Third-party members of state legislatures of the United States

Alabama

• Harri Anne Smith (1998–present). Initially elected as a Republican, Smith became an Independent in 2010 after being expelled from the Republican Party of Alabama for her endorsement of Democratic Congressman Bobby Bright.^[1]

Alaska

• Ken Fanning (1980-1982). The second Libertarian elected to partisan office in the United States. He served one term in the Alaska House of Representatives.^[2]
• Andre Marrou, (1984-1986). Elected as a Libertarian for one term. He was Ron Paul's running mate in 1988 and the Libertarian nominee for President in 1992.
• Dan Ortiz, (2015–present). Ortiz was elected as an Independent over Republican Chere Klein. He currently caucuses with the Democratic minority.^[3]
• Dick Randolph (1970-1982). Originally elected as a Republican, Randolph switched parties and became the first Libertarian elected to a partisan office in the United States. Randolph ran as the Libertarian nominee for Governor in 1982.

Arkansas

• Nate Bell (Current). Initially elected as a Republican, he became an independent in 2015.^[4]
• Richard Carroll (2009-2011). Initially elected as a Green in 2008, he switched to the Democratic Party in 2009.^[5][6]
• Fred Smith (2013-2015). Smith was originally elected as a Democrat in 2010, but was forced to give up his seat after a conviction. The conviction was overturned, but the Democrats refused to have him as their candidate. He ran for re-election as a Green in 2012. He returned to the Democratic Party in 2014.^[7]

California

• Audie Bock (1999-2000). Bock was elected as a Green in a special election for the seat of Don Perata, who had been elevated to the State Senate.^[8]

Connecticut

• Edwin Gomes (2015–present). Gomes, a former Democratic member of the Connecticut Senate, was elected to the office for a second time as a member of the Working Families Party. He is the first member of the Working Families Party to win a legislative seat outside of New York and one of the first to win a seat without electoral fusion.^[9] Gomes made efforts to regain the Democratic Party's backing in the 2016 primary elections.^[10]

Georgia

• Rusty Kidd, he was elected as an Independent in 2009 and currently caucuses with the Republicans.^[11]

Iowa

• David Johnson, left the Republican Party to become an Independent on June 7, 2016 in protest of the presidential campaign of then-presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.^[12]

Kentucky

• Bob Leeper (1991-2015), elected and served as an Independent.

Louisiana

• Odon Bacqué, served as an Independent (1988-1992).^[13]
• Terry Brown, elected as an Independent against a Republican (2012–present).^[13]
• Peppi Bruneau, elected as an Independent, he became a Republican in 1984.^[13]
• Stephen L. Gunn, elected and served as an Independent from 1992-1996. In 2016, he officially registered as a Republican.^[13]
• Joseph A. Marino III, is the Representative-designate for the 85th district. He will officially be elected August 6.^[14]
• Dee Richard, elected as an Independent (2008–present). He previously served as a Democrat on the Lafourche Parish School Board.^[13][15]
• Joel Robideaux, elected as an Independent to the Louisiana House of Representatives, he became a Republican in 2011.^[13]

Maine

Maine House of Representatives

• James J. Campbell, unenrolled (2012–present)
• Ben Chipman of Portland (2010-2015); unenrolled state legislator. In 2015 he joined Democratic Party.^[16]
• Larry Dunphy, unenrolled, elected as a Republican (2015–present)^[17]
• John Eder of Portland (2002–2006; member of the Maine Green Independent Party)
• Jeffrey Evangelos, unenrolled (2012–present)
• Major Knight of Naples (1880); member of the Greenback Party
• Barbara Merrill of Appleton (2006); elected as a Democrat, Merrill unenrolled during his first term
• Stanley Short, elected as a Democrat, he became an unenrolled member in April 2015, but rejoined the Democrats in September 2015.^[18]
• Gary Sukeforth, unenrolled (2014–present)

Maine Senate

• Jill Goldthwait of Bar Harbor (1994–2002)
• Richard Woodbury of Yarmouth (2010–2014)

Michigan

• John Olumba (2011-2015). Olumba was elected as a Democrat in 2010. He left the Democratic caucus to become an Independent in 2013.^[19]

Missouri

• Keith English, elected as a Democrat in 2012, English left the Democratic Party to become an Independent after facing negative consequences for voting to override Jay Nixon's veto of a tax cut.^[20]

Montana

• Rick Jore (2000-2001; 2007-2009). Jore served as a Republican in the Montana House of Representatives from 1995-2000. In 2000, he left the Republican Party to seek a fourth term as a member of the Constitution Party. He then ran four times as a Constitution Party candidate before winning office in 2006.^[21]

Nebraska

While Nebraska's unicameral legislature is nominally nonpartisan, most members belong to and are supported by one of the two major political parties.^[22]

