Top election schemes roiling key midterm races as both parties accuse rivals of trickery

Election Tactics Draw Mutual Accusations in 2026 Midterm Races

Republicans and Democrats have used a range of strategies to influence candidate fields and voter information ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. These include efforts to shape rival primaries, route spending through multiple committees, and time candidate filings around deadlines. Officials and campaigns from both parties have accused the other side of improper interference, while similar approaches appear on each side.

Alaska Senate Race Involves Multiple Candidates Named Dan Sullivan

In Alaska, two candidates named Dan Sullivan are running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan. A third individual, former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, has endorsed the incumbent. The state uses a nonpartisan primary in which the top four vote-getters advance to a ranked-choice general election.

Republicans have stated that teacher Dan J. Sullivan entered the Republican primary to draw votes that might otherwise go to the incumbent, potentially benefiting Democratic nominee Mary Peltola. Fox News Power Rankings currently rates the race as a toss-up. Dan J. Sullivan has said he is a Republican running on policy disagreements with the incumbent. He previously worked with a consultant who has Democratic ties.

The Justice Department and Alaska election officials have opened separate reviews into whether Dan J. Sullivan sought to mislead voters. A prior Republican legal challenge to remove him from the ballot did not succeed. The former mayor’s endorsement of the incumbent was issued publicly in recent weeks.

Texas Democratic Senate Primary Drew Republican Attention

In Texas, the National Republican Senatorial Committee released a poll in 2025 showing U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett leading a hypothetical Democratic primary field that included state Rep. James Talarico. Crockett had not appeared in most earlier surveys. After the poll circulated in progressive online spaces, subsequent surveys showed increased support for her.

Crockett later cited the polling as one factor in her decision to run. Once she entered, some conservative committees ran advertisements highlighting her record. Democratic critics described the ads and public Republican comments about her candidacy as efforts to boost her primary chances. Crockett lost the primary to Talarico. Some Black elected officials and activists have since urged Talarico to address issues raised by voters who supported Crockett.

A source cited by NOTUS characterized the sequence as an “AstroTurf recruitment process.” NRSC representatives have not issued a detailed public response to the characterization.

Independent Candidates and Committee Spending in Multiple States

Democratic-aligned donors and super PACs have spent more than $10 million supporting independent candidates in Republican-leaning states, including Nebraska, Idaho, and South Dakota. In those states, Democratic nominees withdrew after the independent candidacies were announced. Republican officials have described the pattern as an attempt to bypass the Democratic label.

Dan Osborn, the independent candidate in Nebraska, has received contributions from donors across party lines, according to his campaign. A spokesperson stated that Osborn’s support comes from voters “done being taken advantage of by D.C. lobbyists, corporate PACs, and party bosses.” The campaign has rejected characterizations that Osborn would caucus with Democrats.

On the Republican side, Conservative Americans PAC, funded by the American Prosperity Alliance, transferred millions of dollars to three committees—Lead Left PAC, Real Change PAC, and California Blue PAC—formed shortly before certain Democratic primaries. Those committees then spent on candidates viewed by some observers as weaker general-election contenders. Because the committees were created late, donor disclosures were not required until after the primaries. A spokeswoman for Conservative Americans PAC said the activity responded to prior Democratic involvement in Republican primaries.

Fabricated Polls Circulated in Several Races

Median Strategies, operated by a 21-year-old, released polls on the Los Angeles mayoral race and the Wisconsin and Nevada gubernatorial races. The polls received coverage from multiple outlets and were referenced by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. After questions from journalists, the organization disbanded and stated in an email to the Los Angeles Times that it had conducted a “short term social experiment” to observe how unverified polling spreads. The polls had shown Bass leading a rival by a wide margin and Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong leading her Democratic primary field; Hong later lost that primary.

Filing Deadline Timing in Montana and Illinois

In Montana, Sen. Steve Daines suspended his re-election campaign minutes before the filing deadline. Kurt Alme, identified by Daines as his preferred successor, filed his own candidacy paperwork minutes before the withdrawal. No other high-profile Republicans entered the primary. Former Democratic Sen. Jon Tester said the timing appeared designed to limit the field. Daines has not issued a public statement on the sequence.

In Illinois, Rep. Chuy Garcia announced he would not seek re-election after his congressional chief of staff had collected signatures for the Democratic primary ballot. Garcia attributed the decision to health reasons and described criticism of the timing as “fair.”

These developments have occurred in competitive districts and states where narrow margins could affect control of Congress. Reporting on the specific transactions, filings, and statements relies on campaign disclosures, public records, and statements from the participants.