Third-party and independent members of the United States Congress
Introduction Third-party and independent members of the United States Congress are generally rare. Although the Republican and Democratic parties 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 the House of Representatives or Senate, or changed their party affiliation during their term.
Senate ImageSenatorStateTermNotesupright=.4Kyrsten SinemaArizona2019–presentElected as a Democrat, switched to Independent in 2022upright=.4Angus KingMaine2013–presentElected as an Independent; caucuses with the Democratsupright=.4Joe LiebermanConnecticut1989–2013Re-elected on the Connecticut for Lieberman ticket after losing the 2006 Democratic nominationupright=.4Bernie SandersVermont2007–presentElected as an Independent; caucuses with the Democrats; Democratic Party member from 2015–2016 and 2019–2020 while running for Presidentupright=.4Dean BarkleyMinnesota2002–2003Appointed for Independence Party of Minnesotaupright=.4Jim JeffordsVermont1989–2007Switched from Republican to Independent in 2001upright=.4Bob SmithNew Hampshire1990–2003Switched from Republican to Independent in 1999 but switched back to Republican in 2000 upright=.4James L. BuckleyNew York 1971–1977Elected as a Conservative, lost re-election as a Republican in 1976 upright=.4Harry F. Byrd Jr.Virginia1965–1983Switched from Democratic to Independent in 1970upright=.4Wayne MorseOregon1945–1969Switched from Republican to Independent in 1953, then to Democratic in 1955upright=.4John E. MillerArkansas1937–1941Elected as an Independent, served as Democraticupright=.4Ernest LundeenMinnesota1937–1940Elected as Farmer-Laborupright=.4George W. NorrisNebraska 1913–1943Switched from Republican to Independent in 1936upright=.4Elmer Austin BensonMinnesota1935–1936Elected as Farmer-Laborupright=.4Robert M. La Follette Jr.Wisconsin1925–1947Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1934, then back to Republican in 1946upright=.4Magnus JohnsonMinnesota1923–1925Elected as Farmer-Laborupright=.4Henrik ShipsteadMinnesota1923–1947Elected as Farmer-Labor, switched to Republican in 1940upright=.4Miles PoindexterWashington1911–1923Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1912, switched back to Republican in 1915upright=.4Joseph M. DixonMontana1907–1913Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1912upright=.4Henry HeitfeldIdaho1897–1903Elected as a Populistupright=.4William Alexander HarrisKansas1897–1903Elected as a Populistupright=.4Henry Moore TellerColorado1876–1909Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896, then to Democratic in 1903upright=.4Fred DuboisIdaho1891–1897Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896upright=.4Frank J. CannonUtah1896–1899Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896upright=.4Richard F. PettigrewSouth Dakota1889–1901Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896upright=.4Lee MantleMontana1895–1899Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896upright=.4John P. JonesNevada1873–1903Switched from Republican to Silver in 1895, then back to Republican in 1901upright=.4William Morris StewartNevada1887–1905Switched from Republican to Silver in 1893, then back to Republican in 1901upright=.4William V. AllenNebraska1893–1901Elected as a Populistupright=.4James H. KyleSouth Dakota1891–1901Elected as a Populistupright=.4Marion ButlerNorth Carolina1895–1901Elected as a Populistupright=.4William A. PefferKansas1891–1897Elected as a Populistupright=.4Harrison H. RiddlebergerVirginia1883–1889Elected as a Readjusterupright=.4William MahoneVirginia1881–1887Elected as a Readjusterupright=.4David DavisIllinois1877–1883Elected as an Independentupright=.4Newton BoothCalifornia1875–1881Elected as an Anti-Monopolist, served as an Independent Republicanupright=.4Orris S. FerryConnecticut1867–1875Elected as a Liberal Republican in 1872upright=.4Morgan C. HamiltonTexas1870–1877Switched from Republican to Liberal Republican in 1872, switched back to Republican in 1875upright=.4Charles SumnerMassachusetts1851–1874Elected as Free Soil Democratic in 1851, became a Republican in 1855, then became a Liberal Republican in 1872upright=.4David T. PattersonTennessee1866–1869Elected as a Unionist in 1866, became a Republican by 1867upright=.4Joseph S. FowlerTennessee1866–1871Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1866, became a Republican by 1867upright=.4John CreswellMaryland1865–1867Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1864upright=.4Benjamin Gratz BrownMissouri1863–1867Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1863, became a Republican by 1865upright=.4Peter G. Van WinkleWest Virginia1863–1869Elected as a Unionist in 1863, became a Republican by 1867upright=.4Reverdy JohnsonMaryland1863–1868Elected as a Unionist in 1863, switched to Democratic by 1865upright=.4Lemuel J. BowdenVirginia1863–1864Elected as a Unionist in 1863upright=.4Thomas Holliday HicksMaryland1862–1865Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862upright=.4Robert WilsonMissouri1862–1863Appointed as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862upright=.4John B. HendersonMissouri1862–1869Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862, became a Republican by 1865upright=.4Garrett DavisKentucky1861–1872Elected as a Unionist in 1861, switched to Democratic by 1867upright=.4John S. CarlileVirginia1861–1865Elected as a Unionist in 1861upright=.4Waitman T. WilleyVirginia1861–1863Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1861