• Ernie Chambers, elected as an Independent in 2009
• Laura Ebke, elected as a Republican-endorsed candidate, she joined the Libertarian Party in 2016.^[23]

Nevada

• John Moore, elected as a Republican, switched to Libertarian Party in 2016.^[23]

New Hampshire

• Max Abramson, elected as a Republican, Abramson joined the Libertarian Party to run for Governor.^[24][25]
• David Luneau, Independent member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives since 2014.
• Andy Borsa, elected in 1992 as a Libertarian.^[26]
• Don Gorman (1992-2000). Elected to the State House in 1992 as a Libertarian. He ran for the Libertarian presidential nomination in 2000, losing to Harry Browne.^[26][27]
• Calvin Warburton (1992-1995). Elected to the State House as a Libertarian.^[26]
• Finlay Rothhaus (1991-1995). Originally a member of the Reform Party, Rothhaus joined the Libertarian Party in 1991.^[26]
• Steve Vaillancourt (1996-2002, 2006-2014). Originally elected as a Democrat, he was re-elected on the Libertarian ticket in 2000 before choosing to retire. He ran again for State House in 2006 as a Republican.

New York

• Diana Richardson, was elected as a member of the Working Families Party in a 2015 special election in which no Democratic candidate was on the ballot. She is the first member of the New York Working Families Party to be elected only on the Working Families ballot line.^[28]
• Fred Thiele, initially elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, he switched to the Independence Party in 2009. He currently caucuses with the Democrats.
• Angela Wozniak, a member of the Conservative Party, she was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2014. She caucuses with the Republicans.

North Carolina

• Paul Tine, elected as a Democrat in 2012 and 2014, he left the Democratic Party to caucus with the Republican majority as an Independent.^[29]

Rhode Island

Rhode Island House of Representatives

• Blake Filippi (current). Elected in 2014 as an Independent, Filippi currently caucuses with the Republicans.
• Daniel P. Gordon (2011-2012). After being expelled from the Republican Party, Gordon joined the Libertarian Party becoming the party's sole legislator for his tenure.

Rhode Island Senate

• Edward J. O'Neill (current). First elected in 2008 as an Independent.

Utah

• Mark B. Madsen chose in July 2016 to be a Libertarian for the remainder of his final term in the Utah Senate.^[30]

Vermont

Vermont House of Representatives

• Terry Bouricius served as a Progressive member from 1991-2001.^[31]
• Mollie S. Burke, Progressive member representing Windham-2-2.^[32]
• Robin Chesnut-Tangerman, Progressive member representing Rutland-Bennington.^[32]
• Dean Corren, served as a Progressive member from 1992-2000. He was the Progressive Party and Democratic Party's nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2014.^[33]
• Susan Davis, Progressive member representing Orange-1.^[32]
• Winston Dowland, served as a Progressive member from 2003-2007.^[34]
• Carina Driscoll, served as a Progressive member. She is the step-daughter of Independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.^[35][36]
• Alyson Eastman, Independent member representing Addison-Rutland.^[32]
• Sarah Edwards, served as a Progressive member from 2003-2013.^[37]
• Diana Gonzalez, Progressive member representing Chittenden-6-7.^[32]
• Tim Goodwin, served as an Independent. He was appointed to the seat by Republican Jim Douglas.^[38]
• Adam Greshin, Independent member representing Washington-7.^[32]
• Sandy Haas, Progressive member representing Windsor-Rutland.^[32]
• Bob Kiss, Progressive member representing Chittenden-3-4 from 2001-2006. He later ran for Senate as an Independent, finishing eighth of fourteen candidates running for six seats.^[39][40]
• Barbara Murphy, Independent member representing Franklin-2.^[32]
• Oliver Olsen, Independent member representing Windham-Bennington-Windsor.^[32]
• Christopher Pearson , Progressive member representing Chittenden-6-4.^[32]
• Paul Poirier, Independent member representing Washington-3.^[32]
• Dexter Randall, served as a Progressive.^[34]
• Laura Sibilia, Independent member representing Windham-Bennington.^[32]
• Tom Smith, served as a Progressive member.^[31]
• Will Stevens, served as an Independent from 2007 to 2015.^[41]

Vermont Senate

• Tim Ashe, is a Progressive member who runs with the support of the Democratic and Progressive parties through electoral fusion.^[39]
• Anthony Pollina, is a Progressive member who runs with the support of the Democratic and Progressive parties through electoral fusion.^[39]
• David Zuckerman, is a Progressive member who runs with the support of the Democratic and Progressive parties through electoral fusion. He is currently running as a Democrat for Lieutenant Governor.^[42]

