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Third-party and independent members of the United States Congress

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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

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Image Senator State Term Notes
  Joe Manchin West Virginia 2010–present Elected as a Democrat, switched to Independent in 2024[1]
  Kyrsten Sinema Arizona 2019–present Elected as a Democrat, switched to Independent in 2022[2]
  Angus King Maine 2013–present Elected as an Independent; caucuses with the Democrats
  Bernie Sanders Vermont 2007–present Elected as an Independent; caucuses with the Democrats; Democratic Party member from 2015–2016 and 2019–2020 while running for President
  Joe Lieberman Connecticut 1989–2013 Re-elected on the Connecticut for Lieberman ticket after losing the 2006 Democratic nomination
  Dean Barkley Minnesota 2002–2003 Appointed for Independence Party of Minnesota
  Jim Jeffords Vermont 1989–2007 Switched from Republican to Independent in 2001
  Bob Smith New Hampshire 1990–2003 Switched from Republican to Independent in 1999 but switched back to Republican in 2000
  James L. Buckley New York 1971–1977 Elected as a Conservative, lost re-election as a Republican in 1976
  Harry F. Byrd Jr. Virginia 1965–1983 Switched from Democratic to Independent in 1970
  Wayne Morse Oregon 1945–1969 Switched from Republican to Independent in 1953, then to Democratic in 1955
  John E. Miller Arkansas 1937–1941 Elected as an Independent, served as Democratic
  Ernest Lundeen Minnesota 1937–1940 Elected as Farmer-Labor
  George W. Norris Nebraska 1913–1943 Switched from Republican to Independent in 1936
  Elmer Austin Benson Minnesota 1935–1936 Elected as Farmer-Labor
  Robert M. La Follette Jr. Wisconsin 1925–1947 Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1934, then back to Republican in 1946
  Magnus Johnson Minnesota 1923–1925 Elected as Farmer-Labor
  Henrik Shipstead Minnesota 1923–1947 Elected as Farmer-Labor, switched to Republican in 1940
  Miles Poindexter Washington 1911–1923 Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1912, switched back to Republican in 1915
  Joseph M. Dixon Montana 1907–1913 Switched from Republican to Progressive in 1912
  Henry Heitfeld Idaho 1897–1903 Elected as a Populist
  William Alexander Harris Kansas 1897–1903 Elected as a Populist
  Henry Moore Teller Colorado 1876–1909 Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896, then to Democratic in 1903
  Fred Dubois Idaho 1891–1897 Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896
  Frank J. Cannon Utah 1896–1899 Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896
  Richard F. Pettigrew South Dakota 1889–1901 Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896
  Lee Mantle Montana 1895–1899 Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1896
  John P. Jones Nevada 1873–1903 Switched from Republican to Silver in 1895, then back to Republican in 1901
  William Morris Stewart Nevada 1887–1905 Switched from Republican to Silver in 1893, then back to Republican in 1901
  William V. Allen Nebraska 1893–1901 Elected as a Populist
  James H. Kyle South Dakota 1891–1901 Elected as a Populist
  Marion Butler North Carolina 1895–1901 Elected as a Populist
  William A. Peffer Kansas 1891–1897 Elected as a Populist
  Harrison H. Riddleberger Virginia 1883–1889 Elected as a Readjuster
  William Mahone Virginia 1881–1887 Elected as a Readjuster
  David Davis Illinois 1877–1883 Elected as an Independent
  Newton Booth California 1875–1881 Elected as an Anti-Monopolist, served as an Independent Republican
  Orris S. Ferry Connecticut 1867–1875 Elected as a Liberal Republican in 1872
  Morgan C. Hamilton Texas 1870–1877 Switched from Republican to Liberal Republican in 1872, switched back to Republican in 1875
  Charles Sumner Massachusetts 1851–1874 Elected as Free Soil Democratic in 1851, became a Republican in 1855, then became a Liberal Republican in 1872
  David T. Patterson Tennessee 1866–1869 Elected as a Unionist in 1866, became a Republican by 1867
