Political party switchers throughout history

Early in her life, Hillary Clinton identified as a Republican. However, she later became a Democrat and went on to serve as First Lady of the United States during Bill Clinton's presidency, then as a U.S. Senator from New York, followed by her role as Secretary of State, and ultimately as the Democratic nominee for President in 2016.

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Leon Panetta (USA) -

Leon Panetta was the 23rd US Secretary of Defense from July 2011 to February 2013. Before this time he served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from February 2009 to June 2011.

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Leon Panetta (USA) -

Panetta was originally a Republican and briefly worked with the Nixon administration. However, in 1971 he switched parties due to concerns about the civil rights policies of the Nixon administration.

Sources: (Britannica) (Constitution Center) (Newsweek) (The White House) (National Governors Association) (Politico)

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Ronald Reagan (USA) -

Ronald Regan was originally an actor and later became a politician. He later served as the 40th President of The United States from 1981 to 1989 alongside his running mate, Geroge Bush.

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Ronald Reagan (USA) -

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Emmanuel Macron (France) -

Emmanuel Macron was born in December 1977 and is a French politician. He has been serving as the 25th president of France since 2017.

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Emmanuel Macron (France) -

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Elizabeth Warren (USA) -

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Elizabeth Warren (USA) -

Warren started out as a Republican, but after she saw banks destroying families through bankruptcy, she switched from Republican to Democrat.

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Michael Bloomberg (USA) -

Michael Bloomberg is an American businessman and politician. Today, he is one of the richest people in the world as the founder of Bloomberg, LP—a tech and data company.

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Michael Bloomberg (USA) -

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John Tyler (USA) -

John Tyler was born in 1790 in Virginia and became the first vice president of the United States to become preisdent due to the death of his predecessor, William Henry Harrison.

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John Tyler (USA) -

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Hannibal Hamlin (USA) -

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Hannibal Hamlin (USA) -

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Theodore Roosevelt (USA) -

in 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States of America.

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Theodore Roosevelt (USA) -

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Winston Churchill (UK) -

Winston Churchill was a leader who guided Britain to victory in the Second World War. He was the Conservative prime minister twice and also won a Nobel Prize for literature.

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Winston Churchill (UK) -

Winston Churchill switched parties twice in his career! First, he left the Conservatives (Tories) to be with the Liberals in 1904. Years later in 1925, he rejoined the Conservatives.

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Wendell Willkie (USA) -

Wendell Willkie was born in Indiana in February of 1892. In 1940 he tried to unseat former president Franklin D. Roosevelt but was unsuccessful.

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Wendell Willkie (USA) -

In the early 1930s, Wendell Willkie had been a Democrat. However, a few years later, he turned Republican because of what he felt to be unwise government restraints on business enterprise.

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Strom Thurmond (USA) -

American politician Strom Thurmond was a proponent of states' rights and a segregation advocate. He ran for president in 1948 on the Dixiecrat ticket but was unsuccessful.

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Strom Thurmond (USA) -

Strom Thurmond switched to the Republican Party during the Civil Rights movement since many Democrats sided with the Johnson administration.

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Elizabeth Dole (USA) -

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Elizabeth Dole (USA) -

In the 1960s, Dole was a Democrat in the Johnson administration. However, in 1975 she switched parties before her husband, Bob Dole, joined Gerald Ford on the 1976 GOP presidential ticket.

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Hillary Clinton (USA) -

Hillary Rodham Clinton was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 26, 1947. She later married Bill Clinton who served as the 42nd President of the United States.

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Hillary Clinton (USA) -

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Leon Panetta (USA) -

Leon Panetta was the 23rd US Secretary of Defense from July 2011 to February 2013. Before this time he served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from February 2009 to June 2011.

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Leon Panetta (USA) -

Panetta was originally a Republican and briefly worked with the Nixon administration. However, in 1971 he switched parties due to concerns about the civil rights policies of the Nixon administration.

Sources: (Britannica) (Constitution Center) (Newsweek) (The White House) (National Governors Association) (Politico)

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Political party switchers throughout history

Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard joins Republican party

23/10/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Politics

On October 22, former long-time Democrat Tulsi Gabbard announced that she was joining the Republican party and endorsing Trump for president at a rally in North Carolina. Gabbard represented Hawaii's Second District as a Democrat in Congress from 2013 until 2021, and served as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 to 2016. At this time, she resigned to support democratic socialist Bernie Sanders in his bid for the presidency. She later ran for president as a Democratic candidate unsuccessfully in 2020. In 2022, Gabbard left the Democratic party to become an independent, and now, she's throwing her hat in the ring with the Republicans.

"I'm proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I'm joining the Republican Party. I am joining the party of the people," said Gabbard at the rally on Tuesday. "The party of equality. The party that was founded to fight against and end slavery in this country. It is the party of common sense and the party that is led by a president who has the courage and strength to fight for peace."

Throughout history, political party switchers have played an important role in shaping the political landscape, often signaling shifts in ideology and public sentiment. Figures like Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill exemplify how these changes can reflect broader societal shifts. Some switches have sparked controversy, challenging party loyalties and prompting debates about political identity. This gallery explores the stories and impact of notable figures who have changed their party affiliations.

Curious which officials you know? Click through now.