The following American politicians are affiliated with the Tea Party movement, which is generally considered to be conservative, libertarian-leaning, and populist. The Tea Party movement is a political movement that advocates reducing the U.S. national debt and federal budget deficit by reducing U.S. government spending and taxes. It is not a single, formal political party, but is represented by activist groups such as the Tea Party Patriots and the Tea Party Express. However, research has shown that members of the Tea Party Caucus vote like a third party in Congress. The Tea Party Caucus was the primary vehicle for the movement in Congress. The Liberty Caucus and Freedom Caucus are closely associated with the Tea Party movement.
Alabama
- Robert Aderholt, Republican U.S. Representative from Alabama's 4th congressional district (1997â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Alaska
- Sarah Palin, former Republican Governor of Alaska and prominent speaker and leader of the Tea Party.
Arizona
- Trent Franks, Republican State Representative (1985â€"1987), U.S. Representative from Arizona's 2nd congressional district (2003â€"2013), U.S. Representative from Arizona's 8th congressional district (2013â€"present), and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
California
- Tom McClintock, Republican U.S. Representative from California's 4th congressional district (2009â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Ed Royce, Republican U.S. Representative from California's 39th (1993â€"2003 and 2013â€"present) and 40th (2003â€"2013) congressional districts and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Gary Miller, Republican U.S. Representative from California's 41st (1999â€"2003) and 42nd (2003â€"present) congressional districts and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Colorado
- Mike Coffman, Republican U.S. Representative from Colorado's 6th congressional district (2009â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. Coffman's 2012 re-election campaign has received the endorsement of FreedomWorks.
- Doug Lamborn, Republican U.S. Representative from Colorado's 5th congressional district (2007â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Florida
- Sandy Adams, Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 24th congressional district (2011â€"2013) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. Adams' 2012 re-election campaign has received the endorsement of the Central Florida Tea Party.
- Gus Bilirakis, Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 9th congressional district (2007â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Curt Clawson, Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 19th congressional district (2014â€"present). Clawson delivered the Tea Party response to President Obama's State of the Union Address in 2015.
- Ander Crenshaw, Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 4th congressional district (2001â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Rich Nugent, Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 5th congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Dennis Ross, Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 12th congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Cliff Stearns, Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 6th congressional district (1989â€"2013) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Allen West, former Republican U.S. Representative from Florida's 22nd congressional district (2011â€"2013) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus during his time in Congress. West's 2012 re-election campaign has received the endorsement of FreedomWorks. He lost his re-election bid in 2012 to Patrick Murphy.
Georgia
- Paul Broun, Republican U.S. Representative from Georgia's 10th congressional district (2007â€"2015) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. Broun was re-elected in November 2012.
- Herman Cain, 2012 presidential candidate. Cain gave the tea party response to President Barack Obama's 2012 State of the Union Address.
- Phil Gingrey, Republican U.S. Representative from Georgia's 11th congressional district (2003â€"2015) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Tom Price, Republican U.S. Representative from Georgia's 6th congressional district (2005â€"2017), U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Lynn Westmoreland, Republican U.S. Representative from Georgia's 8th (2005â€"07) and 3rd (2007â€"2017) congressional districts and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Illinois
- Joe Walsh, Republican U.S. Representative from Illinois's 8th congressional district (2011â€"2013) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. Walsh's 2012 re-election campaign has received the endorsement of FreedomWorks. Walsh has since been defeated by Tammy Duckworth.
Indiana
- Dan Burton, Republican U.S. Representative from Indiana's 6th (1983â€"2003) and 5th (2003â€"present) congressional districts and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Mike Pence, 48th Vice President of the United States (2017-Present), Republican Governor of Indiana (2013â€"2017), U.S. Representative from Indiana's 2nd (2001â€"03) and 6th (2003â€"2013) congressional districts and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Iowa
- Steve King, Republican State Senator (1997â€"2003), U.S. Representative from Iowa's 5th congressional district (2003â€"2013), from the 4th (2013â€"present), and a founding member of the Tea Party Caucus. King's 2012 re-election campaign has received the endorsement of FreedomWorks. King was re-elected in November 2012.
