Opportunists. Happened after the Republican takeover in 94.
Senatorial party-switchers
Posted: 12:40 PM ET
From CNN's Robert Yoon
(CNN) — With his defection to the Democratic Party, Arlen Specter becomes the 13th U.S. senator to switch parties since the direct election of U.S. senators began in 1913.
Recent senators who have switched parties are:
Richard Shelby of Alabama
Democrat, 1987-1994; Republican, 1994-present
* Shelby left the Democratic party to join the Republicans on November 9, 1994, just after 1994 midterm elections that gave Republicans control of both chambers of Congress.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado
Democrat, 1993-1995; Republican, 1995-2005
* Campbell left the Democratic party on March 3, 1995, to join the Republicans.
Bob Smith of New Hampshire
Republican1990-July 13, 1999; Independent, July 13, 1999 to November 1, 1999; Republican, November 1999 - 2003
* Smith left the Republican party on July 13, 1999, to become an independent. On November 1, 1999, he switched back to the Republican Party, noting that he had never officially switched parties because his voter registration in New Hampshire remained unchanged.
Jim Jeffords of Vermont
Republican, 1989-2001; Independent, 2001-2007
* Jeffords announced on May 24, 2001, that he would leave the Republican Party on June 6, 2001, to become an independent who would caucus with Democrats. His switch gave Democrats control of the Senate, though Republicans would reclaim the chamber after the 2002 midterm elections.
Joe Lieberman of Connecticut
Democrat, 1989-2006; Independent, 2006-present
* Lieberman lost his state's Democratic primary in August 2006, but won re-election in November as an independent, though he had not officially changed his voter registration. In the Senate, he continues to caucus with the Democrats.
Source: U.S. Senate Historical Office
