There are a number of reasons that an elected official, or someone seeking office, might choose to switch parties. One reason is ethical obligation when the person has views that are no longer aligned with those of the current party.
A second reason is to gain powers and influences. 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. A disaffected incumbent who might not hold a leadership position or feels ignored or mistreated by the majority party might join the minority party with the expectation of holding a leadership position in the minority party and if currently elected, having the complete support of the minority party for re-election, who would certainly want to have more elected officials in their ranks. These people are usually looked down upon by the media and in popular culture.
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 or the elected official fears being primaried.
The shifting of allegiance between political parties was much more common during the 19th century than in recent times. 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 many northern Democrats, formed the Republican Party, and many Southern Whigs became Democrats.
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 shifts in American voter demographics beginning in the second half of the 19th 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.
During the 1860s, Republicans, who dominated northern states, orchestrated an ambitious expansion of federal power, helping to fund the transcontinental railroad, the state university system and the settlement of the West by homesteaders, and instating a national currency and protective tariff. Democrats, who dominated the South, opposed these measures.
After the Civil War, Republicans passed laws that granted protections for African Americans and advanced social justice; Democrats, largely in the south, opposed these expansions.
These two positions remained more or less stable until the Great Depression when Democratic president Franklin Roosevelt won reelection that year on the strength of the New Deal, a set of Depression-remedying reforms and expansions of federal power including regulation of financial institutions, founding of welfare and pension programs, infrastructure development and more. Roosevelt won in a landslide against Republican Alf Landon, who opposed these exercises of federal power.
So, sometime between the 1860s and 1936, the (Democratic) party of small government became the party of big government, and the (Republican) party of big government became rhetorically committed to curbing federal power.
Notable party switchers of the modern era include:
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)
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 – 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)
1911 – Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, later 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
1939 – Wendell Willkie
1942 - Martin F. Howard, former member of Wisconsin State Assembly
1942 – Max Galasinski, former member of Wisconsin State Senate
1946 – Rudolph G. Tenerowicz, former U.S. Representative from Michigan (1939–1943)
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)
1949 – William C. Cramer, later U.S. Representative from Florida (1955–1971)
1952 – Henry Hyde, later became U.S. Representative from Illinois (1975–2007)
1956 – Cora Brown, Michigan State Senator
1958 – Odell Pollard
1959 – Francis Grevemberg, former Louisiana State Police Superintendent
1959 – Dud Lastrapes, later mayor of Lafayette, Louisiana
1960s – Arthur Ravenel, Jr., South Carolina State Representative, later U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1987–1995)
1960s – James F. Byrnes, former Governor of South Carolina (1951–1955) and United States Secretary of State (1945–1947)
1960 – Claude R. Kirk, Jr., later Governor of Florida (1967–1971)
1960 – Charlton Lyons
1961 – Perle Mesta, former United States Ambassador to Luxembourg (1949–1953)
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. Later 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
1964 – Alfred Goldthwaite, Alabama State Representative
1964 – Clarke Reed
1964 – Howard Callaway, later U.S. Representative from Georgia (1965–1967) and United States Secretary of the Army (1973–1975)
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).
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 – 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 – William E. Dannemeyer, later U.S. Representative from California (1979–1992)
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 – 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 – Robert R. Neall
1972 – Trent Lott, later U.S. Representative from Mississippi (1973–1989) and U.S. Senator from Mississippi (1989–2007)
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)
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)
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).
