Do you see any reps/senators switching parties before/after the midterms?

[Doimper]

I'd maybe have said Collins before the tax bill vote, but she's stuck on that sinking ship now.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

None, even the most liberal republican is still probably well to the right of the most conservative Democrat in Congress. Also I assume outside of rhetoric and prioritization of issues their aren't a ton of policy differences in either parties caucuses.  If anything the major ideological differences in the parties are Democrats (Progressive Caucus)  that are left of the party as a whole and Republicans who are to the right of the party establishment (Freedom Caucus); their are few people that are more moderate then their parties establishment in Congress these days.

[smoltchanov]

None, even the most liberal republican is still probably well to the right of the most conservative Democrat in Congress. Also I assume outside of rhetoric and prioritization of issues their aren't a ton of policy differences in either parties caucuses.  If anything the major ideological differences in the parties are Democrats (Progressive Caucus)  that are left of the party as a whole and Republicans who are to the right of the party establishment (Freedom Caucus); their are few people that are more moderate then their parties establishment in Congress these days.

+100. Even in state legislatures, where there are more variety. realignment is almost done: conservative (relatively) Democrats migrated to Republican party, and relatively few moderate Republicans became Democrats (though, more often - simply retired). Exceptions like Kansas, with (essentially) 3-party system, are very rare. On Congressional level - zero: you don't have many Shelby's in present day Democratic caucus, and many Jeffords'es - in Republican.

[Brittain33]

Collins will never switch parties.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I don't see anyone actually switching from D to R or vice versa.  If the Senate is 50-50 after the election, it's slightly possible that Collins or Murkowski mibht do what Jim Jeffords did: change from Republican to Independent and caucus with the Democrats.

[john cage bubblegum]

Yeah, you're rarely ever going to see incumbent party switches anymore.  As mentioned above, the parties have become far less heterogeneous, and there's little-to-no overlap between the most conservative Dems and the most liberal Repubs.

Furthermore, the recent history of party switchers is that they often go down in the following primary of their new party.  It would have to be somebody who is already very popular with the party to which they are switching, or a very popular incumbent running as an independent and caucusing with the other party.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

No, Collins and McCain seat will go Democratic eventually

[Bidenworth2020]

Yeah, you're rarely ever going to see incumbent party switches anymore.  As mentioned above, the parties have become far less heterogeneous, and there's little-to-no overlap between the most conservative Dems and the most liberal Repubs.

Furthermore, the recent history of party switchers is that they often go down in the following primary of their new party.  It would have to be somebody who is already very popular with the party to which they are switching, or a very popular incumbent running as an independent and caucusing with the other party.

+1
anybody who trys it again will go down the path of arlen specter and parker Grithith

[Dr. MB]

No (switching to independent maybe but only for a retiring senator/rep). I think there are still a few conservative Dems in the southern state legislatures (WV and Kentucky especially) who could switch.

[Orser67]

Any Democrat who was going to switch probably would have done so in early 2017. It's probably too late at this point for someone to pull a Specter, too.

Among Republicans, I guess I could see Collins or a random Tuesday Grouper switching parties, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Torrain]

Collins nailed her colours to the mast by voting for tax reform. She’s not going anywhere, and after the artic drilling provisions in the tax bill, it’s a sure bet Murkowski is staying put too. Any senate dems who are moderate enough to switch are up for reelection, and therefore are more likely to retire (which hasn’t happened) rather than face an R primary

[Donerail]

Every Republican in this Congress has gone to bat for Ryan/McConnell on enough votes that they'd be DOA in a primary, and any Democrat considering switching in this climate is an idiot.

[Arkansas Yankee]

I don't see anyone actually switching from D to R or vice versa.  If the Senate is 50-50 after the election, it's slightly possible that Collins or Murkowski mibht do what Jim Jeffords did: change from Republican to Independent and caucus with the Democrats.

Murkowski would never bolt because of energy issues and family history.

[Bidenworth2020]

I don't see anyone actually switching from D to R or vice versa.  If the Senate is 50-50 after the election, it's slightly possible that Collins or Murkowski mibht do what Jim Jeffords did: change from Republican to Independent and caucus with the Democrats.

Murkowski would never bolt because of energy issues and family history.

look at heitkamp