Midterm candidates court cross-party voters as races tighten

Voters in several closely contested states are seeing a surge in campaign messaging that targets members of the opposing party. Candidates in the 2026 midterm elections are highlighting endorsements from rival party officials to build support among undecided voters in the final weeks before Election Day. This strategy aims to capture the small percentage of voters who prioritize individual candidates over party loyalty.

Democratic campaigns in Alaska, Kansas, and Texas have publicly touted support from Republican figures. 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 backing for Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton in September and October, respectively. In Texas, the campaign for Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico reported that more than two dozen former GOP officials have signed on.

Kel Seliger, a former Republican state senator, joined the Talarico endorsement list this week. He chose to support the Democrat over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Seliger explained his decision by noting he has served with both men. He described Talarico as honest and direct, stating that Talarico is not a wild-eyed socialist and will act in the best interest of Texas rather than the best interest of Elon Musk.

Republican officials are promoting a similar crossover effort for their own nominees. Natalie Baldassarre, the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, pointed to the race in Michigan between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed as an example where cross-party voting is expected. She also cited the existence of the Democrats for Mike Rogers coalition. Baldassarre noted that the dynamic is visible in the Texas Senate race as well, where Ken Paxton is running against James Talarico.

Political scientists suggest that while these endorsements generate media attention, their actual impact on vote totals is often limited. Joshua Blank, the Research Director of the Texas Politics Project, said that cross-party voting usually involves idiosyncratic behaviors among a small share of the electorate. He noted that the phenomenon is not typically large enough to shift the entire outcome unless the race is extremely close.

Recent polling data indicates that several midterm races have become statistically tied. In these tight contests, a small swing of voters from the opposing party could determine the winner. Candidates continue to emphasize their bipartisan appeal as a key differentiator in their final campaign efforts.