Wisconsin

• Bob Ziegelbauer (1993–2013); left the Democratic Party in 2010 and was re-elected as an independent; caucused with the Republican Party

References

1. Griffin, Lance. Smith goes back in as independent in Senate 29. The Dothan Eagle, 2010-11-02.
2. http://100years.akleg.gov/bio.php?id=1077
3. Viechnicki, Joe (November 24, 2014). "HD36 winner Dan Ortiz chooses to caucus with minority". Stikine River Radio. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
4. Lyon, John (June 3, 2015). "Rep. Nate Bell drops GOP affiliation; now independent". Arkansas News. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
5. Koon, David (January 29, 2009). "Mr. Carroll goes to Little Rock: NLR Rep. is America's highest ranking Green". Arkansas Times. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
6. Press Release (April 29, 2009). "Nation's highest-ranking Green switching parties". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
7. Zinser, Lynn (November 7, 2012). "A Former Globetrotter Wins Election by Globetrotter-Like Margin". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
8. Staggs, Bill (April 4, 1999). "Victory by California Assembly Candidate Is First for Greens". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
9. Pazniokas, Mark (February 24, 2015). "Ed Gomes wins big, will resume state Senate career at 79". The Connecticut Mirror. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
10. Constable, Kyle (July 22, 2016). "Democrats face legislative primaries in Bridgeport, New Britain". The Connecticut Mirror. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
11. Rehm, Todd (November 30, 2012). "State Rep. Rusty Kidd staying Independent". GAPundit. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
12. Petroski, William (June 7, 2016). "Iowa GOP lawmaker dumps party to protest Trump". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
13. "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2016" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
14. Broach, Drew (2016-07-01). "No contest: Joe Marino of Gretna wins Louisiana House seat". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
15. "Jerome Dee Richard". campaignsitebuilder.com. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
16. Cousins, Christopher (2015-09-04). "Independent Maine lawmaker joins Democrats". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
17. Moretto, Mario (July 22, 2015). "Maine lawmaker leaves GOP, citing undue influence of parties". Retrieved July 29, 2016.
18. Staff Report (2015-09-25). "Pittsfield state representative rejoins Democrats". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
19. Oosting, Jonathan (February 19, 2013). "Michigan state Rep. John Olumba leaves Democratic Caucus, declares himself Independent". MLive Media Group. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
20. Lear, Mike (January 28, 2015). "Missouri House members react to Keith English's party switch". MissouriNet. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
21. Press Release (February 25, 2000). "Montana Legislator Abandons GOP for Constitution Party". Missoulian. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
22. "Is There A Partisan or Non-Partisan Legislature in NE?". WOT. 2010-01-28. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
23. "Another state legislator quits GOP, joins Libertarian Party". Libertarian Party Press Release. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
24. Holroyd, Corinne (April 25, 2014). "Convicted Seabrook resident running for governor". Sea Coast Online. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
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26. "Libertarians maintain ballot status". Sun Journal. November 6, 1992. p. 13. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
27. "Libertarian Party again picks Browne to run for president". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 3, 2000. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
28. Yee, Vivian (May 5, 2015). "Working Families Candidate Diana Richardson Wins Brooklyn Assembly Post". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
29. Binker, Mark (January 11, 2015). "Lawmaker leaves Democrats to work with legislative majority". WRAL-TV. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
30. Piper, Matthew (July 25, 2016). "Utah state senator bolts Republican Party for Libertarian camp". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
31. Reynolds, David. Democracy Unbound: Progressive Challenges to the Two Party System. South End Press. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
32. Staff (2016-01-01). "All Legislators". Vermont General Assembly. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
33. O'Gorman, Josh (October 19, 2014). "Scott, Corren make their case for No. 2 post". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
34. Resmer, Cathy (January 13, 2005). "No Stranger in the Kingdom". Seven Days. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
35. "VT House Roster 2002".
36. Kelly, Kevin (October 3, 2007). "Three Entrepreneurial Vermont Crafters 'Knock on Wood'". Seven Days. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
37. Audette, Bob (April 10, 2012). "Sarah Edwards won't seek re-election". Battleboro Reformer. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
38. Faher, Mike (March 20, 2014). "Goodwin Won't Seek Re-election; Olsen to Run for Seat". VT Digger. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
39. Bromage, Andy (2012-05-24). "Bob Kiss: I'm Running for State Senate as an Independent". Seven Days. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
40. Machado, Tyler (2012-11-07). "More Election Results: Statehouse Races and Burlington Ballot Items". Seven Days. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
41. Flowers, John (May 23, 2014). "Independent Rep. Will Stevens of Shoreham Won't Seek Re-election". Addison Independent. VT Digger. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
42. Hallenbeck, Terri (November 10, 2015). "David Zuckerman to Run for Lieutenant Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved July 31, 2016.