Third party officeholders in the United States
Third-party officeholders in the United States are rare at any point of time. Although the current two-party system in the U.S., with the Republican party and Democratic party, started in 1856, many of the older parties still existed and had an influence. Therefore, this article includes any politician since the end of Reconstruction or since the 45th United States Congress.
These galleries and lists include anyone who at one time, while in office, was an independent or affiliated with a third party. They are listed in descending order from the first year they were in office as something other than a Republican or Democrat.
Since the end of Reconstruction, there have been a total of 30 U.S. Senators, 111 U.S. Representatives, and 28 Governors that weren't affiliated with a major party. There are now two U.S. Senators (King and Sanders), and four major city Mayors. Hundreds of third-party officeholders exist at the local level (including those in nonpartisan positions who are affiliated with a third-party), including 146 Libertarian Party members[1] and 131 Green Party members.[2]
U.S. Senators
-
U.S. Senator
Angus King
of Maine
Elected as an Independent
(2013 - Present) -
U.S. Senator
Joe Lieberman
of Connecticut
Ran on the Connecticut for Lieberman ticket after losing the 2006 Democratic nomination for Senator.
(1989 - 2013) -
U.S. Senator
Bernie Sanders
of Vermont
Elected as Independent
(2007 - Present) -
U.S. Senator
Dean Barkley
of Minnesota
Appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura as part of the Independence Party
(2002 - 2003) -
U.S. Senator
Jim Jeffords
of Vermont
Switched from Republican to Independent in 2001
(1989 - 2007) -
U.S. Senator
Bob Smith
of New Hampshire
Switched from Republican to Independent in 1999
(1990 - 2003) -
U.S. Senator
James L. Buckley
of New York
Elected as a Conservative, lost re-election as a Republican in 1976
(1971 - 1977) -
U.S. Senator
Harry F. Byrd Jr.
of Virginia
Switched from Democrat to Independent in 1970
(1965 - 1983) -
U.S. Senator
Wayne Morse
of Oregon
Switched from Republican to Independent in 1953, then to Democratic in 1955.
(1945 - 1959) -
U.S. Senator
John E. Miller
of Arkansas
Elected as an Independent, served as Democratic
(1937 - 1941) -
U.S. Senator
Ernest Lundeen
of Minnesota
Elected as Farmer-Labor
(1937 - 1940) -
U.S. Senator
George W. Norris
of Nebraska
Switched from Republican to Independent in 1936
(1913 - 1943) -
U.S. Senator
Elmer Austin Benson
of Minnesota
Elected as Farmer-Labor
(1935 - 1936) -
U.S. Senator
Robert M. La Follette
of Wisconsin
Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1934, then back to Republican in 1946
(1925 - 1947) -
U.S. Senator
Magnus Johnson
of Minnesota
Elected as Farmer-Labor
(1923 - 1925) -
U.S. Senator
Henrik Shipstead
of Minnesota
Elected as Farmer-Labor, switched to Republican in 1940
(1923 - 1947) -
U.S. Senator
Miles Poindexter
of Washington
Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1912, switched back to Republican in 1915
(1911 - 1923) -
U.S. Senator
Joseph M. Dixon
of Montana
Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1912
(1907 - 1913) -
U.S. Senator
Henry Heitfeld
of Idaho
Elected as a Populist
(1897 - 1903) -
U.S. Senator
William A. Harris
of Kansas
Elected as a Populist
(1897 - 1903) -
U.S. Senator
Henry Moore Teller
of Colorado
Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896, then to Democratic in 1903
(1876 - 1909) -
U.S. Senator
Fred Dubois
of Idaho
Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896(1891 - 1897) -
U.S. Senator
Frank J. Cannon
of Utah
Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896
(1896 - 1899) -
U.S. Senator
Richard F. Pettigrew
of South Dakota
Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896
(1889 - 1901) -
U.S. Senator
Lee Mantle
of Montana
Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896
(1895 - 1899) -
U.S. Senator
John P. Jones
of Nevada
Switched from Republican to Silver in 1895, then back to Republican in 1901
(1873 - 1903) -
U.S. Senator
William M. Stewart
of Nevada
Switched from Republican to Silver in 1893, then back to Republican in 1901
(1887 - 1905) -
U.S. Senator
William V. Allen
of Nebraska
Elected as a Populist
(1893 - 1901) -
U.S. Senator
James H. Kyle
of South Dakota
Elected as a Populist
(1891 - 1901) -
U.S. Senator
Marion Butler
of North Carolina
Elected as a Populist
(1895 - 1901) -
U.S. Senator
William A. Peffer
of Kansas
Elected as a Populist
(1891 - 1897) -
U.S. Senator
Harrison H. Riddleberger
of Virginia
Elected as a Readjuster
(1883 - 1889) -
U.S. Senator
William Mahone
of Virginia
Elected as a Readjuster
(1881 - 1887) -
U.S. Senator
David Davis
of Illinois
Elected as an Independent
(1877 - 1883) -
Newton Booth - Brady-Handy.jpg
U.S. Senator
Newton Booth
of California
Elected as an Anti-Monopolist, served as an Ind. Republican
