Partisan Divides Highlighted in Latest Campaign Newsletter
The CQ Roll Call campaign team's weekly newsletter, At the Races, reports that polls indicate Americans are deeply divided along partisan lines on most major issues. The newsletter provides news and analysis from the campaign trail. It is written by Daniela Altimari and Mary Ellen McIntire.
Cross-party endorsements are emerging in key battlegrounds. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs will add former Republican Mayor John Giles to her ticket, while Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff gained backing from ex-Senator Jeff Flake. Texas Republican Glen Whitley endorsed Democrat James Talarico, and Nevada's Joe Lombardo attracted 130 Democratic supporters. However, Geoff Duncan's failed 2026 gubernatorial bid shows limits to this strategy.
Primary results also reshaped races. Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Senate nod, while Wesley Bell defeated Cori Bush in Missouri. Stacey Plaskett and James Moylan secured gubernatorial nominations in their territories. North Carolina's Chuck Edwards ended his reelection bid following an ethics censure recommendation, and Ohio's Max Miller faces distance from fellow House Republicans.
This mix of cross-party endorsements and divisive primaries could influence how campaigns appeal to swing voters, potentially rewarding candidates who emphasize institutional integrity over strict partisanship. However, the failure of such alliances in some races may discourage future defections, leaving voters with fewer moderate options. For the electorate, these dynamics could clarify candidate character but might also intensify partisan sorting, as parties weigh the risks of embracing outsiders.