Midterm candidates chase crossover votes
Democratic and Republican officials are swapping endorsements in key states, though experts question if it will change results.
By Robert Marshall ·
Voters in several states are hearing more about candidates who claim support from the other side of the aisle. As the November elections approach, campaigns are highlighting these cross-party endorsements as a strategy to win undecided voters.
Democratic candidates have led the push for bipartisan appeal. In Alaska, Republican Sen. 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 U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton in September and October. The campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico in Texas reported that more than two dozen former GOP officials have endorsed him.
One of those supporters is Kel Seliger, a former GOP state senator who joined Talarico’s list this week. Seliger said he chose Talarico over Republican candidate and Attorney General Ken Paxton based on personal experience working with both men. Seliger described Talarico as honest and direct. He said Talarico is not a wild-eyed socialist, but he does hold many Democratic views that Seliger does not share. Seliger believes Talarico will act in the best interest of Texas rather than serving Elon Musk.
Republican officials say their candidates are also drawing support from Democrats. Natalie Baldassarre, the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, pointed to races in Michigan and Texas. She cited the contest between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, and the race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico in Texas. Baldassarre specifically mentioned a group called Democrats for Mike Rogers as evidence of this trend.
Political scientists suggest these shifts may not move the needle much. Joshua Blank, the research director for the Texas Politics Project, said cross-party voting usually affects a small share of the electorate. He noted that while some Republicans may vote for Democrats and some Democrats for Republicans, it is not a mass movement. However, Blank added that in tight races, this small group could determine the winner.
Recent polling shows several midterm races are statistically tied. Candidates continue to promote their bipartisan credentials in the final days of the campaign. The strategy relies on the idea that voters prioritize individual character over party labels in close contests.