(1875 - 1881) -
Orris S. Ferry - Brady-Handy.jpg
U.S. Senator
Orris S. Ferry
of Connecticut
Elected as a Liberal Republican in 1872
(1867 - 1875) -
U.S. Senator
Morgan C. Hamilton
of Texas
Switched from Republican to Liberal Republican in 1872, switched back to Republican in 1875
(1870 - 1877) -
U.S. Senator
Charles Sumner
of Massachusetts
Elected as Free Soil Democratic in 1851, became a Republican in 1855, then became a Liberal Republican in 1872
(1851 - 1874) -
Senator David T. Patterson.jpg
U.S. Senator
David T. Patterson
of Tennessee
Elected as a Unionist in 1866, became a Republican by 1867
(1866 - 1869) -
JSFowler.jpg
U.S. Senator
Joseph S. Fowler
of Tennessee
Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1866, became a Republican by 1867
(1866 - 1871) -
U.S. Senator
John Creswell
of Maryland
Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1864
(1865 - 1867) -
U.S. Senator
Benjamin Gratz Brown
of Missouri
Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1863, became a Republican by 1865
(1863 - 1867) -
Peter G. Van Winkle - Brady-Handy.jpg
U.S. Senator
Peter G. Van Winkle
of West Virginia
Elected as a Unionist in 1863, became a Republican by 1867
(1863 - 1869) -
Reverdy Johnson.jpg
U.S. Senator
Reverdy Johnson
of Maryland
Elected as a Unionist in 1863, switched to Democratic by 1865
(1863 - 1868) -
Lemuel Jackson Bowden.jpg
U.S. Senator
Lemuel J. Bowden
of Virginia
Elected as a Unionist in 1863
(1863 - 1864) -
U.S. Senator
Thomas Holliday Hicks
of Maryland
Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862
(1862 - 1865) -
U.S. Senator
John B. Henderson
of Missouri
Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862, became a Republican by 1865
(1862 - 1869) -
U.S. Senator
Robert Wilson
of Missouri
Appointed as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862
(1862 - 1863) -
Hon. Garrett Davis, Ky - NARA - 528757.jpg
U.S. Senator
Garrett Davis
of Kentucky
Elected as a Unionist in 1861, switched to Democratic by 1867
(1861 - 1872) -
JCarlile.jpg
U.S. Senator
John S. Carlile
of Virginia
Elected as a Unionist in 1861
(1861 - 1865) -
U.S. Senator
Waitman T. Willey
of Virginia
Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1861
(1861 - 1863)
U.S. Representatives
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Governors
-
Governor of Alaska (2014-present) Bill Walker - Elected as an Independent
-
Governor of Rhode Island (2011–2015) Lincoln Chafee – Elected as an Independent; became a Democrat in 2013 [3]
-
Governor of Florida (2007–2011) Charlie Crist – Switched from Republican to Independent in 2010
-
Governor of Minnesota (1999–2003) Jesse Ventura – Elected as Reform Party nominee
-
Governor of Maine (1995–2003) Angus King – Elected as an Independent
-
Governor of Connecticut (1991–1995) Lowell Weicker – Elected as A Connecticut Party nominee
-
Governor of Alaska (1990–1994) Wally Hickel – Elected as Alaskan Independence Party nominee
-
JamesLongley.jpg
Governor of Maine (1975–1979) James B. Longley – Elected as an Independent
-
Governor of Minnesota (1937–1939) Elmer Austin Benson – Elected as Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party nominee
-
Hjalmar Petersen.jpg
Governor of Minnesota (1936–1937) Hjalmar Petersen – Elected as Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party nominee
-
Painting of Governor Floyd B. Olson..jpg
Governor of Minnesota (1931–1936) Floyd B. Olson – Elected as Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party nominee
-
Governor of Florida (1917–1921) Sidney Johnston Catts – Elected as a Prohibitionist
-
Hiram Johnson Full Length LOC.jpg
Governor of California (1911–1917) Hiram Johnson – Switched from Republican to Progressive in office
-
Governor of Nevada (1908–1911) Denver S. Dickerson – Elected as Silver Party nominee
-
Willam.A.Poytner.gif
Governor of Nebraska (1899–1901) William A. Poynter – Elected as a Populist
-
Governor of Kansas (1897–1899) John W. Leedy – Elected as a Populist
-
John Rankin Rogers.jpg
Governor of Washington (1897–1901) John Rankin Rogers – Switched from Democrat to Populist
-
Sadler.jpeg
Governor of Nevada (1896–1903) Reinhold Sadler – Elected as Silver Party nominee
-
Jones.jpeg
Governor of Nevada (1895–1896) John Jones – Elected as Silver Party nominee
-
Silas A. Holcomb.jpg
Governor of Nebraska (1895–1899) Silas A. Holcomb – Elected as a Populist
-
LDLewelling.jpg
Governor of Kansas (1893–1895) Lorenzo D. Lewelling – Elected as a Populist
-
Governor of Colorado (1893–1895) Davis Hanson Waite – Elected as a Populist
-
Governor of Tennessee (1891–1893) John P. Buchanan – Elected on the Farmers' Alliance ticket
-
Governor of Virginia (1882–1886) William E. Cameron – Elected as Readjuster Party nominee
-
Governor of West Virginia (1871–1877) John J. Jacob – Elected as an independent
See also
References
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