, Washington State Representative
• 2007 – Karen Awana, Hawaii State Representative
• 2007 – Mike Gabbard, Hawaii State Senator
• 2008 - Scott Haggerty, Alameda County Supervisor
• 2008 – Rich White, Eau Claire County, WI, District Attorney
• 2008 – Lou Thieblemont, Mayor of Camp Hill
• 2009 – Dale Swenson, Kansas State Representative In 2010, Swenson's Democratic opponent in 2008, Leslie Osterman, switched to Republican and defeated Swenson.
• 2009 – Arlen Specter, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (1981–2011)
• 2011 - Daniel Boman, Alabama State Representative
• 2011 - Wade Hurt, Kentucky State Representative
• 2012 - Peter Koo, New York City Councilman
• 2012 - Charlie Crist, former Governor of Florida (2007–2011)
• 2013 - Jean Schodorf, Kansas State Senator

Republican to third party/independent or third party to Republican

• 1872 – Republicans in frustration with the Grant administration formed the Liberal Republican Party.
• mid-1870s – James Weaver, later U.S. Representative from Iowa (1879–1881 and 1885–1889)
• 1890s – Republicans who had agreed with the Free Silver movement of the 1890s formed the Silver Republican Party
• 1893 – William M. Stewart, U.S. Senator from Nevada (1864–1875 and 1887–1905) switched to the Silver Party
• 1895 – John P. Jones, U.S. Senator from Nevada (1873–1903) switched to Silver Party
• 1896 – Wharton Barker switched to the Populist Party.
• 1896 – Lee Mantle, U.S. Senator from Montana (1895–1899) switched to Silver Republican Party.
• 1896 – Richard F. Pettigrew, U.S. Senator from South Dakota (1889–1901) switched to Silver Republican Party.
• 1896 – Frank J. Cannon, U.S. Senator from Utah (1896–1899) switched to Silver Republican Party.
• 1897 – Henry M. Teller, U.S. Senator from Colorado (1876–1882 and 1885–1909) switched to Silver Republican Party and also United States Secretary of the Interior (1882–1885)
• 1897 – Fred T. Dubois, U.S. Senator from Idaho (1891–1897 and 1901–1907) switched to Silver Republican Party.
• 1912 – Theodore Roosevelt, former President of the United States (1901–1909)
• 1913 – Miles Poindexter, U.S. Senator from Washington switched to the Progressive Party (1911–1923).
• 1924 – Robert M. La Follette, Sr., U.S. Senator from Wisconsin ran as Progressive Party presidential candidate in 1924.
• 1926 – Herman Roethel, former Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, was nominated and elected as a Republican from the same district.
• 1934 – Robert M. La Follette, Jr., U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, switched from the Republican Party to the Progressive Party (1906–1925).
• 1936 – George William Norris, U.S. senator from Nebraska (1913–1943) became an Independent
• 1937 or 1938 – Vito Marcantonio, U.S. Representative from New York (1935–1937 and 1939–1951)
• 1952 – Wayne Morse, U.S. senator from Oregon. He then switched from independent to Democrat in 1955. (1945–1969)
• 1972 – Roger MacBride
• 1980 – John Anderson, U.S. Representative from Illinois (1961–1981), left the Republican presidential primary race for an independent centrist campaign in the 1980 presidential election.
• 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).
• 1990s? – Arianna Huffington
• 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. He rejoined the Republican party in 1994.
• 1990 – Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., former U.S. Senator for Connecticut (1971–1989) before running as the first candidate of A Connecticut Party with successful campaign for Governor of Connecticut (1991–1995)(10[45]
• 1990 – Eunice Groark
• 1996 - Ed Zschau, former U.S Representative for California (1983–1987), was the Vice presidential running mate to former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm, a Democrat, who challenged Ross Perot for the Reform Party presidential nomination in 1996.
• 1999 – Pat Buchanan
• 1999 – Donald Trump
• 1999 – Robert C. Smith, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, 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.
• 2000 – Rick Jore, three terms Republican Montana State Representative, to U.S. Constitution Party, became party's highest elected official when elected to the Montana House in 2006 and appointed chairman of the House Education Committee
• 2001 – James M. Jeffords, while U.S. senator from Vermont. This move changed the balance of power in the Senate from 50-50, with Republican Vice President Richard B. Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote and thus providing a "51" majority, to 50-49-1, giving the Democrats majority control of the Senate until the GOP regained control in 2003, following the 2002 midterm elections. Jeffords was given the nickname "Jumpin' Jim Jeffords". He was given a committee chairmanship by the Democratic leadership, and caucused with the Democrats until he chose not to run for re-election and left the Senate.
• 2002 – Former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson announces he no longer considers himself a Republican due to the Republican Party of Minnesota's shift to the right on social issues. Carlson has not held elected office since 1999.
• 2006 – Carole Keeton Strayhorn, while Comptroller of Texas. Disenchanted with Gov. Rick Perry's leadership of the state. Strayhorn decided to run against him in the 2006 state elections as an independent.
• 2006 – Ben Westlund, before his aborted candidacy for Governor of Oregon. In December 2006, Westlund took the switch a step further by becoming a Democrat.
• 2006 – Bob Barr, former congressman from Georgia, joined the Libertarian Party.
• 2007 – Micheal R. Williams, while a Tennessee State Senator, became an independent.
• 2007 – Michael Bloomberg, While Mayor of New York City, became an independent.
• 2007 – Lincoln Chafee, former U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, switched to unaffiliated.
• 2007 – Rick Singleton, Member of Rhode Island House of Representatives upset with “the President of the United States and the Republicans in Washington” switched to Independent
• 2008 – Jeff Wood, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
• 2008 – Ron Erhardt, nine term Minnesota State Rep., running for 10th term as independent.
• 2008 – Alan Keyes, switched to the Constitution Party after losing the Republican Nomination for President.Then lost the Constitution Party's nomination for president and switched to the newly found America's Independent Party.
• 2008 – Richard Weldon, two term delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates switched to independent In September
• 2009 – Ed Coleman, Indianapolis City-County Councilman, switched to the Libertarian Party by becoming a dues-paying member (No registration by party in Indiana)
• 2009 – Jim Campbell, Member of Maine House of Representatives switched to Independent
• 2009 – Ed Thompson, Libertarian Mayor of Tomah, Wisconsin switched to Republican to run for the 31st State Senate district
• 2010 – Charlie Crist, Governor of Florida, switched to independent to run in that state's 2010 U.S. Senate race after polls showed him unlikely to win the Republican nomination. He lost to Marco Rubio.
• 2010 – Tom Tancredo, former Congressman from Colorado, switched to the Constitution Party in his failed run for governor of Colorado.
• 2010 - Virgil Goode, former Congressman from Virginia, switched to the Constitution Party and became their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.
• 2011 - Daniel P. Gordon, Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, switched to the Libertarian Party
• 2012 - Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico, switched to the Libertarian Party and became their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.
• 2012 - Buddy Roemer, former Governor of Louisiana, switched to the Reform Party in order to become their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.

