As many veteran lawmakers prepare to retire, relatives and children of prominent politicians are running for office in 2026, from Maine’s governor’s race to congressional and state legislative contests nationwide. Name recognition and established fundraising networks give these candidates advantages, but antiestablishment sentiment and accusations of nepotism create added challenges. Several contenders are emphasizing independent records, while others rely on family ties and endorsements to jump‑start their campaigns.
All In The Family: A New Wave Of Politicians’ Children And Relatives Run In 2026
Angus King III, Hannah Pingree and Jonathan Bush are all looking to carry on their families' political legacies.
WASHINGTON — As dozens of long‑serving members of Congress prepare to leave office, a new generation of candidates with family ties to established politicians is stepping into the 2026 electoral arena. From high‑profile statewide contests to hotly contested House primaries, relatives of current and former officeholders are mounting bids that could extend political dynasties into the next decade.
Notable Races And Candidates
In Maine’s crowded governor’s race, three prominent political scions have launched campaigns: Democrat Angus King III, son of Sen. Angus King (I‑Maine); Democrat Hannah Pingree, daughter of Rep. Chellie Pingree (D‑Maine); and Republican Jonathan Bush, a member of the Bush family. Elsewhere, Stefany Shaheen, daughter of retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D‑N.H.), is running for an open House seat; Christine Pelosi, daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has entered a California state Senate race; and Jim Kingston, son of former Rep. Jack Kingston (R‑Ga.), is seeking his father’s old House seat.
Advantages Of A Familiar Name
Being part of a political family can confer immediate benefits: name recognition that shortens the time needed to build voter awareness, easier access to established fundraising networks and media attention that can amplify an early campaign message. Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, drew prominent coverage when he entered a competitive New York House race, illustrating how quickly a familiar name can attract interest.
Challenges And Scrutiny
But family ties also create pitfalls. In an era of deep antiestablishment sentiment, association with entrenched politics can fuel charges of nepotism and invite heightened scrutiny. As longtime Republican strategist Doug Heye observed, a famous surname delivers an early head start — but modern campaigns still require the candidate to earn support in a fragmented party environment and under close media examination.
“Name ID starts at a really high place — you don’t have to spend money building it, and you come into it with some advantageous fundraising relationships as well,” Heye said. “But it’s harder now, because the parties have less power. If daddy was a senator, you still have to earn it to some extent.”
Family Dynamics On Full Display
Some candidates are deliberately carving independent paths. Rep. Chellie Pingree called watching her daughter’s run both “heart‑warming and terrifying,” but said her daughter made the decision on her own. Angus King III emphasized that a famous name does not replace political work: “You still have to skate. You still have to shoot the puck. You still have to grind it out in the corner,” he told NBC News.
Other campaigns have shown how family ties can complicate messaging. During a recent government shutdown, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen helped negotiate a bipartisan deal to reopen the government — a move her daughter Stefany publicly opposed, citing concerns about whether House leaders would follow through. The disagreement illustrated how relatives running for office sometimes feel pressure to distance themselves from family decisions.
Close Relationships And Unusual Cases
Some succession moves are particularly close. Rep. Troy Nehls (R‑Texas) announced he would not seek reelection and quickly endorsed his identical twin, Trever Nehls; former President Donald Trump also endorsed Trever, making him the frontrunner in a reliably Republican district. In Illinois, Rep. Jonathan Jackson — son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and brother of former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. — supports his brother’s potential comeback, saying, “I believe in second chances.”
Broader Implications
An NBC News poll in November found 57% of registered voters would vote to replace every member of Congress if given the chance — a reminder of how potent antiestablishment sentiment can be. For many political scions, the challenge in 2026 will be converting a well‑known name into a campaign that persuades skeptical primary voters and general‑election constituencies. For some, the family name is an opening; for others, it becomes an additional standard against which they will be measured.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