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)
1980s – S. S. DeWitt, Louisiana State Representative
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)
1980s – J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert, Louisiana State Representative
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, later United States National Security Advisor (2001–2005) and United States Secretary of State (2005–2009)
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)
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 – Jeane Kirkpatrick, while U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1981–1985)
1985 – Edward J. King, former Governor of Massachusetts (1979–1983)
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, 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)
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 (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 Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (1988–1992)
1987 – Roy Moore, later Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court (2001–2003)
1987 – Edward Vrdolyak
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
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)
1989 – W. Fox McKeithen, Secretary of State of Louisiana (1988-2005)
1990 – Eli Bebout, Wyoming State Representative
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)
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)
1992 – Byron Looper, Tennessee State Representative
1993 – Edward H. Krebs, Pennsylvania State Representative
1993 – Don W. Williamson, Louisiana State Senator
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–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 Governor of Alabama (1979–1983). Later Governor of Alabama (1995–1999)
1994 – Richard Shelby, while U.S. Senator from Alabama (1994–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)
1995 – Nathan Deal, while U.S. Representative from Georgia (1993–2011). Later became the 82nd Governor of Georgia (2011–present)
1995 – Mike Parker, while U.S. Representative from Mississippi (1989–1999)
1995 – Susana Martinez, later Governor of New Mexico (2011–present)
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.
1996 – Norm Coleman, while Mayor of St Paul. Later U.S. Senator from Minnesota (2003–2009)
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 and Ronald "Ron" Johnson, Alabama State Representatives
1998 – Harry C. Goode, Jr., Florida State Representative
1998 – George Wallace, Jr., former Alabama State Treasurer (1987-1995)
1998 – Gerald Allen, Steve Flowers, and Tim Parker, Jr., Alabama State Representatives
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 Governor of Georgia (2003–2011)
1999 – Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, New York State Senator
1999 – Joel Giambra, City Comptroller of Buffalo
2000 – Robert J. Barham, Louisiana State Senator
2000 – Matthew G. Martinez, while U.S. Representative from California (1983–2001)
2000 – Tom McVea, Louisiana State Representative
2001 – Blaine Galliher, Alabama State Representative
2001 – Clinton LeSueur
2001 – Michael Bloomberg, before running for Mayor of New York City (2002–2014)
2001 – Hunt Downer, Louisiana State Representative
2002 – Amy Tuck, Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
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 – Virgil Goode, while U.S. Representative from Virginia (1997–2009)
2002 – Terry Burton and Videt Carmichael, Mississippi State Senators
2003 – James David Cain, Louisiana State Senator
2003 – Travis Little, Mississippi State Senator
2003 – Larry Baker, Jim Barnett, Herb Frierson, Frank Hamilton, and John Read, Mississippi State Representatives
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)
2004 – Rodney Alexander, while U.S. Representative from Louisiana (2004–2013)
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 – Henry Burns, Bossier Parish School Boardman
2006 – Jimmy Holley, Alabama State Senator
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
2007 – John Neely Kennedy, State Treasurer of Louisiana
2007 – Robert Adley, Louisiana State Senator
2008 – Nolan Mettetal, Mississippi State Senator
2008 – Sid Bondurant, Mississippi State Representative
2008 – Gil Pinac, former Louisiana State Representative
2009 – 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, while U.S. Representative from Alabama (2009–2011)
2010 – Steve Levy, County Executive of Suffolk County, New York
2010 – John C. Andrews, Sheriff of Pepin County Wisconsin.
