Third-party and independent members of the United States Congress

Third-party and independent members of the United States Congress are generally rare. Although the Republican Party and Democratic Party have dominated U.S. politics in a two-party system since 1856, some independents and members of other political parties have also been elected to either the US House of Representatives or US Senate or changed their party affiliation to such during their term in office.

Senators[edit]

Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona Elected as a Democrat, switched to Independent in 2022.^[1] 2019–present
Angus King of Maine Elected as an Independent; caucuses with the Democrats 2013–present
Joe Lieberman of Connecticut Re-elected on the Connecticut for Lieberman ticket after losing the 2006 Democratic nomination. 1989–2013
Bernie Sanders of Vermont Elected as an Independent; caucuses with the Democrats; Democratic Party member from 2015–2016 and 2019–2020 while running for President^[2] 2007–Present
Dean Barkley of Minnesota Appointed for Independence Party of Minnesota
Jim Jeffords of Vermont Switched from Republican to Independent in 2001 1989–2007
Bob Smith of New Hampshire Switched from Republican to Independent in 1999 but switched back to Republican in 2000 1990–2003
James L. Buckley of New York Elected as a Conservative, lost re-election as a Republican in 1976 1971–1977
Harry F. Byrd Jr. of Virginia Switched from Democratic to Independent in 1970 1965–1983
Wayne Morse of Oregon Switched from Republican to Independent in 1953, then to Democratic in 1955. 1945–1969
John E. Miller of Arkansas Elected as an Independent, served as Democratic 1937–1941
Ernest Lundeen of Minnesota Elected as Farmer-Labor 1937–1940
George W. Norris of Nebraska Switched from Republican to Independent in 1936 1913–1943
Elmer Austin Benson of Minnesota Elected as Farmer-Labor 1935–1936
Robert M. La Follette Jr. of Wisconsin Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1934, then back to Republican in 1946 1925–1947
Magnus Johnson of Minnesota Elected as Farmer-Labor 1923–1925
Henrik Shipstead of Minnesota Elected as Farmer-Labor, switched to Republican in 1940 1923–1947
Miles Poindexter of Washington Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1912, switched back to Republican in 1915 1911–1923
Joseph M. Dixon of Montana Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1912 1907–1913
Henry Heitfeld of Idaho Elected as a Populist 1897–1903
William Alexander Harris of Kansas Elected as a Populist 1897–1903
Henry Moore Teller of Colorado Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896, then to Democratic in 1903 1876–1909
Fred Dubois of Idaho Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896 1891–1897
Frank J. Cannon of Utah Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896 1896–1899
Richard F. Pettigrew of South Dakota Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896 1889–1901
Lee Mantle of Montana Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896 1895–1899
John P. Jones of Nevada Switched from Republican to Silver in 1895, then back to Republican in 1901 1873–1903
William Morris Stewart of Nevada Switched from Republican to Silver in 1893, then back to Republican in 1901 1887–1905
William V. Allen of Nebraska Elected as a Populist 1893–1901
James H. Kyle of South Dakota Elected as a Populist 1891–1901
Marion Butler of North Carolina Elected as a Populist 1895–1901
William A. Peffer of Kansas Elected as a Populist 1891–1897
Harrison H. Riddleberger of Virginia Elected as a Readjuster 1883–1889
William Mahone of Virginia Elected as a Readjuster 1881–1887
David Davis of Illinois Elected as an Independent 1877–1883
Newton Booth of California Elected as an Anti-Monopolist, served as an Ind. Republican 1875–1881
Orris S. Ferry of Connecticut Elected as a Liberal Republican in 1872 1867–1875
Morgan C. Hamilton of Texas Switched from Republican to Liberal Republican in 1872, switched back to Republican in 1875 1870–1877
Charles Sumner of Massachusetts Elected as Free Soil Democratic in 1851, became a Republican in 1855, then became a Liberal Republican in 1872 1851–1874
David T. Patterson of Tennessee Elected as a Unionist in 1866, became a Republican by 1867 1866–1869
Joseph S. Fowler of Tennessee Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1866, became a Republican by 1867 1866–1871
John Creswell of Maryland Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1864 1865–1867
Benjamin Gratz Brown of Missouri Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1863, became a Republican by 1865 1863–1867
Peter G. Van Winkle of West Virginia Elected as a Unionist in 1863, became a Republican by 1867 1863–1869
Reverdy Johnson of Maryland Elected as a Unionist in 1863, switched to Democratic by 1865 1863–1868
Lemuel J. Bowden of Virginia Elected as a Unionist in 1863 1863–1864
Thomas Holliday Hicks of Maryland Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862 1862–1865
Robert Wilson of Missouri Appointed as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862 1862–1863
John B. Henderson of Missouri Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862, became a Republican by 1865 1862–1869
Garrett Davis of Kentucky Elected as a Unionist in 1861, switched to Democratic by 1867 1861–1872
John S. Carlile of Virginia Elected as a Unionist in 1861
Waitman T. Willey of Virginia Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1861 1861–1863

