All in the family: In 2026, a surge of politicians' kids are running for office

Dozens of members are leaving Congress, but for some, their kids and other relatives are running for office to keep their political legacies alive.

WASHINGTON — Dozens of members are nearing the end of their congressional careers and hanging up their voting cards.

But for some, their family’s political legacies will continue, as their kids and relatives run for office in 2026.

In the crowded Maine governor’s race alone, there are three contenders who are political scions: Democrat Angus King III, the son of independent Sen. Angus King; Democrat Hannah Pingree, the daughter of Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine; and Republican Jonathan Bush, the nephew and cousin of the two Bush presidents.

While the trend is hardly new, this campaign cycle already features a number of notable races involving candidates who are related to former or current politicians.

In New Hampshire, retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s daughter, Stefany Shaheen, has launched a bid for an open House seat. Across the country, former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s daughter, Christine Pelosi, is running for a state Senate seat in California. And in Georgia, the son of former GOP Rep. Jack Kingston, Jim Kingston, is running for his dad’s old House seat.