2010 – C. Scott Bounds, Mississippi State Representative
2010 – Scott Angelle, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (2010-2010)
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, Kansas State Senator
2010 – Simone B. Champagne, Noble Ellington, Walker Hines, and Fred Mills, Louisiana State Representatives
2010 – Jim Preuitt, Alabama State Senator
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, Margaret Rogers, and Jeff Smith, Mississippi State Representatives
2011 – Ezell Lee, Mississippi State Senator
2011 – Charles Graddick, Alabama Circuit Judge and former Attorney General of Alabama (1979-1987)
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 Senators
2011 – Jennifer Champion, Jefferson County (Alabama) Treasurer
2011 – Brad Warren, Chairman of the Mobile County, Alabama
2011 – Mark Grisanti, New York State Senator
2011 – D. Bruce Goforth, North Carolina State Representative
2011 – Linda Collins-Smith, Arkansas State Representative
2011 – Taylor Barras, 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
2011 – Sarah Maestas-Barnes, New Mexico State Representative
2012 – J. M. Lozano, Texas State Representative
2012 – Roy Schmidt, Michigan State Representative
2012 – Arthur J. Williams, North Carolina State Representative
2012 – Christine Watkins, Utah State Representative
2012 – Jason White, Mississippi State Representative
2012 – Artur Davis, former U.S. Representative from Alabama (2003–2011)
2012 – Alan Harper, Alabama State Representative
2012 – Jerry Fielding, Alabama State Senator
2013 – Lindsey Holmes, Alaska State Representative
2013 – Nickey Browning, Mississippi State Senator
2013 – Elbert Guillory, Louisiana State Senator
2013 – Evan Jenkins, West Virginia State Senator. Later U.S. Representative for West Virginia (2015–present)
2013 – Rick Ward, III, Louisiana State Senator
2013 – James R. Fannin, Louisiana State Representative
2013 – Andy Nuñez, New Mexico State Representative
2013 – Ryan Ferns, West Virginia State Representative
2014 – Charles Newton, Alabama State Representative
2014 – Randall Patterson, Mississippi State Representative
2014 – Daniel Hall, West Virginia State Senator
2014 – Linda Black, Missouri State Representative
2014 - Mark Miloscia, Washington State Representative
2015 - Sandra Doorley, Monroe County, New York, District Attorney
2015 - Mike Holcomb, Arkansas State Representative
2015 – Kim Davis, Rowan County, Kentucky, Clerk
2015 - Jody Steverson, Mississippi State Representative
2015 - Denver Butler, Kentucky State Representative
2015 – Carlyle Begay, Arizona State Senator
2015 – Jim Gooch, Kentucky State Representative
2015 - Eric Greitens, later Governor of Missouri (2016-present)
2015 - Omarosa Manigault, later Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison (2017-present)
2016 - Karen MacBeth, Rhode Island State Representative
2016 - Yancey McGill, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina (2014-2015)
2016 - David Hillman, Arkansas State Representative
2016 - Jeff Wardlaw, Arkansas State Representative
2016 - Joe Jett, Arkansas State Representative
2016 - Wilbur Ross, later United States Secretary of Commerce (2017-present)
2017 - Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, former Florida State Representative
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)
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
2003 – Matt Ahearn, New Jersey State Representative to the Green Party
2004 – Peter Clavelle, Mayor of Burlington
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, joins Democratic Party
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
2008 – Michael L. Jackson, Louisiana State Representative, switched to Independent
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. Later switched to Republican.
2012 – Charlie Crist, former Republican Governor of Florida (2007–2011) and Independent senatorial candidate in 2010, switched to Democrat
2012 - Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Director of the Office of Urban Affairs
2013 – John Olumba, Michigan State Representative becomes an independent.
2013 – Richard Laird, Alabama State Representative
2013 – Nathan Fletcher, California State Assemblyman, became an independent, later joined the Democrats.
