Alaska, Kansas, and Texas: Where Cross-Party Support Is Real
Specific endorsements from former Republican governors and senators are appearing in tight races, though researchers say the voter impact is likely limited.
By Elizabeth Turner ·
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins on Tuesday. This move represents one of the most visible examples of cross-party support in the current midterm cycle. It occurred as candidates in several states pushed to court voters from the opposing party.
The strategy is not limited to Alaska. In Kansas, former Republican governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden announced support for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton. Graves made his endorsement public in September, while Hayden followed in October. Both men are backing the Democrat in a race for the state's Senate seat.
In Texas, the campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico claims over two dozen former GOP officials have endorsed him. Kel Seliger, a former Republican state senator, joined the group this week. He chose Talarico over the Republican candidate, Attorney General Ken Paxton. Seliger said he served with both men and believes Talarico will be honest and direct. He argued that Talarico's actions will benefit Texas rather than serving the interests of Elon Musk.
Republican officials say they expect similar crossover voting for their candidates. Natalie Baldassarre, the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, pointed to the Michigan race between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed. She also cited the Texas contest between Ken Paxton and Talarico. Baldassarre mentioned a coalition called Democrats for Mike Rogers as evidence of this trend.
Researchers suggest the impact of these endorsements may be smaller than candidates imply. Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project, noted that cross-party voting usually involves a small share of the electorate. He described the behavior as idiosyncratic rather than a mass movement. Blank said the effect could matter if the elections are close, but it rarely shifts the outcome on its own.
Recent polling indicates that some midterm races have become statistically tied. In these tight contests, even a small shift in voter preference can change the result. The endorsements serve as a final push for candidates hoping to reach undecided or independent voters in the days before the election.
Source: WVUE-DT