Democratic to Republican to Democratic

• 2010 – Arlen Specter.
• 2010 – Jim Bradford, South Dakota State Representative switched to Republican after losing the Democratic Nomination for State Senate; he then ran on the Republican Line for the State Senate, won in 2009 in what was a Heavily Democratic District, and switched back to the Democratic Party in 2010

Other

• 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.
• 1941 – Henrik Shipstead, while U.S. Senator from Minnesota, switched from the Farmer-Labor Party to the Republican Party.
• 1980 – Thomas M. Foglietta, while running for U.S. representative from Pennsylvania as an independent, having previously been a Republican councilman and mayoral candidate, switched to the Democratic party.
• 2000 – Jesse Ventura, while governor of Minnesota, left the Reform Party, along with most of his supporters, to refound the Independence Party of Minnesota.
• 2007 – Elaine Brown, left Green Party became independent after withdrawing from Green Party presidential race.
• 2008 – Bill Scheurer, Two time candidate for the U.S. House, and Chair of the Illinois Moderate Party, switched to the Green Party.
• 2008 – Iain Abernathy, Illinois Moderate Party 2008 Candidate for U.S. House, Switched to Green Party.

There have been several instances of politicians continuing to be a member of a political party while running other campaigns as an independent. The most prominent examples include southern Democratic segregationists Strom Thurmond in 1948 and George Wallace in 1968, who remained in the Democratic Party for statewide campaigns but mounted national presidential campaigns as independents. Wallace later ran in the 1972 Democratic primaries. Earlier, liberal Republican Robert La Follette, Sr. ran for President as the candidate of the Progressive Party in 1924, while still remaining a Republican in the Senate.

Former U.S. Representative Jim Leach, a Republican, speaks during the first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Other political figures, such as Ed Koch, Jim Leach, Zell Miller, Colin Powell, did not formally leave their parties, but supported a candidate from another party. Miller and Koch, though Democrats, supported Republican George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign, while Powell and Leach supported Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. This received much media attention in 2004, when Democrats for Bush and Republicans for Kerry groups were formed. In New Hampshire, former Republican Governor Walter Peterson has expressly supported Democrat John Lynch in his bids for governor. In Virginia, the state's first Republican governor since Reconstruction, Linwood Holton, has since 2001 frequently supported Democrats in statewide races - his son-in-law, Tim Kaine, has been elected to the governorship and the U.S. Senate in that time, and served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee - and endorsed Barack Obama in 2008. Similarly, in 1860, former Democratic President Martin Van Buren ended up supporting Abraham Lincoln due to Van Buren's disagreements with Democratic policies on secession. Other examples include former Republican Senator from Minnesota David Durenberger supporting John Kerry in 2004 and former Democratic Attorney General Griffin Bell supporting George W. Bush in 2004.

See also

• Crossover voting
• List of United States Senators who changed parties
• List of United States Congressmen who switch parties
• Republican In Name Only, Democrat In Name Only
• Red state-blue state divide
• U.S. states, with map
• Crossing the floor for the same concept in the Westminster system
• Reagan Democrat
• McCain Democrat
• Obama Republican
• People United Means Action

External links

• Senators Who Changed Parties During Senate Service (Since 1890)
• A list of party switchers (compiled in 2001)
• An overview of party switching in recent years.
• "Party switching comes with political risks"
• Oklahoma State Senator Nancy Riley switches from Republican to Democrat
• Montana State Senator switches from Republican to Democrat to break a 25 to 25 tie
• Mayor Michael Bloomberg's official homepage
• Speaker confirms Rep. Dedman's party switch
• Wave of Party Switchers Hits Republicans
• Specter Among Few Party Switchers to Lose Seat