House of Representatives ImageRepresentativeDistrictTermNotesupright=.4Paul MitchellMichigan 10th2017–2021First elected as a Republican, switched to independent in 2020upright=.4Justin AmashMichigan 3rd2011–2021First elected as a Republican, switched to independent in 2019 and then to Libertarian in 2020upright=.4Virgil GoodeVirginia 5th1997–2009Switched from Democratic to independent in 2000, then to Republican in 2002upright=.4Jo Ann EmersonMissouri 8th1996–2013First elected as a Republican, re-elected as an independent due to state law, then rejoined Republicans in early 1997upright=.4Bernie SandersVermont at-large1991–2007Elected as an independentupright=.4William CarneyNew York 1st1979–1987Elected as a Conservative and later sat with Republicans, switched to Republican in 1985upright=.4Frazier ReamsOhio 9th1951–1955Elected as an independentupright=.4Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr.New York 20th1949–1955Elected as a Liberal, re-elected as Democraticupright=.4Leo IsacsonNew York 24th1948–1949Elected from the American Labor Party ticketupright=.4Harold HagenMinnesota 9th1943–1955Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1942upright=.4John BernardMinnesota 8th1937–1939Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936upright=.4Dewey JohnsonMinnesota 5th1937–1939Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936upright=.4Franck R. HavennerCalifornia 4th1937–1941, 1945–1953Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Henry TeiganMinnesota 3rd1937–1939Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936upright=.4Thomas Ryum AmlieWisconsin 1st1935–1939Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Gerald J. BoileauWisconsin 7th1935–1939Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Rich T. BucklerMinnesota 9th1935–1943Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1934upright=.4Bernard J. GehrmannWisconsin 10th1935–1943Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Harry SauthoffWisconsin 2nd1935–1945Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4George J. SchneiderWisconsin 8th1935–1939Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Merlin HullWisconsin 9th1935–1944Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Vito MarcantonioNew York 20th1935–1937, 1939–1945Elected from the American Labor Party ticket in 1938upright=.4Gardner R. WithrowWisconsin 3rd1935–1939Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Henry M. ArensMinnesota at-large1933–1935Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932upright=.4Magnus JohnsonMinnesota at-large1933–1935Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932upright=.4Ernest LundeenMinnesota 3rd1933–1937Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932upright=.4Francis ShoemakerMinnesota at-large1933–1935Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932upright=.4Paul John KvaleMinnesota 9th1929–1939Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1928upright=.4Knud WefaldMinnesota 9th1923–1927Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1922upright=.4Ole J. KvaleMinnesota 7th1923–1929Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1922upright=.4William Leighton CarssMinnesota 8th1919–1929Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1918upright=.4Fiorello La GuardiaNew York 14th, New York 20th1917–1919, 1923–1933Re-elected as a Socialist in 1924upright=.4John A. ElstonCalifornia 6th1915–1921Elected as a Progressive in 1915upright=.4Meyer LondonNew York 12th1915–1923Elected as a Socialistupright=.4Whitmell P. MartinLouisiana 3rd1915–1929Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Thomas D. SchallMinnesota 10th1915–1925Elected as a Progressiveupright=.4Charles Hiram RandallCalifornia 9th1915–1921Elected as a Prohibitionistupright=.4Walter M. ChandlerNew York 19th1913–1919Elected as a Progressive in 1913upright=.4James W. BryanWashington at-large1913–1915Elected as a Progressive in 1913upright=.4Jacob FalconerWashington at-large1913–1915Elected as a Progressive in 1913upright=.4William H. HinebaughIllinois 12th1913–1915Elected as a Progressive in 1913upright=.4Willis James HulingsPennsylvania 28th1913–1915Elected as a Progressive in 1913William Josiah MacDonaldMichigan 12th1913–1915Elected as a Progressive in 1913upright=.4Milton William ShrevePennsylvania 25th1913–1915, 1919–1933Re-elected as an independent Republican in 1920upright=.4Henry Wilson TemplePennsylvania 24th1913–1915Elected as a Progressive in 1913upright=.4Charles M. ThomsonIllinois 10th1913–1915Elected as a Progressive in 1913upright=.4William StephensCalifornia 10th1911–1917Switched parties from a Republican to a Progressive in 1913upright=.4Roy O. WoodruffMichigan 10th1913–1915Elected as a Progressive in 1913upright=.4Bill KentCalifornia 1st1913–1917Elected as an independentupright=.4Ira C. CopleyIllinois 11th1911–1923Switched from a Republican to a Progressive in 1915upright=.4Victor L. BergerWisconsin 5th1911–1929Elected as a Socialistupright=.4Peter A. PorterNew York 34th1907–1909Elected as an independent Republicanupright=.4Caldwell EdwardsMontana at-large1901–1903Elected as a Populistupright=.4Thomas L. GlennIdaho at-large1901–1903Elected as a SilverJohn Wilbur AtwaterNorth Carolina 4th1899–1901Elected as a Populistupright=.4William NevilleNebraska 6th1899–1903Elected as a Populistupright=.4Edgar WilsonIdaho at-large1899–1901Elected as a Silver Republicanupright=.4Charles A. BarlowCalifornia 