State legislators who have switched political party affiliation

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This page displays the state legislators who at some point in their career have switched their political party affiliation. The list is a work-in-progress and is not comprehensive. The page will be continually updated to track as many of these switches as possible.

As of April 2024, Ballotpedia staff have counted 175 state legislators who have switched parties since 1994. Ballotpedia has counted 48 state senators who have switched parties and 127 state representatives.

Number of state lawmakers who switched from Democrat to Republican: 85

  • State senators: 25
  • State representatives: 60

Number of state lawmakers who switched from Republican to Democrat: 23

  • State senators: 8
  • State representatives: 15



This information is not comprehensive. If you are aware of any instances we have missed, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.


Number of party switches by state

  • AK: +1 Undeclared
  • AL: +7 Republicans, +1 Democrat, +1 Independent
  • AR: +3 Republicans, +1 Democrat, +1 Independent
  • AZ: +1 Republican
  • CA: +2 Independent, +1 Democrat
  • CO: +1 Independent, +1 Democrat
  • CT: +1 Democrat
  • GA: +13 Republicans, +1 Democrat, +1 Independent
  • HI: +3 Democrats
  • IA: +1 Republican, +1 Democrat, +1 Independent
  • KS: +2 Republicans, +2 Independent, +4 Democrats
  • KY: +4 Republicans, +2 Democrats
  • LA: +15 Republicans +1 Independent, +1 Democrat
  • MA: +2 Independents
  • ME: +1 Democrat, +2 Republican, +5 Independent, +1 Green, +1 Libertarian
  • MI: +1 Independent
  • MN: +3 Independents
  • MO: +1 Democrat, +1 Republican, +1 Independent
  • MS: +15 Republicans, +5 Independent
  • NC: +3 Republican
  • NE: +1 Republican, +1 Libertarian, +1 Independent, +1 Democrat, +1 nonpartisan
  • NH: +3 Republicans, +4 Libertarians, +2 Democrat, +1 Independent, +1 no party affiliation
  • NJ: +2 Democrat
  • NM: +3 Independent, +1 Democrat
  • NV: +1 Libertarian
  • NY: +2 Democrats, +1 Independent
  • OK: +1 Republican
  • OR: +1 Independent Party of Oregon
  • PA: +1 Independent
  • RI: +2 Republicans
  • SC: +1 Republican, +1 Independent
  • SD: +2 Republican
  • TN: +1 Republican
  • TX: +5 Republicans
  • UT: +1 Libertarian
  • VT: +2 Democrat, +1 Libertarian
  • WA: +1 Democrat
  • WI: +1 Independent
  • WV: +7 Republicans, +1 Independent
  • WY: +1 Republican, +1 Independent
  • In Maine, State Rep. John Andrews accounts for two party switches. Andrews left the Republican Party in December 2020 to register as a Libertarian, and he switched his affiliation back to Republican in December 2021.[3]

Party switch by chamber and year

Note: The office listed next to the lawmaker shows the current office or last office of the lawmaker and may not reflect the office that the legislator held at the time of the party switch.

Senate

Democrats who switched to Republican

Republicans who switched to Democratic

Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Republicans who switched to Libertarians

Independent who switched to Democratic

Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Democrats who switched to Independent

Republicans who switched to Independent

Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Libertarians who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House

Democrats who switched to Republican

Republicans who switched to Democrats

Democrats who switched to Libertarians

Republicans who switched to Libertarians

Independent who switched to Democrats

Independents who switched to Republican

Independents who switched to Green

Democrats who switched to Independent

Republicans who switched to Independent

Republicans who switched to Independent Party of Oregon

Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Libertarians who switched to Republican

2024

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Libertarians who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Green

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

House Libertarians who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

2023

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Libertarians who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

House Independent who switched to Democrats

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Green

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

House Libertarians who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

2022

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Libertarians who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

House Independents who switched to Republican

House Independents who switched to Green

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

House Libertarians who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

2021

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

Senate Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Libertarians who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

House Independent who switched to Democrats

House Independents who switched to Republican

House Independents who switched to Green

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republicans who switched to Independent

House Republicans who switched to Independent Party of Oregon

House Libertarians who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

House Libertarians who switched to Republican

2020

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

House Independents who switched to Green

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2019

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Green

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

2018

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Green

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2017

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Green

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

2016

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

House Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2015

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2014

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2013

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2012

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

House Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2011

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2010

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

2009

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2008

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2007

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2006

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Democratic

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Independent who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

Senate Republicans who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Republican

House Republicans who switched to Democrats

House Democrats who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republicans who switched to Libertarians

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independent who switched to Democrats

No officials have been added to this category.

House Independents who switched to Republican

No officials have been added to this category.

House Democrats who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

House Republican who switched to Independent

No officials have been added to this category.

2005

House Democrat who switched to Republican

  1. Dan Morrish (R), Louisiana State Senate, District 25

2002

Senate Democrat who switched to Republican

  1. Jack Hill (R), Georgia State Senate, District 4

2001

House Republican who switched to Democrat

  1. Kathy Ashe (D), Georgia House of Representatives District 56

2000

Senate Republicans who switched to Democrat

  1. Patrick Hogan (D), Maryland State Senate District 39

1999

Senate Democrats who switched to Republican

  1. Bob Leeper (R), Kentucky State Senate District 2
  2. Dan Seum (R), Kentucky State Senate District 38

House Republicans who switched to Democrat

  1. Robert Neall, Maryland House District 33

1995

Senate Democrat who switched to Republican

  1. Rusty Crowe (R), Tennessee State Senate District 3

1994

House Democrat who switched to Republican

  1. Eli Bebout (R), Wyoming State Senate, District 26

Chamber control

Partisan breakdown

See also: Partisan composition of state houses and Partisan composition of state senates

As of April 1, 2024, Republicans controlled 54.93% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 44.46%. Republicans held a majority in 56 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 40 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. Control of the Michigan House of Representatives is split.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
State senates 847 1,115 4 7
State houses 2,434 2,941 19 19
Total: 3,281

4,056

23

26


See also

Footnotes