Anti-party, anti-politician candidates surge in midterms
In red states and blue, unconventional candidates are downplaying — or even disowning — party labels to tap into voters' deep disdain for Washington. Why it matters: They might not all win, but the sheer number of political outsiders connecting with voters tells us something about the electorate: It's angry and willing to take risks. The candidates — whether they come from the pulpit or the NFL…
Across red and blue states, voters are increasingly backing unconventional candidates who downplay or reject party affiliations, reflecting a deep discontent with Washington. These political outsiders, ranging from preachers to former NFL sideline reporters, are betting that voters are weary of career politicians. In Senate races in Texas, Kansas, and Alaska, candidates like Presbyterian seminarian James Talarico, megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton, and former Rep. Mary Peltola, who once skipped a week of House votes to go fishing, are leading polls.
In Minnesota, Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter endorsed by President Trump, is challenging incumbent Peggy Flanagan in a close race. Democratic primaries have seen a surge in unconventional contenders as well, with House races featuring Montana smokejumper Sam Forstag, Colorado barista Melat Kiros, and Tejano singer Bobby Pulido.
Independents like Dan Osborn in Nebraska, Seth Bodnar in Montana, Brian Bengs in South Dakota, and Todd Achilles in Idaho are also making waves. While some Republicans view these independent candidates as deceptive, the trend shows that the populist approach to politics has deep roots, tracing back to Andrew Jackson and remains as relevant today as it was in the era of Trump.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
