Famous People Who Switched Political Parties

Hannibal Hamlin

The former 15th vice president of the United States public service career spans over 50 years. He was a politician and attorney. Hamlin served as president from 1861 to 1865. He was also the first Republican to hold the office. Hamlin switched to the Republican party in 1856 after being a lifelong Democrat. He attributes his exit from the party to the pro-slavery position that many people in the party had taken. He disagreed with this, and his exit from the Democratic party made national headlines.