  Joseph S. Fowler Tennessee 1866–1871 Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1866, became a Republican by 1867
  John Creswell Maryland 1865–1867 Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1864
  Benjamin Gratz Brown Missouri 1863–1867 Elected as a Union Emancipationist in 1863, became a Radical Unionist (Republican) by 1865
  Peter G. Van Winkle West Virginia 1863–1869 Elected as a Unionist in 1863, became a Republican by 1867
  Reverdy Johnson Maryland 1863–1868 Elected as a Unionist in 1863, switched to Democratic by 1865
  Lemuel J. Bowden Virginia 1863–1864 Elected as a Unionist in 1863
  Thomas Holliday Hicks Maryland 1862–1865 Elected as an Unconditional Unionist in 1862
  Robert Wilson Missouri 1862–1863 Appointed as a Unionist in 1862
  John B. Henderson Missouri 1862–1869 Elected as a Unionist in 1862, became a Republican by 1865
  Garrett Davis Kentucky 1861–1872 Elected as a Union Democrat in 1861, switched to Democratic by 1867
  John S. Carlile Virginia 1861–1865 Elected as a Unionist in 1861
  Waitman T. Willey Virginia 1861–1863 Elected as a Unionist in 1861

House of Representatives

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Image Representative District Term Notes
  Paul Mitchell Michigan 10th 2017–2021 First elected as a Republican, switched to independent in 2020
  Justin Amash Michigan 3rd 2011–2021 First elected as a Republican, switched to independent in 2019 and then to Libertarian in 2020
  Virgil Goode Virginia 5th 1997–2009 Switched from Democratic to independent in 2000, then to Republican in 2002
  Jo Ann Emerson Missouri 8th 1996–2013 First elected as a Republican, re-elected as an independent due to state law, then rejoined Republicans in early 1997
  Bernie Sanders Vermont at-large 1991–2007 Elected as an independent
  William Carney New York 1st 1979–1987 Elected as a Conservative and later sat with Republicans, switched to Republican in 1985
  Frazier Reams Ohio 9th 1951–1955 Elected as an independent
  Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr. New York 20th 1949–1955 Elected as a Liberal, re-elected as Democratic
  Leo Isacson New York 24th 1948–1949 Elected from the American Labor Party ticket
  Harold Hagen Minnesota 9th 1943–1955 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1942
  John Bernard Minnesota 8th 1937–1939 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936
  Dewey Johnson Minnesota 5th 1937–1939 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936
  Franck R. Havenner California 4th 1937–1941, 1945–1953 Elected as a Progressive
  Henry Teigan Minnesota 3rd 1937–1939 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1936
  Thomas Ryum Amlie Wisconsin 1st 1935–1939 Elected as a Progressive
  Gerald J. Boileau Wisconsin 7th 1935–1939 Elected as a Progressive
  Rich T. Buckler Minnesota 9th 1935–1943 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1934
  Bernard J. Gehrmann Wisconsin 10th 1935–1943 Elected as a Progressive
  Harry Sauthoff Wisconsin 2nd 1935–1945 Elected as a Progressive
  George J. Schneider Wisconsin 8th 1935–1939 Elected as a Progressive
  Merlin Hull Wisconsin 9th 1935–1944 Elected as a Progressive
  Vito Marcantonio New York 20th 1935–1937, 1939–1945 Elected from the American Labor Party ticket in 1938
  Gardner R. Withrow Wisconsin 3rd 1935–1939 Elected as a Progressive
  Henry M. Arens Minnesota at-large 1933–1935 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932
  Magnus Johnson Minnesota at-large 1933–1935 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932
  Ernest Lundeen Minnesota 5th, Minnesota at-large, Minnesota 3rd 1933–1937 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932
  Francis Shoemaker Minnesota at-large 1933–1935 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1932
  Paul John Kvale Minnesota 7th, Minnesota at-large 1929–1939 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1928
  Knud Wefald Minnesota 9th 1923–1927 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1922
  Ole J. Kvale Minnesota 7th 1923–1929 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1922
