SB, under your approach, the GOP would get the worst of it.:
Precedent for changing parties
In the past 20 years, 14 Democrats have switched to the Republican Party,
while only one Republican has become a Democrat. Members of Congress who have
changed political parties since the 1950s:
Democrat to Republican
-- Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, in 1995.
-- Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, in 1994.
-- Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, in 1983. Elected to the House as a Democrat, he
quit the party, resigned his seat and was re-elected as a Republican.
-- Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, in 1964.
-- Rep. Virgil Goode of Virginia, in 2000. He first changed to be independent.
Later he switched to the Republican Party.
-- Rep. Nathan Deal of Georgia, in 1995.
-- Rep. Greg Laughlin of Texas, in 1995. In the next election, he lost in the
primary.
-- Rep. Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, in 1995.
-- Rep. Mike Parker of Mississippi, in 1995.
-- Rep. Jimmy Hayes of Louisiana, in 1995. In the next election, he lost a
bid for Senate.
-- Rep. Tommy Robinson of Arkansas, in 1989.
-- Rep. Bill Grant of Florida, in 1989. He lost re-election in 1990.
-- Rep. Andy Ireland of Florida, in 1984.
-- Rep. Eugene Atkinson of Pennsylvania, in 1981. He was defeated for re-
election in 1982.
-- Rep. Bob Stump of Arizona, in 1982.
Democrat to Independent
-- Sen. Harry Byrd Jr. of Virginia, in 1971.
Republican to Democrat
-- Rep. Michael Forbes of New York, in 1999. He lost re-election in 2000.
-- Sen. Wayne Morse of Oregon, in 1952, switched to become independent. In
1955, he switched to the Democratic Party.
Switch back
-- Sen. Bob Smith of New Hampshire, became independent in 1999 during a failed
run for the presidency. He returned to the Republican Party. |
