not counting party switchers what congressperson

[smoltchanov]

IMHO - a lot of southern Democrats of the past. Populists and, frequently, ardent New Dealers in 1933-34 and then - conservatives and, frequently, strong racists, 20 years later)))

[smoltchanov]

I'm trying to think of someone who comes to mind. Would Carl Vinson or Wright Patman fit that mold?

Patman - no. He remained populist, though he signed "Southern Manifesto". But people like Rankin and Colmer in Mississippi  - yes. They were not especially conservative at the beginning of FDR presidency (though they were not flaming liberals either, but still generally - supported New Deal). By 1950 both were almost perfect conservatives. Even Harry Bird was not AS conservative in the beginning of his Senate career as he was later. The same with Baring in Nevada (not even South) and some other...

[smoltchanov]

Zell Miller also comes to mind. I suppose he never officially switched?

[smoltchanov]

Zell Miller also comes to mind. I suppose he never officially switched?

Miller had already drifted far to the right before he was appointed to the senate.

Not sure. A year AFTER being appointed to the Senate - yes..

[smoltchanov]

Sonny Montgomery (D-MS) went from voting with the Democrats 70% in 1992 to 30% by the time he retired.

Sonny Montgomery was always very conservative for a democrat. In fact by the 1990s his voting record was much less conservative than it was earlier in his career, when he getting ACU ratings in the 70s and 80s.

If you're talking Mississippi pols, a better example is Whitten. During the first 30 years of his career he was an uber reactionary dem in the mold of someone like Rankin or Colmer and his ADA ratings were often in single digits. By the end of his career, his ADA ratings were around 50.

Whitten was an Appropriation chairman and wanted to continue be it. When chairmanship began to be decided by party caucus in chamber, not simple seniority, he began to move to the center to better reflect prevailing caucus mood. Montgomery was always a conservative (in 60th - 70th he routinely got conservative rating over 90), but also became "somewhat more moderate" (not so much as Whitten) in 90th. He was challenged by liberals for chairmanship of Veterans committee some times, but was never defeated (may be because of personal biography)