8 January 2012, 4:58 pm
..1970's. This was when the "Southern Strategy" was being implemented, to take advantage of Southern outrage over civil rights being implemented by Democrats Kennedy and Johnson. 1960s early 1960s – Arthur Ravenel, Jr. of South Carolina, before running for the South Carolina Senate 1960s – James F. Byrnes of South Carolina, after endorsing many Republicans in the 1950s and 1960s 1961 – Charlton Lyons to run for Louisiana's 4th congressional district seat 1961 - Billy J. Guin of Shreveport, to support Charlton Lyons for Congress 1962 - Dave Treen, later became U.S. Representative for Louisiana (1973-1980) and Governor of Louisiana (1980-1984) 1962 – Jack M. Cox, to run for Governor of Texas; losing to later Republican convert John B. Connally, Jr. 1962 – James D. Martin, to run for the U.S. Senate from Alabama 1962 – Ronald Reagan of California, while an actor and former Screen Actors Guild president [43] 1962 – Floyd Spence, while a South Carolina state Representative; ran for the House of Representatives as a Republican and lost, later elected to the state senate before making a successful run for the House 1964 – Strom Thurmond, while U.S. senator from South Carolina switched to the Republican party on September 16, 1964.[2] 1965 – Albert Watson, while U.S. Representative from South Carolina (resigned before switching parties and re-won his seat in a special election) 1965 – Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, while running for Philadelphia District Attorney; in 2009, he switched back to Democrat [44]. 1965 – Roderick Miller (LA) after unsuccessfully run for judgeship in 1964 1966 – Thomas A. Wofford, before write-in campaign for State Senator from South Carolina 1966 – Len E. Blaylock, to support Winthrop Rockefeller for Governor of Arkansas 1966 – Jerry Thomasson of Arkansas, switched from Democrat to Republican while an state Representative to run for Attorney General of Arkansas 1966 – Henry Grover of Texas, switched from Democrat to Republican while a state Representative before successfully running for Texas Senate. 1967 – William E. Dannemeyer, while serving as a superior court judge before returning to the California State Assembly 1967 – Allison Kolb of Louisiana, while seeking a political comeback running unsuccessfully for state Treasurer, lost 1956 Democratic primary for state auditor 1968 – William Reynolds Archer, Jr., while a member of the Texas House of Representatives 1968 – Will Wilson, former Texas Attorney General switched to support Richard M. Nixon in the 1968 presidential election 1968 - Comptroller General of Georgia James L. Bentley switched to Republican. [edit]1970s 1970 – Jesse Helms, two years before running for the U.S. Senate from North Carolina 1970 – A. C. Clemons, while serving in the Louisiana Senate 1970 – William Oswald Mills, before running for U.S. Representative from Maryland 1970 - Bob Barr, who later became U.S. Representative from Georgia (1995-2003). 1971 – Tillie K. Fowler 1972 – Robert R. Neall, before serving in the Maryland House of Delegates. He switched back to Democrat in 1999 1972 – Trent Lott, prior to running for the House of Representatives from Mississippi. He was administrative assistant to Rules Committee chairman William Colmer, who endorsed Lott as his successor despite Lott's party switch. 1973 – Mills E. Godwin Jr., Democratic governor of Virginia from 1966 to 1970, moved to the Republican Party and was reelected, serving as governor again from 1974 to 1978. 1973 – Samuel I. Hayakawa, three years before running for the U.S. Senate from California 1973 – John Connally, not then in office; six years before he sought the Republican presidential nomination 1975 – Elizabeth Dole, while employed by the Federal Trade Commission 1975 – John Jarman, while U.S. Representative from Oklahoma. He had served for 24 years in the House and said he was fed up with the Democratic party, which had been "taken over by liberals". He retired in 1976. 1977 – A. J. McNamara, while serving in the Louisiana House 1977 – Lane Carson while serving in the Louisiana House 1978 – Robert G. Jones, after leaving the Louisiana Senate 1978 – Chris Smith, managed the unsuccessful 1976 New Jersey Senate primary campaign of Democrat, Steve Foley, switch parties to run for U.S. Rep. in 1978 (lost)/ran again 1980 (Won) still holds office [45]. late 1970s – Thomas Bliley, after being Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and before election to U.S. House of Representatives late 1970s – Michael F. "Mike" Thompson, while serving in the Louisiana House 1979 – Charles Grisbaum, Jr., member of the Louisiana House from Jefferson Parish 1979 – Ed Scogin, member of the Louisiana House from St. Tammany Parish Reagan switched, 1962. I think Perry was later. There were a lot in the Reagan years too. Pat, Jezuz Christ! You're not serious! Trent Lott is the ARCHITECHT OF EVERY SINGLE STUPID thing that was done by Republicans the last 20 years! From NAFTA/CAFTA to Glass Steagal repeals, which he proposed again and again!!!! At the same time, a very small number of Republicans became Democrats, so you can't just say "it happens all the time!" It happened in HUGE numbers at this time, and for a very specific reason! REPUBLICANS WHO BECAME DEMOCRATS: mid 1960s – Pete Stark, now U.S. Representative from California 1960s – Howard Dean, while in college 1960s – Archibald Carey, Jr, after serving as a Chicago alderman and before being elected as a circuit court judge in Cook County, Illinois 1962 – Calhoun Allen, to run for the Shreveport, Louisiana, City Council 1970s – Ralph Neas 1971 – John Lindsay, while mayor of New York City [35] 1971 – Leon Panetta, switched parties while not in or running for public office. He later became a U.S. representative from California (1976–93) and White House Chief of Staff (1994–1997). 1972 – Ogden R. Reid, while U.S. representative from New York 1973 – Joan Finney, before being elected Kansas State Treasurer, and later Governor of Kansas 1973 – Don Riegle, while Facts are kryptonite to Republicans - it never changes.... Read More »
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