How the nationalization of politics has changed the way candidates campaign

By Claire Carter

Published September 5, 2026 5:00am ET

The old political proverb that “all politics is local” is becoming irrelevant to the modern campaign trail as candidates are no longer branding themselves to residents of their state but presenting a profile to the national stage.

Candidates running for Congress, governor, and even lower offices in the 2026 midterm elections increasingly find themselves campaigning on issues that extend far beyond state lines.