GOP Leaders Back Rival Democrats
Senior Republicans are endorsing Democratic opponents in key states, though experts question if these crossovers will decide tight November races.
By Rosa Fuentes ·
Republican officials in Alaska, Kansas, and Texas have formally endorsed their Democratic counterparts this fall. These endorsements mark a visible shift in the final weeks of the midterm campaign, as candidates from both parties attempt to claim broader appeal.
In Alaska, Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, the Democratic candidate for governor, on Tuesday. In Kansas, former governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden, both Republicans, backed Adam Hamilton, the Democrat running for the U.S. Senate. Graves announced his support in September, while Hayden joined in October.
The trend is particularly pronounced in Texas. The campaign for U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico stated that more than two dozen former GOP officials have signed on. This week, Kel Seliger, a former Republican state senator, added his name to the list. Seliger chose Talarico over the Republican nominee, Attorney General Ken Paxton. "I’ve served with both people," Seliger said. He noted that Talarico is not a "wild-eyed socialist" and expects him to be honest and direct. Seliger argued that Talarico’s decisions would serve Texas best, rather than serving "Elon Musk."
Republican strategists argue that this cross-party appeal is not one-sided. Natalie Baldassarre, the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, pointed to the Michigan Senate race where Mike Rogers is running against Abdul El-Sayed. She also cited the Texas contest between Ken Paxton and James Talarico. Baldassarre mentioned the "Democrats for Mike Rogers" coalition as evidence of reciprocal support.
Joshua Blank, the research director for the Texas Politics Project, cautioned that these endorsements often have limited statistical weight. "We’re not talking about a large group of Republicans crossing party lines to vote for Democrats," Blank said. He described the behavior as "idiosyncratic" among a small share of the electorate. However, Blank acknowledged that if polls are close, these shifts could influence the final count.
Recent polling data indicates that several midterm races have narrowed. In some contests, the margin of error creates a statistical tie. Candidates in these states are now highlighting their cross-party endorsements to distinguish themselves in these tight competitions.