Kansas
- Tim Huelskamp, Republican U.S. Representative from Kansas's 1st congressional district (2011â€"2017) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Lynn Jenkins, Republican U.S. Representative from Kansas's 2nd congressional district (2009â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Jerry Moran, Republican U.S. Senator (2011â€"present) and a member of the Senate Tea Party Caucus.
Kentucky
- Rand Paul, Republican U.S. Senator (2011â€"present) and an inaugural member of the Senate Tea Party Caucus. Paul gave the tea party response to President Barack Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address.
- Thomas Massie, Republican U.S. Representative from the Kentucky's 4th congressional district (2012â€"present). In his 2012 election, Massie was endorsed by FreedomWorks.
- Matt Bevin, Republican Governor of Kentucky (2015â€"present) and unsuccessful Republican candidate in the United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2014.
- Jenean Hampton, Republican Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (2015â€"present), 2014 state house candidate, and former chairwoman of the Bowling Green/Southern Kentucky Tea Party.
Louisiana
- Rodney Alexander, Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 5th congressional district (2003â€"2013) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Bill Cassidy, Republican U.S. Senator from Louisiana (2015â€"present), and former Representative from Louisiana's 6th congressional district (2009â€"2015) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- John Fleming, Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 4th congressional district (2009â€"2017) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Jeff Landry, Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 3rd congressional district (2011â€"2013) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Steve Scalise, Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 1st congressional district (2008â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- David Vitter, Republican U.S. Senator (2005â€"2017).
Maryland
- Roscoe Bartlett, Republican U.S. Representative from Maryland's 6th congressional district (1993â€"2013) and was a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Michigan
- Justin Amash, Republican U.S. Representative from Michigan's 3rd congressional district (2011â€"present). In May 2012, Susan Davis of USA Today described Amash as "Tea Party-aligned".
- Todd Courser, State Representative
- Cindy Gamrat, former State Representative
- Pete Hoekstra, Republican U.S. Representative from Michigan's 2nd congressional district (1993â€"2011) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Tim Walberg, Republican U.S. Representative from Michigan's 7th congressional district (2007â€"09, 2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Minnesota
- Michele Bachmann, Republican U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district (2007â€"2015) and founder of the Tea Party Caucus.
Mississippi
- Steven Palazzo, Republican U.S. Representative from Mississippi's 4th congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. In September 2011, George Altman of gulflive.com described Palazzo as 2010's tea party darling".
- Chris McDaniel, Republican State Senator (2008â€"present).
Missouri
- Vicky Hartzler, Republican U.S. Representative from Missouri's 4th congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Blaine Luetkemeyer, Republican U.S. Representative from Missouri's 9th congressional district (2009â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Montana
- Denny Rehberg, former Republican U.S. Representative from Montana's At-large congressional district (2001â€"2013) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Derek Skees, Republican state representative (2011â€"2013). In October 2010, Skees said he "was in the Tea Party before it was cool".
Nebraska
- Adrian Smith, Republican, member of the Nebraska Legislature (1999â€"2007), U.S. Representative from Nebraska's 3rd congressional district (2007â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
North Carolina
- Howard Coble, Republican U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 6th congressional district (1985â€"2015) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Sue Myrick, Republican U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 9th congressional district (1995â€"2013) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
North Dakota
- Gary Emineth, former chair of the North Dakota Republican Party and a founding member of the North Dakota Tea Party Caucus.
- Duane Sand, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2000 and 2012 and for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 and 2008. Sand was a founding member of the North Dakota Tea Party Caucus.
South Carolina
- Jim DeMint, Republican U.S. Senator (2005â€"2013) and the founder of the Senate's Tea Party Caucus. In January 2012, Jim Davenport of The Huffington Post described DeMint as "a dean of the influential and well-funded tea party movement".
- Jeff Duncan, Republican U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 3rd congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Mick Mulvaney, Republican U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 5th congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. Mulvaney successfully challenged Democratic incumbent John Spratt in 2010, receiving the backing of the tea party.
