Far-Left vs. Far-Right Primary Platforms in the 2026 U.S. Election Cycle

The 2026 primary field shows stark divergences between candidates labeled “far left” and those labeled “far right.” On immigration, Democratic nominee Darializa Avila Chevalier (New York’s 13th Congressional District) proposes mandating free legal representation for immigrants, while Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins (Georgia) backs the Laken Riley Act, which targets undocumented immigrants charged with non-violent crimes for deportation, and also seeks to end birthright citizenship. In reproductive rights, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong (Wisconsin) advocated enshrining reproductive rights in the state constitution and expanding universal childcare and paid leave to support access to care; Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback (Florida) pledged to close the state’s 53 abortion clinics and replace them with crisis pregnancy centers, while also proposing paid maternity leave. On national security, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan) opposes funding Israel’s military and supports Palestine, whereas Republican Texas Railroad Commissioner nominee Bo French proposes banning land purchases by entities from Muslim-majority countries, citing a perceived security threat.

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• Mark Copelovitch – University of Wisconsin professor, commentator on media framing of candidates.

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• Darializa Avila Chevalier – Democratic nominee, New York 13th CD, immigration reform advocate.

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• Mike Collins – Republican Senate nominee, Georgia, sponsor of the Laken Riley Act and birthright-citizenship repeal.

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• Francesca Hong – Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Wisconsin, reproductive-rights and childcare proponent.

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• James Fishback – Republican gubernatorial candidate, Florida, anti-abortion legislator.

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• Donovan McKinney – Democratic nominee, Michigan 13th CD, progressive tax and UBI supporter.

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• Mike Lindell – Republican gubernatorial nominee, Minnesota, sales-tax elimination advocate.

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• Abdul El-Sayed – Democratic Senate nominee, Michigan, pro-Palestine, anti-Israel-aid stance.

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• Bo French – Republican nominee, Texas Railroad Commissioner, anti-Muslim-country land-ownership policy.

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• A July YouGov poll found that 48 % of Americans support abolishing ICE and the broader deportation system.

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• In Wisconsin, Francesca Hong lost her gubernatorial bid by roughly 3,000 votes in early August, while Tom Tiffany won the Republican primary.

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• Mike Lindell also lost his Minnesota gubernatorial race in early August.

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• “The @nytimes hasn’t written a single article asking if ‘voters will think Tom Tiffany is too radical’ because he is an election-denying, pro-ICE, authoritarian extremist. Somehow, his position on the political spectrum has disappeared completely from the National and State Conversations.” — University, of Wisconsin professor Mark Copelovitch

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• “America has been at war with Islam since the time of our Independence, and stopping the subversive influence of Islam in Texas by banning all Muslim countries from acquiring land and interfering in Texas Oil and Gas will be my top legislative priority,” — Bo French

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