Trading places: List of Texas politicians who have switched political parties

TEXAS – Fort Bend County Judge KP George may have stunned some members of the Democratic party on Wednesday when he announced he was shifting sides and joining the Republican Party.

• Fort Bend County Judge KP George announces move to Republican Party

George, who has been serving as Fort Bend County Judge since 2019, made the announcement at a hotel located in Sugar Land. This move came as a shock to many, since George was elected as a Democrat.

George called the Democratic Party “corrupt” and accused them of having “radical political ideologies and positions.”

• Fort Bend Co. Judge KP George back in court on social media hoax case; legal team says he will fight charges to the end

Although the switch for George comes amid his legal troubles—he’s currently facing criminal charges in two separate cases—he isn’t the only politician to switch political parties.

According to Politico, from 1994 to 2023, 173 state lawmakers switched parties: 83 of those were Democrats who became Republicans, while 23 Republicans became Democrats.

In Texas, nine politicians have switched parties:

Phil Gramm

•  Position: U.S. Representative
•  Old Party: Democratic
•  New Party: Republican
•  Date of Switch: 1983

Ralph Hall

•  Position: U.S. Representative
•  Old Party: Democratic
•  New Party: Republican
•  Date of Switch: Jan. 2004

Greg Laughlin

•  Position: U.S. Representative
•  Old Party: Democratic
•  New Party: Republican
•  Date of Switch: June 26, 1995

Ryan Guillen

•  Position: Texas House of Representatives
•  Old Party: Democratic
•  New Party: Republican
•  Date of Switch: Nov. 15, 2021

José Manuel Lozano

•  Position: Texas House of Representatives
• Old Party: Democratic
•  New Party: Republican
•  Date of Switch: March 8, 2012

Chuck Hopson

• Position: Texas House of Representatives
• Old Party: Democratic
• New Party: Republican
• Date of Switch: Nov. 6, 2009

Henry Grover

•  Position: Texas House of Representatives
•  Old Party: Democratic
•  New Party: Republican
•  Date of Switch: Feb. 3, 1966

Allan Ritter

•  Position: Texas House of Representatives
•  Old Party: Democratic
•  New Party: Republican
•  Date of Switch: Dec. 14, 2010

Shawn Thierry

•  Position: Texas House of Representatives
•  Old Party: Democratic
•  New Party: Republican
•  Date of Switch: Aug. 30, 2024.