- Mark Sanford, Republican Governor of South Carolina (2003â€"11) and U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 1st congressional district (2013â€"present). Sanford has described himself as "Tea Party before the Tea Party was cool".
- Tim Scott, Republican U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 1st congressional district (2011â€"2012), U.S. Senator from South Carolina (2012â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Joe Wilson, Republican U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district (2001â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. In November 2009 Wilson spoke at tea party events at Ford Mansion in Morristown, New Jersey and at Capitol Hill.
South Dakota
- Gordon Howie, Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives (2005â€"2009) and South Dakota Senate (2009â€"2011).
Tennessee
- Diane Black, Republican U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 6th congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Joe Carr, Republican State Representative (2009â€"2015). Carr was endorsed by Tea Party Nation, among other Tea Party endorsements, in his unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate in 2014.
- Stephen Fincher, Republican U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 8th congressional district (2011â€"2017) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Phil Roe, Republican U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 1st congressional district (2009â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Texas
- Joe Barton, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 6th congressional district (1985â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. Barton described himself in October 2010 as having been "Tea Party when Tea Party wasn't cool."
- Michael Burgess, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 26th congressional district (2003â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- John Carter, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 31st congressional district (2003â€"present), the secretary of the House Republican Conference and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- John Culberson, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 7th congressional district (2001â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Ted Cruz, Republican U.S. Senator (2013â€"present). Michelle Cottle of The Daily Beast called Cruz "the delight of the Tea Party anti-establishment conservatives"
- David Dewhurst, Republican Lieutenant Governor of Texas (2003â€"2015). In April 2012 Gary Scharrer of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Dewhurst "emphasizes that he embraced the core principles of the Tea Party, before that movement gained momentum".
- Blake Farenthold, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 27th congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- John Frullo, Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2010 for District 84 based in Lubbock
- Louie Gohmert, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 1st congressional district (2005â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Ralph Hall, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 4th congressional district (1981â€"2015) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Jim Landtroop, Republican former member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 85; former resident of Plainview now residing in Lubbock
- Kenny Marchant, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 24th congressional district (2005â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Debra Medina, Republican candidate for Governor of Texas in 2010. In January 2011 Richard Dunham of the Houston Chronicle described Medina as "the original Texas Tea Party leader."
- Randy Neugebauer, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 19th congressional district (2003â€"2017) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Dan Patrick, Republican State Senator (2007â€"2015) and Lieutenant Governor of Texas (2015â€"present). As State Senator, Patrick created a Tea Party Caucus in the Texas state legislature in late 2010.
- Ron Paul, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 22nd (1976â€"77, 1979â€"85) and 14th (1997â€"2013) congressional districts and 1988, 2008 and 2012 presidential candidate. In November 2010, Joshua Green of The Atlantic described Paul as the tea party's "intellectual godfather".
- Ken Paxton, Republican Texas Attorney General (2015-present), State Senator (2013-2015), and State Representative (2003-2013).
- Ted Poe, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 2nd congressional district (2005â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Pete Sessions, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 5th (1997â€"2003) and 32nd (2003â€"present) congressional districts, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
- Lamar Smith, Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 21st congressional district (1987â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Utah
- Rob Bishop, Republican U.S. Representative from Utah's 1st congressional district (2003â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus. Bishop has appeared at Tea Party rallies in Utah.
- Mike Lee, Republican U.S. Senator (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Virginia
- Ken Cuccinelli, Republican Attorney General of Virginia (2010â€"2014) and nominee for Governor of Virginia (2013).
West Virginia
- David McKinley, Republican U.S. Representative from West Virginia's 1st congressional district (2011â€"present) and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.
Wisconsin
- Ron Johnson, Republican U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (2011â€"Present). Johnson has said he "did kind of spring out of the Tea Party" and is happy to be associated with the movement.
Wyoming
- Cynthia Lummis, Republican U.S. Representative from Wyoming's At-large congressional district (2009â€"2017) and a founding member of the Tea Party Caucus.