Yahoo Lifestyle 19 Celebs Who Have Been Vocal About Switching Political Parties
Many people commit to a political party throughout their entire adult lives. Much of it, of course, is shaped by childhood and one's upbringing, but the political landscape is always changing and evolving.
That said, plenty of people have switched their political leanings. In the past decade alone, we've witnessed many lifelong Republicans turn to the Democrats because of Trump's presidency. The same could be said for many Democrats who felt that Biden failed the American people during his tenure in the Oval Office.
This concept isn't new, though, and throughout American history, some of the most prominent politically-adjacent figures have been vocal about switching parties. Below is a round-up of 19 celebrities who've opened up about their changing political views.
1.Ronald Reagan
The former president voted Democrat throughout his life but became increasingly conservative in the 1950s, per Gilder Lehrman.
Trump has jumped from party to party throughout his life. Per SBS, he initially registered as a Republican in 1987 before joining the Independence Party of New York in 1999. Then, he became a potential candidate for the Reform Party's presidential campaign in 2000 and in 2001, registered as a Democrat. In 2012, he returned to the Republican Party.
Eastwood is a known Republican who registered with the party to vote for Eisenhower in 1951, but in 2009, he told the Guardian that he's a Libertarian. "I registered Libertarian. I like the philosophies. The Libertarian party is nothing and they don't have any candidates. But I do believe if we just leave everybody alone, quit trying to think of ways to run everybody else's life, maybe we'd be better off. It may be impractical. It may be obsolete, that kind of thinking," he said.
The ex-Grey's Anatomy cast member told Fox Nation's Nuff Said that he was "walking away" from the Democratic Party and putting his support behind Trump. He explained, "If I look at the political image of the Democratic Party over the last 50 years of my life since I was 5, and very little has changed for my community, then I have some questions — more than questions."
5.Charlton Heston
Heston actually gained a reputation for his progressive stances, specifically regarding civil rights, having participated in the 1963 March on Washington. While while he was a Democrat at first, he embraced more conservative values before Nixon's election, per Saturday Evening Post.
6.Ana Navarro
Ana Navarro is known as a Republican strategist and political analyst with strong ties to the party. Still, in recent times, she's been far more supportive of Democratic candidates, including Kamala Harris, and even hosted on day two of the DNC, per EW.
According to The Daily Beast, the iconic singer was a vocal Democrat throughout the early parts of his career and even campaigned for the party in the 1944 elections. He was also a staunch supporter of JFK until the former president allegedly snubbed him. By the 1970s, Sinatra began leaning towards the right and eventually endorsed Ronald Reagan.
8.Rob Schneider
The actor once described himself as a "lifelong Democrat" who switched over to the Republicans in 2013 due to his dissatisfaction with the state of California. Though he identifies as an independent voter, he recently endorsed Donald Trump after RFK suspended his campaign.
9.Amber Rose
A staunch advocate for women's rights who once celebrated Barack Obama's re-election, the model changed her tune on political parties. In fact, her endorsement of Trump led her to the podium at this year's RNC. Interestingly enough, she once called Trump "such an idiot" before his win in 2016.
10.James Woods
He admitted that he was a Democrat until Bill Clinton's impeachment. Though he's a registered Independent, he's certainly a vocal conservative with right-leaning tendencies. "I was a registered Democrat for the greater portion of my voting life. The #Clintons cinched it for me. I was an #Independent through the Bush years. Obama was an eight year blank. The hatred and violence the @Democrats now promote convince me I was right to #WalkAway...," he tweeted in 2018.
11.Robert Duvall
Duvall was a long-time Republican, but things changed in 2014. During an interview with The Daily Beast, he said that the "Republican Party is a mess" and he would likely vote Independent in the following election.
12.Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan's political allegiance hasn't necessarily been consistent throughout the years. Though she once referred to Sarah Palin as a "narrow-minded, media-obsessed homophobe," per W Magazine, she's also come to Trump's defense in recent years. She also endorsed Obama in 2008 and in 2012, supported Mitt Romney.
13.Chuck Norris
The beloved martial artist revealed in 2014 that he was once a Democrat but said the party "went too far to the left." He said that he realized "Republicans, at this point in time, are more focused on what's best for America."
14.Kanye West
Ye's political affiliations have been troubling over the last few years. He opposed Bush Jr., endorsed Obama (who he later had a slight beef with), and has recently moved to the far right, co-signing Trump and hanging out with white supremacists. However, during the 2020 elections, he ran as an Independent candidate.
15.Dennis Miller
Though he never fully claimed the Democrats, Miller was once viewed as a liberal who heavily opposed Republicans. However, post-9/11, he became much more conservative and began embracing the right.
16.Jack Brewer
Former NFL player Jack Brewer once founded NFL Players for Obama, which helped campaign and fundraise for Barack Obama. A self-described "lifelong Democrat," he announced his endorsement for Donald Trump and appeared at the 2020 RNC.
17.Billy Ray Cyrus
18.Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Handler has used her platform to speak out against Donald Trump and uplift Hillary Clinton, though she's shifted her political stance. Per Variety, she announced that she would be registering as an Independent voter. "I’m not going to be a Democrat anymore because it’s too divisive," she said.
19.Elizabeth Warren
Now considered one of the more progressive politicians in the U.S., Warren was reportedly a registered Republican for many years, per Politico.