6th1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Jeremiah D. BotkinKansas 8th1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Curtis H. CastleCalifornia 7th1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4John Edgar FowlerNorth Carolina 4th1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4William Laury GreeneNebraska 6th1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4James GunnIdaho at-large1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4William Carey JonesWashington at-large1897–1899Elected as a Silver Republicanupright=.4John Edward KelleySouth Dakota at-large1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Freeman KnowlesSouth Dakota at-large1897–1899Elected as a PopulistCharles MartinNorth Carolina 6th1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Samuel MaxwellNebraska 3rd1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Nelson B. McCormickKansas 6th1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Mason S. PetersKansas 2nd1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Edwin R. RidgelyKansas 3rd1897–1901Elected as a Populistupright=.4William Ledyard StarkNebraska 4th1897–1903Elected as a Populistupright=.4Roderick Dhu SutherlandNebraska 5th1897–1901Elected as a Populistupright=.4William D. VincentKansas 5th1897–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Albert Taylor GoodwynAlabama 5th1896–1897Elected as a Populistupright=.4John F. ShafrothColorado 1st1895–1904Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1897upright=.4Milford W. HowardAlabama 7th1895–1899Elected as a Populist in 1894upright=.4Harry SkinnerNorth Carolina 1st1895–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4William Franklin StrowdNorth Carolina 4th1895–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4John Calhoun BellColorado 2nd1893–1903Elected as a Populistupright=.4Marion CannonCalifornia 6th1893–1895Elected as a Populistupright=.4Lafe PenceColorado 1st1893–1895Elected as a Populistupright=.4Alonzo C. ShufordNorth Carolina 7th1893–1899Elected as a Populistupright=.4Thomas Jefferson HudsonKansas 3rd1893–1895Elected as a Populistupright=.4Haldor BoenMinnesota 7th1893–1895Elected as a Populistupright=.4Bill HarrisKansas at-large1893–1895Elected as a Populistupright=.4Bill BakerKansas at-large1891–1897Elected as a Populistupright=.4Benjamin H. CloverKansas at-large1891–1893Elected as a Populistupright=.4John DavisKansas at-large1891–1895Elected as a Populistupright=.4Kittel HalvorsonMinnesota 5th1891–1893Elected as a Populistupright=.4Omer Madison KemNebraska 3rd1891–1897Elected as a Populistupright=.4William A. McKeighanNebraska 2nd1891–1895Elected as a Populistupright=.4John G. OtisKansas at-large1891–1893Elected as a Populistupright=.4Jerry SimpsonKansas at-large1891–1895Elected as a Populistupright=.4Thomas E. WatsonGeorgia 10th1891–1893Elected as a PopulistLewis P. FeatherstoneArkansas 1st1889–1891Elected as a member of the Labor PartySamuel I. HopkinsVirginia 6th1887–1889Elected as a member of the Labor PartyJohn NicholsNorth Carolina 4th 1887–1889Elected as an independentupright=.4Henry SmithWisconsin 6th1887–1889Elected as a member of the Labor Partyupright=.4Benjamin F. ShivelyIndiana 13th1884–1885Elected as an Anti-Monopolistupright=.4James Ronald ChalmersMississippi 7th1883–1885Elected as an Independentupright=.4Ted LymanMassachusetts 9th1883–1885Elected as an Independentupright=.4Thomas P. OchiltreeTexas 7th1883–1885Elected as an Independentupright=.4Charles N. BrummPennsylvania 13th1881–1909Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880upright=.4Joseph Henry BurrowsMissouri 10th1881–1883Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880upright=.4Ira S. HaseltineMissouri 6th1881–1883Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880upright=.4James MosgrovePennsylvania 25th1881–1883Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880upright=.4Theron Moses RiceMissouri 7th1881–1883Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880upright=.4J. Hyatt SmithNew York 3rd1881–1883Elected as an independentupright=.4Bradley BarlowVermont 3rd1879–1881Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878upright=.4Nicholas FordMissouri 9th1879–1883Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878Albert P. ForsytheIllinois 15th1879–1881Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878upright=.4Edward H. GilletteIowa 7th1879–1881Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878upright=.4George JonesTexas 5th1879–1883Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Partyupright=.4George W. LaddMaine 4th1879–1883Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Partyupright=.4William M. LoweAlabama 8th1879–1882Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878upright=.4Gilbert De La MatyrIndiana 7th1879–1881Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878upright=.4Thompson H. MurchMaine 5th1879–1883Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Partyupright=.4Henry PersonsGeorgia 4th1879–1881Elected as an independentupright=.4Daniel Lindsay RussellNorth Carolina 3rd1879–1881Elected as a member of the United States Greenback PartyEmory SpeerGeorgia 9th1879–1883Elected as an independentupright=.4James WeaverIowa 6th1879–1889Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878upright=.4Hendrick Bradley WrightPennsylvania 12th1879–1881Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878upright=.4Seth Hartman YocumPennsylvania 20th1879–1881Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
References