  William Leighton Carss Minnesota 8th 1919–1929 Elected as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1918
  Fiorello La Guardia New York 14th, New York 20th 1917–1919, 1923–1933 Re-elected as a Socialist in 1924, ran as a Republican in all other elections
  John A. Elston California 6th 1915–1921 Elected as a Progressive in 1915
  Meyer London New York 12th 1915–1923 Elected as a Socialist
  Whitmell P. Martin Louisiana 3rd 1915–1929 Elected as a Progressive
  Thomas D. Schall Minnesota 10th 1915–1925 Elected as a Progressive
  Charles Hiram Randall California 9th 1915–1921 Elected as a Prohibitionist
  Walter M. Chandler New York 19th 1913–1919 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
  James W. Bryan Washington at-large 1913–1915 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
  Jacob Falconer Washington at-large 1913–1915 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
  William H. Hinebaugh Illinois 12th 1913–1915 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
  Willis James Hulings Pennsylvania 28th 1913–1915 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
William Josiah MacDonald Michigan 12th 1913–1915 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
  Milton William Shreve Pennsylvania 25th 1913–1915, 1919–1933 Re-elected as an independent Republican in 1920
  Henry Wilson Temple Pennsylvania 24th 1913–1915 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
  Charles M. Thomson Illinois 10th 1913–1915 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
  William Stephens California 10th 1911–1917 Switched parties from a Republican to a Progressive in 1913
  Roy O. Woodruff Michigan 10th 1913–1915 Elected as a Progressive in 1913
  Bill Kent California 1st 1913–1917 Elected as an independent
  Ira C. Copley Illinois 11th 1911–1923 Switched from a Republican to a Progressive in 1915
  Victor L. Berger Wisconsin 5th 1911–1929 Elected as a Socialist
  Peter A. Porter New York 34th 1907–1909 Elected as an independent Republican
  Caldwell Edwards Montana at-large 1901–1903 Elected as a Populist
  Thomas L. Glenn Idaho at-large 1901–1903 Elected as a Silver
  John Wilbur Atwater North Carolina 4th 1899–1901 Elected as a Populist
  William Neville Nebraska 6th 1899–1903 Elected as a Populist
  Edgar Wilson Idaho at-large 1899–1901 Elected as a Silver Republican
  Charles A. Barlow California 6th 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Jeremiah D. Botkin Kansas at-large 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Curtis H. Castle California 7th 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  John Edgar Fowler North Carolina 3rd 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  William Laury Greene Nebraska 6th 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  James Gunn Idaho at-large 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  William Carey Jones Washington at-large 1897–1899 Elected as a Silver Republican
  John Edward Kelley South Dakota at-large 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Freeman Knowles South Dakota at-large 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
Charles Martin North Carolina 6th 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Samuel Maxwell Nebraska 3rd 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Nelson B. McCormick Kansas 6th 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Mason S. Peters Kansas 2nd 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Edwin R. Ridgely Kansas 3rd 1897–1901 Elected as a Populist
  William Ledyard Stark Nebraska 4th 1897–1903 Elected as a Populist
  Roderick Dhu Sutherland Nebraska 5th 1897–1901 Elected as a Populist
  William D. Vincent Kansas 5th 1897–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Albert Taylor Goodwyn Alabama 5th 1896–1897 Elected as a Populist
  John F. Shafroth Colorado 1st 1895–1904 Switched from Republican to Silver Republican in 1897
  Milford W. Howard Alabama 7th 1895–1899 Elected as a Populist in 1894
  Harry Skinner North Carolina 1st 1895–1899 Elected as a Populist
