A nationwide Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted over six days and completed on Monday indicates that many American voters prioritize party control over candidate character. The poll, which sampled 4,531 adults, shows deep partisan entrenchment: two-thirds of respondents who identify with either major party said they sometimes cast ballots for a candidate they dislike in order to keep the rival party out of power.
That dynamic is set to play out in two high-profile Senate contests that could influence control of the chamber. In Maine, oyster farmer Graham Platner is vying to become the Democratic nominee for a seat Democrats view as central to their hopes of flipping the Senate. In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton - who was indicted a decade ago on allegations of defrauding investors - secured his party’s nomination and will face Democrat James Talarico in the general election.
The poll measured reactions to controversies surrounding both men among partisans nationwide. Among Democrats familiar with Platner, only 17% said his chest tattoo - described in media reports as resembling a Nazi-style skull-and-crossbones design - would prevent them from voting for him if they were voting in Maine’s election. The identical share - 17% - of Republicans familiar with Paxton said they would refrain from voting for him if they were voting in Texas’ Senate race.
Overall, 76% of respondents reported that they often face a choice between the lesser of two evils in U.S. elections, with Democrats and Republicans registering similar proportions. The survey included 546 Democrats who were familiar with Platner and 712 Republicans familiar with Paxton. The margin of error for the full sample was 2 percentage points, and 4 percentage points for the subsets of partisans familiar with those candidates.
Controversies and candidates
Platner has apologized for the tattoo, saying he obtained it while drinking with fellow Marines nearly two decades ago and was unaware of any Nazi association. He covered the image with another tattoo last year after launching his Senate campaign. Additional scrutiny in recent days has included reports that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with women while he was married; he has issued public apologies for the messages and characterized the reports and other past behavior as politically motivated.
Despite those controversies, Platner is viewed as a competitive challenger to incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. He has campaigned on a populist message focused on affordability for working-class residents of Maine and has attracted endorsements from prominent Democratic figures, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats.
Paxton, meanwhile, not only survived a primary contest after winning the endorsement of former President Donald Trump but also carries a lengthy public history of legal and political challenges. He was indicted a decade ago on charges of defrauding investors, was later impeached by the Texas House, and last year faced a divorce filed by his wife on biblical grounds. Paxton denies wrongdoing and has said the allegations are politically motivated.
Campaign offices for both Platner and Paxton did not respond to requests for comment.
Independents and the deciding margin
Independents may prove decisive in both states. The poll found that six in 10 respondents who said they were unaffiliated with either party reported that their vote is more likely to reflect their view of the candidate on the ballot rather than strict party loyalty. Political scientists quoted in the survey analysis suggested that both campaigns will seek to win over these voters by contrasting the perceived normalcy or electability of their preferred candidate with the flaws of the opponent.
Mia Costa, a Dartmouth College political psychologist cited by the poll analysis, said the pattern of support reflects heightened polarization and a strategic focus on preventing the other party from governing. Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, noted that candidates perceived as more mainstream - ‘‘the more ‘normie’ candidate, as some people call them’’ - will try to appeal to independents by emphasizing the controversies surrounding their opponent.
In Texas, the Democrat challenging Paxton highlighted a campaign development on Monday: the endorsement of Dan Cogdell, who previously served as Paxton’s defense lawyer.
Political leaders weigh in
Some Democrats have drawn parallels between recent cases and earlier political trajectories. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia said on ABC’s "This Week" that "Trump set a new standard," and added: "Whether that low standard is what we ought to proceed with, I think it’s going to be again in the hands of the voters."
Control of the Senate remains at stake. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, and the outcomes in states such as Maine and Texas could influence narrow margins that determine which party controls the chamber after the November elections.
Methodology
The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted over six days and completed on Monday. The national sample included 4,531 adults, with margins of error reported as 2 percentage points for the full sample and 4 percentage points for the partisan subgroups familiar with the two candidates referenced in the survey.
This report presents poll findings and candidate developments affecting pivotal Senate contests. It does not predict election outcomes and confines itself to the information reported in the survey and public statements referenced above.