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The Conversation
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Charlie Hunt, Associate Professor of Political Science, Boise State University

Americans keep voting for scandal-prone candidates because they just don’t want the other party to win

Graham Platner Ken Paxton Frances Lee John Cornyn Texas Maine US Senate Voter
U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner speaks to supporters on June 9, 2026, in Blue Hill, Maine. CJ Gunther/Getty Images

Every election cycle sees its share of controversial, scandal-plagued candidates running for office. But the 2026 midterm elections will feature two such candidates – one from each party – in two of the highest-profile U.S. Senate races.

In Texas, the state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, recently secured the Republican Party’s nomination over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.

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