Parties Tolerate Scandal-Tainted Midterm Candidates as 435 House Seats Turn on Razor-Thin Margins
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Aug 21
Parties Tolerate Scandal-Tainted Midterm Candidates as 435 House Seats Turn on Razor-Thin Margins
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Aug 21
Summary
Republicans and Democrats are increasingly sticking with scandal-hit candidates in the 2026 midterms, calculating that holding power matters more than enforcing old political standards.
Max Miller in Ohio, Ken Paxton in Texas and Mark Lamb in Arizona show how Republicans have often let voters decide, even after abuse or misconduct allegations, while party leaders stop short of fully cutting support.
Democrats have drawn firmer lines in some cases—Graham Platner quit Maine's Senate race after a sexual assault allegation and Eric Swalwell suspended his California bid—but the party also tolerated months of earlier controversies.
A recent POLITICO poll found voters will overlook a range of candidate controversies, with Democrats less tolerant than Republicans of sexual assault and domestic violence allegations.
Operatives in both parties say the real driver is Congress' narrow balance of power: when control of the gavel is at stake, scandal becomes secondary to the numbers.