Politics is a family business for these 2026 candidates. Voters may not care.
Key takeaways
- The race for governor of Maine alone has drawn three candidates with well-known political ties: Angus King III, the son of Sen.
- In New York, Jack Schlossberg, a member of the famed Kennedy family, is running for Congress.
- While political relatives can provide access to political networks, fundraising opportunities and institutional experience, some question whether familial ties carry the same political weight they once did with voters.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
The race for governor of Maine alone has drawn three candidates with well-known political ties: Angus King III, the son of Sen. Angus King (I-Maine); Hannah Pingree, the daughter of Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine); and Jonathan Bush, a cousin of former President George W. Bush.
In New York, Jack Schlossberg, a member of the famed Kennedy family, is running for Congress. And, across the country in California, Christine Pelosi, daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D), the former House Speaker, is vying for a state Senate seat.
While political relatives can provide access to political networks, fundraising opportunities and institutional experience, some question whether familial ties carry the same political weight they once did with voters.