 He was the unsuccessful candidate of the Democratic and People's Parties for reelection in 1894, failing to win once again in the election of 1896.Sibley managed to win his second of five terms in Congress as a Democrat in November 1898, becoming a member of the Fifty-sixth Congress.In 1900 Sibley switched his allegiance to the Republican Party and in November was elected as a Republican to the 57th United States Congress.