Representatives[edit]

U.S. Congressman (2017–2021) Paul Mitchell of Michigan's 10th – First elected as a Republican, switched to independent in 2020
U.S. Congressman (2011–2021) Justin Amash of Michigan's 3rd – First elected as a Republican, switched to independent in 2019 and then to Libertarian in 2020
U.S. Congressman (1997–2009) Virgil Goode of Virginia 5th – Switched from Democratic to independent in 2000, then to Republican in 2002
U.S. Congresswoman (1996–2013) Jo Ann Emerson
of Missouri 8th – First elected as a Republican, re-elected as an independent due to state law, then rejoined Republicans in early 1997
U.S. Congressman (1991–2007) Bernie Sanders of Vermont at-large – Elected as an independent
U.S. Congressman (1979–1987) William Carney of New York 1st – Elected as a Conservative and later sat with Republicans, switched to Republican in 1985
U.S. Congressman (1951–1955) Frazier Reams of Ohio 9th – Elected as an independent
U.S. Congressman (1949–1955) Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr. of New York 20th – Elected as a Liberal, re-elected as Democratic
U.S. Congressman (1948–1949) Leo Isacson – Elected from the American Labor Party ticket
U.S. Congressman (1943–1955) Harold Hagen – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1942
U.S. Congressman (1937–1939) John Bernard – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936
U.S. Congressman (1937–1939) Dewey Johnson – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936
U.S. Congressman (1937–1941, 1945–1953) Franck R. Havenner – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1937–1939) Henry Teigan – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936
U.S. Congressman (1935–1939) Thomas Ryum Amlie – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1935–1939) Gerald J. Boileau – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1935–1943) Rich T. Buckler – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1934
U.S. Congressman (1935–1943) Bernard J. Gehrmann – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1935–1945) Harry Sauthoff – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1935–1939) George J. Schneider – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1935–1944) Merlin Hull – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1935–1937, 1939–1945) Vito Marcantonio – Elected from the American Labor Party ticket in 1938
U.S. Congressman (1935–1939) Gardner R. Withrow – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1933–1935) Henry M. Arens – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932
U.S. Congressman (1933–1935) Magnus Johnson – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932
U.S. Congressman (1933–1937) Ernest Lundeen – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932
U.S. Congressman (1933–1935) Francis Shoemaker – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932
U.S. Congressman (1929–1939) Paul John Kvale – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1928
U.S. Congressman (1923–1927) Knud Wefald – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1922
U.S. Congressman (1923–1929) Ole J. Kvale – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1922
U.S. Congressman (1919–1929) William Leighton Carss – Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1918
U.S. Congressman (1917–1919, 1923–1933) Fiorello La Guardia – Re-elected as a Socialist in 1924
U.S. Congressman (1915–1921) John A. Elston – Elected as a Progressive in 1915
U.S. Congressman (1915–1923) Meyer London – Elected as a Socialist
U.S. Congressman (1915–1929) Whitmell P. Martin – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1915–1925) Thomas D. Schall – Elected as a Progressive
U.S. Congressman (1915–1921) Charles Hiram Randall – Elected as a Prohibitionist
U.S. Congressman (1913–1919) Walter M. Chandler – Elected as a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915) James W. Bryan – Elected a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915) Jacob Falconer – Elected a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915) William H. Hinebaugh – Elected as a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915) Willis James Hulings – Elected as a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915) William Josiah MacDonald – Elected as a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915, 1919–1933) Milton William Shreve – Re-elected as an independent Republican in 1920
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915) Henry Wilson Temple – Elected a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915) Charles M. Thomson – Elected a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1911–1917) William Stephens – Switched parties from a Republican to a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1915) Roy O. Woodruff – Elected a Progressive in 1913
U.S. Congressman (1913–1917) Bill Kent – Elected as an independent
U.S. Congressman (1911–1923) Ira C. Copley – Switched from a Republican to a Progressive in 1915
U.S. Congressman (1911–1929) Victor L. Berger – Elected as a Socialist
U.S. Congressman (1907–1909) Peter A. Porter – Elected as an independent Republican
U.S. Congressman (1901–1903) Caldwell Edwards – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1901–1903) Thomas L. Glenn – Elected as a Silver
U.S. Congressman (1899–1901) John Wilbur Atwater – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1899–1903) William Neville – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1899–1901) Edgar Wilson – Elected as a Silver Republican
