Famed civil liberties attorney Alan Dershowitz announced that he has changed his party affiliation after decades as a Democrat, citing disagreements over the party’s position on Israel, as reported by The Blaze.

Dershowitz, who taught at Harvard Law School and has represented high-profile clients including Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, and President Donald Trump, detailed his decision in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece published April 21, 2026.

In the column, Dershowitz described a long history with the Democratic Party that began in his youth.

"I am a lifelong Democrat. I started campaigning for the party's local candidates as a teenager in Brooklyn, N.Y., have been a registered Democrat for 67 years, made speeches for John F. Kennedy as a college student, and can count on one hand the number of Republicans I've ever supported for any office," he wrote.

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"Yet I've decided to bite the bullet and register as a Republican."

Dershowitz said his decision was driven primarily by concerns over what he described as the Democratic Party’s stance on Israel. He previously left the party in 2024 to become an independent, but has now formally registered as a Republican.

In his column, Dershowitz stated that while he disagrees with Republicans on several major policy areas, he plans to support them in the upcoming elections.

"I intend to work hard to prevent the Democrats from gaining control of the House and Senate," he continued.

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He also outlined specific steps he plans to take moving forward.

"I will contribute money to Republican candidates, campaign for them, make speeches at Republican events, and urge pro-Israel Americans to change party affiliation or at least vote against Democrats," he added.

"Until something changes, I will vote Republican for representative, senator, and president."

Dershowitz acknowledged policy disagreements with Republicans, including positions on abortion, taxes, immigration, and health care, but said those differences were outweighed by his concerns regarding Israel.

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The longtime attorney described the Democratic Party as having become "the most anti-Israel party in U.S. history," a characterization that he said influenced his decision to switch affiliations.

Dershowitz has remained a prominent legal figure over the years, both in academia and in high-profile legal cases. He represented Jeffrey Epstein and was part of the legal team that negotiated a controversial plea deal in 2008.

Dershowitz has stated that he received a massage at Epstein’s residence but has denied any involvement in wrongdoing related to Epstein’s activities.

He also served on the legal team representing President Donald Trump during his first impeachment proceedings and was involved in the defense of film producer Harvey Weinstein.

The announcement marks a significant shift for Dershowitz, who for decades was associated with Democratic politics and causes. His decision to formally align with the Republican Party follows his earlier move to leave the Democrats and reflects ongoing divisions over foreign policy issues, particularly regarding Israel.

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