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By Megan Cartwright
Associate News Editor
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Several prominent Republicans have either endorsed Democratic candidates or said they will vote for Democrats in key 2026 races across Republican-leaning states, including South Dakota, Texas, Kansas, Georgia, Montana and Florida.
These endorsements come as competitive Senate, House, and statewide contests enter their final stretch, giving Democrats high-profile backing from across the aisle.
Cross-party endorsements are relatively uncommon in modern U.S. politics, particularly in states that have consistently favored Republican candidates. The latest developments suggest concerns about specific GOP nominees are prompting some longtime Republicans to publicly break with their party in a handful of high-profile races.
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South Dakota GOP Secretary of State Breaks With Her Party
South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson became the latest Republican official in a heavily Republican state to endorse a Democrat, backing Democratic nominee Terrence Davis in the race to succeed her.
In a South Dakota War College column, published on Saturday, Johnson said she could not support Republican candidate Heather Baxter, arguing that the office's "integrity, stability, and professionalism" were at stake and urging voters to look beyond party labels.
Texas: Karl Rove Backs Jon Rosenthal
Former adviser to President George W. Bush and longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove announced in a column for The Wall Street Journal that he would vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the Texas Railroad Commission race rather than Republican nominee Bo French.
Rove's decision followed controversy surrounding comments French made about South Asian students at the University of Texas that were condemned as racist. He had earlier described French as a "bigot" at a private event in Austin , the Texas Tribune reported, and said it would be the first time in more than three decades that he has voted for a Democrat statewide.
Texas Republican Senator Jon Cornyn, who lost the primary to the state's Attorney General Ken Paxton earlier this year and has been highly critical of French's comments, shared a link to Rove's column on X alongside a quote from the piece: "The GOP’s stables need a cleaning. This is a good place to start."
Newsweek reached out to French via email for comment on Wednesday.
The race is significant because the Railroad Commission oversees Texas' powerful oil and gas industry, making it one of the state's most influential regulatory bodies despite its relatively low profile.
...
Kansas: Bill Graves Endorses Adam Hamilton
Former Republican Governor Bill Graves endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton over Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, The Kansas City Star reported.
Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator since the 1930s, making any cross-party support especially notable in a race where Democrats are attempting to compete in deeply Republican territory.
Texas Senate Race: Republicans Back James Talarico
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico announced that more than 20 current and former Republican officials, officeholders and party figures have endorsed his campaign against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas. Some of those names include: Jim Richards, former Dallas city councilman; Susan Lewis King, former Texas state representative for District 71; and Lionel Sosa, former campaign adviser to George W. Bush.
Several supporters said their backing was driven less by ideology than by concerns about Paxton and a desire to support a candidate they believe can work across party lines.
Texas has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in decades, as Democrats seek to turn a traditionally safe Republican seat into a competitive contest.
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Georgia: Republican Support for Jon Ossoff
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has also attracted support from at least one prominent Republican voice.
Former Republican Senator Jeff Flake endorsed Ossoff's reelection bid, arguing that the Democrat has demonstrated independence and a willingness to work across party lines. The backing gives Ossoff an unusual endorsement as he defends one of the country's most closely watched Senate seats.
Georgia remains a major battleground after producing some of the closest statewide elections of the past decade, and Senate control could hinge on the outcome.
The state, led by GOP Governor Brian Kemp, voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, then flipped back to Trump in 2024.
Montana: Former RNC Chair Backs Democrat Sam Forstag
Montana's western congressional district has produced another example of Republicans crossing party lines. Former Republican National Committee Chairman Marc Racicot endorsed Democrat Sam Forstag.
Speaking with MS NOW earlier this month, Racicot said of Forstag: “He cares about what he’s doing. He’s very well prepared. He has the right priorities in terms of character and virtues and value and belief in the Constitution. It’s not even a close call for me to stand in Sam’s corner.”
Florida: Republicans for David Jolly
In Florida, former Republican congressman turned Democrat David Jolly has launched a gubernatorial campaign backed by a newly formed group called "Republicans for Jolly."
The coalition's most prominent supporters include former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Williams, Republican Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, and Greg Wilson, who served in the Treasury Department during the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, according to Florida National News.
Williams, who sought the Republican nomination for governor earlier this year, said his support is based on the candidate rather than party affiliation, arguing voters should focus on who will "best represent Floridians." Kruse and Wilson have become co-chairs of the coalition, which is organizing outreach to Republicans and independents willing to cross party lines.
A Broader Pattern Emerges
Taken together, these endorsements do not signal a wholesale realignment of Republican voters. Most individuals crossing party lines have emphasized that their decisions are tied to particular candidates rather than a rejection of conservatism itself.
Still, the endorsements create a striking picture of the 2026 election cycle: influential Republicans in several red or red-leaning states publicly supporting Democrats in races that could help determine control of key offices at both the state and federal level.
Update, 9/20/2026, 7:17 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Update, 09/17/2026, 7:02 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly, Sam Wilson and Cristina Diciu.
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