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) Charles A. Barlow – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) Jeremiah D. Botkin – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) Curtis H. Castle – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) John Edgar Fowler – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) William Laury Greene – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) James Gunn – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) William Carey Jones – Elected as a Silver Republican
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) John Edward Kelley – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) Freeman Knowles – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) Charles Martin – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) Samuel Maxwell – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) Nelson B. McCormick – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) Mason S. Peters – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1901) Edwin R. Ridgely – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1903) William Ledyard Stark – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1901) Roderick Dhu Sutherland – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1897–1899) William D. Vincent – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1896–1897) Albert Taylor Goodwyn – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1895–1904) John F. Shafroth – Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1897
U.S. Congressman (1895–1899) Milford W. Howard – Elected as a Populist in 1894
U.S. Congressman (1895–1899) Harry Skinner – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1895–1899) William Franklin Strowd – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1893–1903) John Calhoun Bell – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1893–1895) Marion Cannon – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1893–1895) Lafe Pence – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1893–1899) Alonzo C. Shuford – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1893–1895) Thomas Jefferson Hudson – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1893–1895) Haldor Boen – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1893–1895) Bill Harris – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1897) Bill Baker – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1893) Benjamin H. Clover – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1895) John Davis – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1893) Kittel Halvorson – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1897) Omer Madison Kem – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1895) William A. McKeighan – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1893) John G. Otis – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1895) Jerry Simpson – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1891–1893) Thomas E. Watson – Elected as a Populist
U.S. Congressman (1889–1891) Lewis P. Featherstone – Elected as a member of the Labor Party
U.S. Congressman (1887–1889) Samuel I. Hopkins – Elected as a member of the Labor Party
U.S. Congressman (1887–1889) John Nichols – Elected as an independent
U.S. Congressman (1887–1889) Henry Smith – Elected as a member of the Labor Party
U.S. Congressman (1884–1885) Benjamin F. Shively – Elected as an Anti-Monopolist
U.S. Congressman (1883–1885) James Ronald Chalmers – Elected as an Independent
U.S. Congressman (1883–1885) Ted Lyman – Elected as an Independent
U.S. Congressman (1883–1885) Thomas P. Ochiltree – Elected as an Independent
U.S. Congressman (1881–1909) Charles N. Brumm – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
U.S. Congressman (1881–1883) Joseph Henry Burrows – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
U.S. Congressman (1881–1883) Ira Sherwin Hazeltine – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
U.S. Congressman (1881–1883) James Mosgrove – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
U.S. Congressman (1881–1883) Theron Moses Rice – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
U.S. Congressman (1881–1883) J. Hyatt Smith – Elected as an independent
U.S. Congressman (1879–1881) Bradley Barlow – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
U.S. Congressman (1879–1883) Nicholas Ford – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
U.S. Congressman (1879–1881) Albert P. Forsythe – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
U.S. Congressman (1879–1881) Edward H. Gillette – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
U.S. Congressman (1879–1883) George Jones – Elected as a member of United States Greenback Party
U.S. Congressman (1879–1883) George W. Ladd – Elected as a member of United States Greenback Party
U.S. Congressman (1879–1882) William M. Lowe – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
U.S. Congressman (1879–1881) Gilbert De La Matyr – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
U.S. Congressman (1879–1883) Thompson H. Murch – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party
U.S. Congressman (1879–1881) Henry Persons – Elected as an independent
U.S. Congressman (1879–1881) Daniel Lindsay Russell – Elected as a member of United States Greenback Party
U.S. Congressman (1879–1883) Emory Speer – Elected as an independent
U.S. Congressman (1879–1889) James Weaver – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
U.S. Congressman (1879–1881) Hendrick Bradley Wright – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
U.S. Congressman (1879–1881) Seth Hartman Yocum – Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878

References[edit]

^ Hulse, Carl; Victor, Daniel (December 9, 2022). "Kyrsten Sinema Says She Will Leave the Democratic Party". The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
^ "Bernie Sanders Won't Become a Democrat, Will Run as an Independent in 2018". Newsweek. October 23, 2017.

[1] Hulse, Carl; Victor, Daniel (December 9, 2022). "Kyrsten Sinema Says She Will Leave the Democratic Party". The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2022.

[2] "Bernie Sanders Won't Become a Democrat, Will Run as an Independent in 2018". Newsweek. October 23, 2017.

[1]

[2]

v t e Third-party and independent members of the United States House of Representatives
Law and Order Party	Henry Y. Cranston Elisha R. Potter
Constitutional Union Party	William Appleton James S. Rollins
Liberal Republican Party	Nathaniel P. Banks Henry B. Banning James G. Blair Alexander Boarman Frederick George Bromberg John Edwards Gustavus A. Finkelnburg William Joseph Hynes George A. Sheridan
Greenback Party	Bradley Barlow Charles N. Brumm Joseph Henry Burrows Nicholas Ford Albert P. Forsythe Edward H. Gillette Ira Sherwin Hazeltine George W. Jones George W. Ladd William M. Lowe Gilbert De La Matyr James Mosgrove Thompson H. Murch Theron Moses Rice Daniel Lindsay Russell James B. Weaver Luman Hamlin Weller Hendrick Bradley Wright Seth Hartman Yocum
Readjuster Party	Henry Bowen Benjamin Stephen Hooper Harry Libbey Robert Murphy Mayo John Paul John Sergeant Wise
Labor Party	Lewis P. Featherstone Samuel I. Hopkins Henry Smith
Populist Party	John Wilbur Atwater William Baker Charles A. Barlow John Calhoun Bell Haldor Boen Jeremiah D. Botkin Marion Cannon Curtis H. Castle Benjamin H. Clover John Davis Caldwell Edwards John Edgar Fowler Albert Taylor Goodwyn William Laury Greene James Gunn Kittel Halvorson William Alexander Harris Milford W. Howard Thomas Jefferson Hudson John Edward Kelley Omer Madison Kem Freeman Knowles Charles H. Martin William A. McKeighan Samuel Maxwell Nelson B. McCormick William Neville John G. Otis Lafe Pence Mason S. Peters Edwin R. Ridgely Jerry Simpson Alonzo C. Shuford Harry Skinner William Ledyard Stark William Franklin Strowd Roderick Dhu Sutherland William D. Vincent Thomas E. Watson
Silver Republican Party	Thomas L. Glenn William Carey Jones John F. Shafroth Edgar Wilson
Socialist Party	Victor L. Berger Fiorello La Guardia Meyer London
Progressive Parties	Thomas Ryum Amlie Gerald J. Boileau Walter M. Chandler Ira C. Copley Jacob Falconer Bernard J. Gehrmann Franck R. Havenner William H. Hinebaugh Willis James Hulings Merlin Hull Melville Clyde Kelly William Josiah MacDonald Whitmell P. Martin Harry Sauthoff Thomas D. Schall George J. Schneider William Stephens Henry Wilson Temple Charles M. Thomson Gardner R. Withrow Roy O. Woodruff
Farmer–Labor Party	Henry M. Arens John Bernard Rich T. Buckler William Leighton Carss Harold Hagen Dewey Johnson Magnus Johnson Ole J. Kvale Paul John Kvale Ernest Lundeen Francis Shoemaker Henry Teigan Knud Wefald
American Labor Party	Leo Isacson Vito Marcantonio
Liberal Party	Irwin D. Davidson Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.
Other parties	▌Justin Amash (Libertarian) ▌William Carney (Conservative) ▌Charles Randall (Prohibition) ▌Benjamin F. Shively (Anti-Monopoly)
Independents	William B. Anderson Alexander Campbell James Ronald Chalmers Jo Ann Emerson Thomas M. Foglietta Virgil Goode William Kent Caleb Lyon Paul Mitchell John Nichols Thomas P. Ochiltree Peter A. Porter Frazier Reams Bernie Sanders Julius Hawley Seelye Milton William Shreve J. Hyatt Smith Amos Tuck George Washington Wright
Portal:Politics Third party (U.S. politics) Notable third-party performances in United States elections