2013 – Lincoln Chafee, Governor of Rhode Island (2011–2015), former Republican U.S. Senator for Rhode Island (1999–2007), switched to Democrat
2014 - Lori Saldaña, California State Assemblywoman
2015 – Paul Tine, North Carolina State Representative
2015 - Keith English, Missouri State Representative
2015 - Ben Chipman, Maine House of Representatives, Independent switched to Democrat
2015 - Bernie Sanders, Vermont Senator, Independent switched to Democrat
2016 - Mike Huether, Mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Democrat switched to Independent
2017 – Rupert Phillips, West Virginia State Delegate
1860s – Henry George
1860s – Salmon P. Chase, former Senator from (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)
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)
1872 – Edmund G. Ross, former U.S. Senator from Kansas (1866–1871)
1877 - James B. Weaver, later U.S. Congressman from Iowa (1879-1889)
1880 - Benjamin Butler, former Congressman from Massachusetts (1867-1879), later Governor of Massachusetts (1883-1884)
1932 - Phelps Phelps, New York Assemblyman, later Governor of American Samoa (1951–1952)
1932 – Arthur W. Mitchell, later U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1935–1943)
1933 – Henry A. Wallace, later United States Secretary of Agriculture (1933-1940), Vice President of the United States (1941–1945) and United States Secretary of Commerce (1945-1946)
1936 - Ellis E. Patterson, California State Assemblyman, later Lieutenant Governor of California (1939-1943) and U.S. Congressman from California (1945-1947)
1939 – William L. Dawson, later U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1943–1970)
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, Commissioner of Public Utilities in Shreveport
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 – Ralph Neas
1970 – Floyd K. Haskell, Colorado State Representative and later U.S. Senator from Colorado (1973–1979)
1971 – John Lindsay, Mayor of New York City
1971 – Leon Panetta, later served as U.S. Representative from California (1976–1993), 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)
1972 – Herman Goldner, Mayor of St. Petersburg
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)
1973 – Edward Meyer, New York State Assemblyman
1976 - James Glisson, Florida State Senator
1976 - Howard Oda, 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
1980 – Thomas M. Foglietta, Member of the Philadelphia City Council, later served as U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1981–1997) & United States Ambassador to Italy (1997–2001)
1985 – John Yarmuth, later served as U.S. Representative from Kentucky (2007–present)
1987 - Martha Ezzard, Colorado State Senator
1988 - Albio Sires, later served as U.S. Representative from New Jersey (2006–present)
1988 - Duane Woodard, Colorado Attorney General
1988 - Ann Kobayashi, Hawaii State Senator
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 (1997–2017)
1992 – Frank Pecora, Pennsylvania State Senator
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 (1997–2015)
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, while serving as U.S. Representative from New York (1995–2001)
1999 – Robert R. Neall, Maryland State Senator
2000 – Jeff Enfinger, Alabama State Senator
2000 – Gabrielle Giffords, later U.S. Representative from Arizona (2007–2012)
2000 – Scott Heidepriem, South Dakota State Senator
2000 – Dean Johnson, Minnesota State Senator
2000 – Mark DeSaulnier, Contra Costa County Supervisor. Later U.S. Representative for California (2015–present)
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
2001 – Barbara McIlvaine Smith, Pennsylvania State Representative
2002 – D. G. Anderson, former Hawaii State Senator
2002 – Charles R. Larson, former Superintendent of United States Naval Academy (1983–1986 and 1994–1998)
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)
2003 – Corey Corbin, New Hampshire State Representative
2003 – Stan Moody, Maine State Representative
2003 - Nancy Boyda, later U.S. Representative from Kansas (2005–2007)
2003 – John E. Moore, later Lieutenant Governor of Kansas (2003–2007)
2004 – Arthur Mayo, Maine State Senator
2004 – Scott Dix, Georgia State Representative
2005 – Tim Mahoney, later U.S. Representative for Florida (2007–2009)
2005 – Paul J. Morrison, District Attorney for Johnson County, Kansas, later Kansas Attorney General (2006–2007)
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, Kansas State Senator, later Lieutenant Governor of Kansas (2007–2009) 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 (1999-2007)
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 – Barney Giese, County Prosecutor of Richland County, South Carolina
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)
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, later Missouri Attorney General (2009–2017) and 2016 Democratic nominee for Governor of Missouri
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 – Fred Jarrett, Washington State Representative
2007 – Karen Awana, Hawaii State Representative
2007 – Mike Gabbard, Hawaii State Senator
2008 – Lou Thieblemont, Mayor of Camp Hill
2009 – Dale Swenson, Kansas State Representative
2010 – Steve Fox, later California State Assemblyman
2011 – Daniel Boman, Alabama State Representative
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 – Peter Koo, New York City Councilman
2013 – Jean Schodorf, Kansas State Senator
2013 – Tom O'Halleran, former Arizona State Senator, later U.S. Representative from Arizona (2017–present)
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.
