Longtime Dem Alan Dershowitz vows to back GOP in midterms, ‘totally frightened’ of his party winning

Alan Dershowitz, who has been a Democrat for 60 or more years, vowed to campaign for the GOP to maintain control of the House and the Senate
Alan Dershowitz vowed to campaign actively for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections in an interview on Newsmax on Tuesday, October 7 (Newsmax/Screengrab)
Alan Dershowitz vowed to campaign actively for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections in an interview on Newsmax on Tuesday, October 7 (Newsmax/Screengrab)


 

WASHINGTON, DC: Longtime Democrat and Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz is making a dramatic political shift.

After more than 60 years of supporting the Democratic Party, he now vows to campaign actively for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.

Speaking on 'The Record with Greta Van Susteren' on Newsmax on Tuesday, October 7, Dershowitz said he’s "totally frightened," but what’s driving this change of heart?

Alan Dershowitz reveals the reason behind his sudden change of heart in supporting the GOP

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 20: American lawyer Alan Dershowitz returns to the courtroom during Former President Donald Trump's trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 20, 2024 in New York City. Former U.S. President Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Images)
American lawyer Alan Dershowitz returns to the courtroom during Former President Donald Trump's trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 20, 2024, in New York City (Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Images)

Alan Dershowitz says the Democratic Party has strayed too far from its foundational principles, embracing political extremism and abandoning the Constitution.

After more than 60 years of support, Dershowitz now says he feels compelled to campaign for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, not out of enthusiasm for the GOP agenda, but out of deep concern over what Democratic leadership could bring.

“They’re [Democrats] not succeeding in persuading the American people that they’re up to a leadership role,” Dershowitz told host Greta Van Susteren. “Which is why, after me being a Democrat for 60 or more years, I am now going to campaign very hard for the Republicans to maintain control of the House and the Senate. Not because I love the Republican agenda.”

“It’s because I’m totally frightened if the Democrats were to gain control of either House. Who they would appoint as chairpeople? Who they would put in the position of inquisitors, and how they would deny rights to people, and how they would introduce a kind of McCarthyism that we haven’t seen since I was a college student in the 1950s?” the 87-year-old wondered. 

Alan Dershowitz expresses belief in 'the great' John Fetterman

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks to reporters in the Senate Subway during a series of confirmation votes for U.S. President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees at the U.S. Capitol Building on February 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and completed a procedural vote for the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Sen John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks to reporters in the Senate Subway during a series of confirmation votes for President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees at the US Capitol Building on February 12, 2025, in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The Harvard Law professor cited Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania as a rare exception, someone he believes still upholds bipartisan values and integrity within a party he now views as dominated by ideological extremism.

“It’s a new kind of left-wing McCarthyism,” he said. “We’re seeing it throughout the Democratic Party with a few exceptions, like the great Senator Fetterman, who you interviewed, who really is the one person who represents principle, represents honesty, and really nonpartisan approaches in the Democratic Party.”

“I wish his colleagues would learn from him, but they don’t. They are moving toward the extreme, extreme left, and the only thing they care about is trying to hurt President Trump,” Dershowitz noted.

Trump maintains voter trust on key issues ahead of 2026 midterms


WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 06: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Oval Office of the White House on October 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump spoke on an executive order to increase the development and production of Alaska's natural resources. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Oval Office of the White House on October 6, 2025, in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

CNN’s senior data reporter Harry Enten said on Tuesday that more than half of voters – 52% – think Donald Trump is keeping the promises he made for his 2024 campaign.

He added that Trump’s consistent 43% approval rating shows that many voters trust him to handle major issues like border security, inflation, and crime.

Back in October 2024, the Republican leader had a 44% approval rating. His continued support suggests he could be a serious threat to Democrats in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Recent polls show Democrats slightly ahead in general matchups — a New York Times poll gives them a 2-point lead, while a Yahoo/YouGov poll shows a 4-point advantage.

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