Midterm Campaigns: Crossover Endorsements Face Skepticism

Political scientists warn that bipartisan endorsements may not alter the outcome of the upcoming midterm elections, despite a surge in cross-party support across several states. Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project, stated that these endorsements typically represent idiosyncratic behavior from a small share of the electorate rather than a mass shift in voting patterns.

In recent weeks, Democratic campaigns have emphasized backing from Republican officials. In Alaska, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins on Tuesday. In Kansas, former Republican governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden announced their support for Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton in September and October, respectively.

The trend is prominent in Texas, where the campaign for Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico reported endorsements from more than two dozen former GOP officials. This week, former state senator Kel Seliger joined the list, choosing Talarico over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Seliger described Talarico as honest, frank, and direct, noting that the candidate is not a wild-eyed socialist.

Seliger added that he believes Talarico will prioritize the best interests of Texas over the preferences of Elon Musk. Republican Party officials counter that they also anticipate cross-party voting in their favor. Natalie Baldassarre, national press secretary for the RNC, cited the Michigan Senate race between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed, as well as the Texas Senate contest, as examples of this dynamic.

Baldassarre also pointed to the coalition Democrats for Mike Rogers as evidence of bipartisan engagement. Recent polling indicates that several midterm races have narrowed, with some statistically tied. Blank acknowledged that if elections are close enough, the effect of cross-party voting could matter, though he maintained that the volume of voters changing sides is generally modest.

The emphasis on crossover appeal has intensified in the final days of the election season. Candidates in Alaska, Kansas, and Texas have all highlighted specific Republican endorsements to broaden their appeal. The availability of these endorsements varies by state, with some campaigns securing support from high-ranking former officials while others rely on a larger number of local figures.