Midterm Races: Cross-Party Endorsements Surge
Former GOP governors and senators back Democratic opponents in key states, though experts question if the support will change final results.
By Elena Castillo ·
Democratic midterm candidates in Alaska, Kansas, and Texas are fielding endorsements from prominent former Republican officials in the final weeks of the campaign.
In Alaska, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced on Tuesday that she supports Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. In Kansas, former Republican governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden have backed Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton. Graves made his endorsement public in September, while Hayden followed in October.
The trend is visible in Texas as well. The campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico reported that more than two dozen former GOP officials now support him. Among the latest to switch sides is Kel Seliger, a former GOP state senator. Seliger joined Talarico’s coalition this week rather than backing Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Seliger defended his decision by citing his history of working with both candidates. “James Talarico is not some wild-eyed socialist,” Seliger said. He added that Talarico may share some Democratic beliefs that he does not hold, but he expects Talarico to be honest and direct. Seliger argued that Talarico’s actions will prioritize Texas over the interests of Elon Musk.
Republican Party officials argue that cross-party voting works in both directions. Natalie Baldassarre, the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, pointed to the race in Michigan where Mike Rogers faces Abdul El-Sayed. She also cited the Texas race and a campaign coalition called “Democrats for Mike Rogers” as evidence of bipartisan support for GOP candidates.
Political scientists suggest these shifts may not alter the final outcome. Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project, noted that cross-party voting usually involves a small share of the electorate. “We’re ultimately talking about what are kind of idiosyncratic behaviors they’re going to take place among a small, small share of the electorate,” Blank said. He added that the effect could matter if the races remain statistically tied, as recent polling indicates for several key contests.
Source: WBRC FOX6
