Cross-Party Endorsements Target Texas, Michigan, Kansas Senate Fights

Candidates in competitive midterm races are promoting endorsements from the opposing party, while election researchers say the number of voters who actually switch sides remains small. The practice spans several states: Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democratic Alaska gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins on Tuesday, and former Republican governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden of Kansas announced support in September and October for Democrat Adam Hamilton in the U.S. Senate race. In Texas, the campaign for Democrat James Talarico lists endorsements from more than two dozen former GOP officials.

Former state Sen. Kel Seliger, a Republican, added his name to the Texas list this week, backing Talarico over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Seliger said he has worked with both candidates. "James Talarico is not some wild-eyed socialist and and he may believe in a lot of things that Democratic Party believes in that I don't," Seliger said. "But I think he's going to be honest." He added that Talarico would act "Not what's best for Elon Musk."

Republican Party officials say their candidates are also drawing support from across the aisle. "I do think you're seeing that this cycle, especially in races like in Michigan with Mike Rogers against Abdul El-Sayed, and in Texas with Ken Paxton against James Talarico," said Natalie Baldassarre, national press secretary for the Republican National Committee. Baldassarre also pointed to a coalition called "Democrats for Mike Rogers."

Joshua Blank, research director of the Texas Politics Project, said the number of voters who cross party lines is limited. "We're not talking about a large group of Republicans crossing party lines to vote for Democrats, or a large group of Democrats possibly crossing party lines to vote for Republicans," he said. Blank described these voters as a "small, small share of the electorate" whose behavior is "idiosyncratic." He added that if elections are close, "this could really matter."

Timeline: On Sept. 10, former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves said he would back Democrat Adam Hamilton. On Oct. 20, former Kansas Gov. Mike Hayden followed with his support for Hamilton. On Oct. 27, former Texas state Sen. Kel Seliger endorsed James Talarico. On Oct. 28, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska governor.

Next: Voters in Bexar County and across Texas cast ballots in the Nov. 3 midterm election. Recent polling cited by Gray DC shows some races have narrowed and, in certain cases, are statistically tied.

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