  William Franklin Strowd North Carolina 4th 1895–1899 Elected as a Populist
  John Calhoun Bell Colorado 2nd 1893–1903 Elected as a Populist
  Marion Cannon California 6th 1893–1895 Elected as a Populist
  Lafe Pence Colorado 1st 1893–1895 Elected as a Populist
  Alonzo C. Shuford North Carolina 7th 1893–1899 Elected as a Populist
  Thomas Jefferson Hudson Kansas 3rd 1893–1895 Elected as a Populist
  Haldor Boen Minnesota 7th 1893–1895 Elected as a Populist
  Bill Harris Kansas at-large 1893–1895 Elected as a Populist
  Bill Baker Kansas 6th 1891–1897 Elected as a Populist
  Benjamin H. Clover Kansas 3rd 1891–1893 Elected as a Populist
  John Davis Kansas 5th 1891–1895 Elected as a Populist
  Kittel Halvorson Minnesota 5th 1891–1893 Elected as a Populist
  Omer Madison Kem Nebraska 3rd 1891–1897 Elected as a Populist
  William A. McKeighan Nebraska 2nd 1891–1895 Elected as a Populist
  John G. Otis Kansas 4th 1891–1893 Elected as a Populist
  Jerry Simpson Kansas 7th 1891–1895 Elected as a Populist
  Thomas E. Watson Georgia 10th 1891–1893 Elected as a Populist
Lewis P. Featherstone Arkansas 1st 1889–1891 Elected as a member of the Labor Party
Samuel I. Hopkins Virginia 6th 1887–1889 Elected as a member of the Labor Party
  John Nichols North Carolina 4th 1887–1889 Elected as an independent
  Henry Smith Wisconsin 4th 1887–1889 Elected as a member of the Labor Party
  Benjamin F. Shively Indiana 13th 1884–1885 Elected as an Anti-Monopolist
  James Ronald Chalmers Mississippi 6th 1883–1885 Elected as an Independent
  Ted Lyman Massachusetts 9th 1883–1885 Elected as an Independent
  Thomas P. Ochiltree Texas 7th 1883–1885 Elected as an Independent
  Charles N. Brumm Pennsylvania 13th 1881–1909 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
  Joseph Henry Burrows Missouri 10th 1881–1883 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
  Ira S. Haseltine Missouri 6th 1881–1883 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
  James Mosgrove Pennsylvania 25th 1881–1883 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
  Theron Moses Rice Missouri 7th 1881–1883 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1880
  J. Hyatt Smith New York 3rd 1881–1883 Elected as an independent
  Bradley Barlow Vermont 3rd 1879–1881 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
  Nicholas Ford Missouri 9th 1879–1883 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
Albert P. Forsythe Illinois 15th 1879–1881 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
  Edward H. Gillette Iowa 7th 1879–1881 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
  George Jones Texas 5th 1879–1883 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party
  George W. Ladd Maine 4th 1879–1883 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party
  William M. Lowe Alabama 8th 1879–1882 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
  Gilbert De La Matyr Indiana 7th 1879–1881 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
  Thompson H. Murch Maine 5th 1879–1883 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party
  Henry Persons Georgia 4th 1879–1881 Elected as an independent
  Daniel Lindsay Russell North Carolina 3rd 1879–1881 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party
  Emory Speer Georgia 9th 1879–1883 Elected as an independent
  James Weaver Iowa 6th 1879–1889 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
  Hendrick Bradley Wright Pennsylvania 12th 1879–1881 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878
  Seth Hartman Yocum Pennsylvania 20th 1879–1881 Elected as a member of the United States Greenback Party in 1878

References

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  1. ^ Broadwater, Luke (May 31, 2024). "Manchin Becomes an Independent, Leaving Options Open for Another Run". The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  2. ^ Hulse, Carl; Victor, Daniel (December 9, 2022). "Kyrsten Sinema Says She Will Leave the Democratic Party". The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
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