2014 – Aaron Johanson, Hawaii State Representative
2015 - John Ceretto, New York State Assemblyman
2015 - Jim Justice, later Governor of West Virginia (2017–present)
2017 - Christine Scales, Indianapolis City-County Councilwoman
2017 – Beth Fukumoto, Hawaii State Representative
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)
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 – 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.
2000 – Rick Jore, Montana State Representative, to U.S. Constitution Party
2001 – James M. Jeffords, while U.S. senator from Vermont (1989–2007). 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.
2001 – Robert J. McCabe, Sheriff, City of Norfolk, Virginia
2002 – Arne Carlson, former Governor of Minnesota (1991–1999)
2006 – Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (1999–2007)
2006 – Ben Westlund, Oregon State Senator. Later became a Democrat and served as Oregon State Treasurer (2009–2010)
2006 – Bob Barr, former U.S. Representative from Georgia (1995–2003), joined the Libertarian Party.
2007 – Micheal R. Williams, Tennessee State Senator, became an independent.
2007 – Michael Bloomberg, while Mayor of New York City (2002–2014), became an independent.
2007 – Lincoln Chafee, former U.S. Senator from Rhode Island (1999–2007), switched to unaffiliated.
2007 – Rick Singleton, Rhode Island State Representative switched to Independent
2008 – Jeff Wood, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
2008 – Ron Erhardt, Minnesota State Representative.
2008 – Alan Keyes, switched to the Constitution Party.
2008 – Richard Weldon, Maryland House of Delegates
2009 – Jim Campbell, Maine State Representative switched to Independent
2009 – Ed Thompson, Libertarian Mayor of Tomah, Wisconsin switched to Republican to run for the 31st State Senate district
2010 – Joel Robideaux, Louisiana State Representative, switched from Independent to Republican
2010 – Jenna Haggar, South Dakota State Representative, switched from Independent to Republican
2010 – Daniel P. Gordon, Rhode Island State Representative, switched to the Libertarian Party
2010 – Ernest Wooton, Louisiana State Representative, switched to Independent to run for in that state's 2010 U.S. Senate race.
2010 – Charlie Crist, Governor of Florida (2007–2011), switched to independent to run in that state's 2010 U.S. Senate race.
2010 – Tom Tancredo, former U.S. Representative from Colorado (1999–2009), switched to the Constitution Party to run for Governor of Colorado.
2010 – Virgil Goode, former U.S. Representative from Virginia (1997–2009), switched to the Constitution Party and became their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.
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 and become their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.
2013 – Joe T. May, Virginia State Delegate, switched to independent after losing in the Republican primary.
2013 - Joe Malone, former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (1991-1999)
2014 – Sue Wagner, former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada (1991–1995)
2014 – Bill Walker, Alaska gubernatorial candidate, was running as a nonpartisan candidate and switched to independent when merging campaigns with Democrat Byron Mallott
2015 - Nate Bell, Arkansas State Representative, switched from Republican to Independent.
2016 - John Moore, Nevada Assemblyman switched to Libertarian Party
2016 - William Weld, former Governor of Massachusetts (1991-1997), switched to the Libertarian Party
2016 - Laura Ebke, Nebraska State Senator, switched to the Libertarian Party
2016 - David Johnson, Iowa State Senator, switched to Independent.
2016 - Mark B. Madsen, Utah State Senator, switched to the Libertarian Party
2016 - Patricia Farley, Nevada State Senator, switched to Independent.
2016 - Blake Filippi, Rhode Island State Representative, switched from Independent to Republican; he had also been Republican previously until 2012.
2003 – Tommy Dickerson, Mississippi State Senator.
2003 – Johnny Ford, Alabama State Representative.
2010 – Arlen Specter, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (1981–2011)
2010 – Jim Bradford, South Dakota State Representative
2014 – Parker Griffith, former U.S. Representative from Alabama (2009–2011)
2015 – Artur Davis, former U.S. Representative from Alabama (2003–2011)
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.
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. Another example is Senator Joseph Lieberman, who in 2006 ran for Senate in Connecticut under the party Connecticut for Lieberman, although still identifying as a Democrat
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.
