In Texas, Republican voters dumped a respected U.S. Senator from their own party to nominate a scandal-tarred politician once impeached by the GOP-run Texas House of Representatives. In Maine, Democratic Party voters picked a political outsider with a string of horrible actions, who just added a more serious allegation of a crime this week. In this column, I look at the toxic environment that produces these types of candidates that are actually “attractive” to some voters.
Writing in The Conversation, Associate Professor of Political Science and election expert, Boise State University Charlie Hunt documents how the terrible scandals of both candidates were well known by voters and covers why today’s hyperpartisan voters are drawn to these candidates.
“These actions can coexist thanks to two forces that political science has much to say about, precepts that have been steadily increasing in relevance over the past few decades: party polarization – or the distance between the two parties – and negative partisanship, voters’ tendency to vote based on negative feelings toward the other party,” Hunt writes.
“In 1978, only 9% of Democrats and 7% of Republicans had a very negative opinion of the opposing party. By 2024, vast majorities in both parties – 64% apiece – reported such negative opinions,” Hunt adds. “In fact, researchers have found that scandals involving candidates in a voter’s own party trigger a ‘defensive partisanship’ that increases their hostility toward the other side. That is, scandals in a voter’s own party can make them more – not less – loyal to their team.”
Scandals become a “badge of honor” and “proof” that the candidate is great… because the other side has smeared them with scandals! Personal accountability is so pre-2016.
As a former Texan who graduated from the same college as Cornyn, I know he’s a Republican, but not one who often “punches below the belt.” He’s the kind of Senator that is open to working with the other party on a bipartisan compromise. And to those who run our 24-hour news cycle social media attack dog system, that’s a greater sin than everything Paxton did to get impeached. Failing to say the meanest thing about your opponent is akin to “sleeping with the enemy.” And unless Paxton is the nominee, the MAGA people just won’t show up this Fall to vote, right?
Democrats had good candidates, with experience and records of success. Governor Janet Mills signed a huge expansion in Medicaid, supported free community college, boosted education spending, and set a goal for the state to go 100% on renewable energy by 2040 and publicly defended LGBTQ people against attacks by Trump. On the other side, there was Platner, who talked a progressive game but as Hunt notes “Platner [was] facing a series of personal scandals ranging from alleged sexual misconduct to a tattoo that turned out to be an emblem of Hitler’s paramilitary Schutzstaffel, or SS. Platner has claimed he was unaware of the symbol’s origins and has since covered it up.” The Advocate reported anti-gay and misogynistic comments from him. But unless he’s the nominee, “the progressives” just may not show up this Fall, right?
To Hunt’s article, I would add that this “negative feeling thermometer” that voters have for the other side also applies to any politician of even their own party who would dare seek compromise, an occasional vote against your own party on principle, a bipartisan record, or even a handshake with the other party. Respect for someone in the other party gives you the dreaded “establishment” label, making you a “sell out” or a “kiss-butt” for the opposition.
I’m sorry to say that such behavior in our current “look the other way because I’m sure the other side is worse” political environment will only continue until we vote against those who embody the worst values of America, and reject those who traffic in verbal and online hate as well.
John A. Tures is Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of the Political Science Program at LaGrange College, in LaGrange, Georgia. His first book, “Branded”, is available on Amazon. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu.