Murkowski backs Kreiss-Tomkins as GOP figures court Democrats

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democratic Alaska gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins on Tuesday. The move marks the latest example of candidates seeking support from the opposing party as the November midterm elections approach.

Kreiss-Tomkins is not alone in highlighting cross-party backing. In Kansas, former Republican governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden announced their support for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton in September and October. In Texas, the campaign for Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico claims more than two dozen former GOP officials have signed on.

Kel Seliger, a former GOP state senator in Texas, added his name to Talarico’s list this week. He chose the Democrat over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, citing Talarico’s honesty. Seliger said Talarico is not a wild-eyed socialist and will be frank and direct. He added that Talarico’s actions will benefit Texas, not Elon Musk.

Republican officials say they expect similar crossover voting for their own candidates. Natalie Baldassarre, the national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, pointed to the Michigan Senate race between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed. She also cited the coalition Democrats for Mike Rogers as evidence of bipartisan appeal in that contest.

Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project, noted that cross-party voting usually involves a small share of the electorate. He described the phenomenon as idiosyncratic behaviors rather than a mass shift in party loyalty. However, he acknowledged that if races are close, these votes could determine the outcome.

Recent polling indicates several midterm races have tightened to the point where they are statistically tied. Candidates continue to promote their bipartisan support in the final days of the campaign, aiming to secure those narrow margins.

The endorsement of Kreiss-Tomkins by Murkowski stands out given the high-profile nature of the Alaskan Senate race. The move underscores the strategy of appealing to moderate voters in key states during this election cycle.