v t e Third-party United States senators
Nullifier	John C. Calhoun (SC) Robert Y. Hayne (SC) Stephen D. Miller (SC) William C. Preston (SC)
Know Nothing	John Bell (TN) John J. Crittenden (KY) Anthony Kennedy (MD) John B. Thompson (KY)
Free Soil	Lawrence Brainerd (VT) Salmon P. Chase (OH) Francis Gillette (CT) John P. Hale (NH) James Harlan (IA) Charles Sumner (MA) Henry Wilson (MA)
Unionist or Unconditional Union	Lemuel J. Bowden (VA) B. Gratz Brown (MO) John S. Carlile (VA) John Creswell (MD) Garrett Davis (KY) Joseph S. Fowler (TN) John B. Henderson (MO) Thomas H. Hicks (MD) Reverdy Johnson (MD) David T. Patterson (TN) Peter G. Van Winkle (WV) Waitman T. Willey (WV) Robert Wilson (MO) Joseph A. Wright (IN)
Liberal Republican	Reuben Fenton (NY) Orris S. Ferry (CT) Morgan C. Hamilton (TX) Carl Schurz (MO) Charles Sumner (MA) Lyman Trumbull (IL)
Readjuster	William Mahone (VA) Harrison H. Riddleberger (VA)
Populist	William V. Allen (NE) Marion Butler (NC) William A. Harris (KS) Henry Heitfeld (ID) James H. Kyle (SD) William A. Peffer (KS)
Silver or Silver Republican	Frank J. Cannon (UT) Fred Dubois (ID) John P. Jones (NV) Lee Mantle (MT) Richard F. Pettigrew (SD) William M. Stewart (NV) Henry M. Teller (CO)
Nonpartisan League	Lynn Frazier (ND) William Langer (ND)
Farmer–Labor	Elmer A. Benson (MN) Magnus Johnson (MN) Ernest Lundeen (MN) Henrik Shipstead (MN)
Other	▌Dean Barkley (Independence–MN) ▌Newton Booth (Anti-Monopoly–CA) ▌James L. Buckley (Conservative–NY) ▌Joseph Cilley (Liberty–NH) ▌John B. Francis (Law and Order–RI) ▌Robert M. La Follette Jr. (Progressive–WI) ▌Miles Poindexter (Progressive–WA)
Independents	Harry F. Byrd Jr. (VA) David Davis (IL) John P. Hale (NH) Jim Jeffords (VT) Angus King (ME) Joe Lieberman (CT) Wayne Morse (OR) George W. Norris (NE) Bernie Sanders (VT) Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) Bob Smith (NH)
Politics portal Third party (U.S. politics) Notable third-party performances in United States elections