While the 2026 midterm elections have been successful for socialist and leftist politicians throughout the country as they back anti-establishment candidates, there has been at least one left-wing politician who has floundered in her endorsement decisions.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has run into wall after wall when it comes to the candidates she has chosen to back during this midterm election cycle, with her track record showing her backing to be more a touch of death than a boon for Democratic campaigns. Although several of her preferred candidates have advanced in their races, like Analilia Mejia in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district and Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), many others lost in their primary races or fell dramatically from grace, like Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.
Warren initially endorsed Platner in March of this year, calling him “the real deal” in her statement. But after a bombshell Politico report dropped news of the latest scandal to hit Platner, detailing his former romantic partner accusing him of sexual assault, Warren pulled her endorsement from the controversial oyster farmer alongside several other high-profile Democrats.
“Now more than ever we need leaders in Washington who reflect our values. There can be no tolerance for sexual assault,” Warren said in a statement. “Working families are counting on Democrats to win the Senate election in Maine to unrig our economy and hold Donald Trump accountable. With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”
But Platner is just the latest endorsement blunder for Warren. She backed her former student at Harvard Law School, former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), for California governor this year, saying, “From the moment Katie set foot in my consumer law class, I knew that she would be a warrior for working families.”
“No one will stand up to Trump with more grit and determination than Katie,” Warren said in her endorsement message. “But just as importantly, she will champion the kind of bold, progressive vision that California workers and families deserve.”
But Porter, who once held a top spot in the primary polls, also crashed and burned in her race after videos of her lashing out at a reporter and staffer circulated through social media and news headlines. Warren stood by Porter, but the former congresswoman placed fifth in the Golden State gubernatorial open primary, winning just 4.4% of the vote, while Democrat Xavier Beccera and Republican Steve Hilton advanced to the general election.
In 2026, Warren also placed her bets on Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow, who dropped her bid for the seat this week. Warren decided to back McMorrow in the race in isolation from several of her progressive allies, like Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who chose to back the more leftist candidate Abdul el Sayed.
Warren also backed Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls for U.S. Senate, while many of her colleagues endorsed state Rep. Josh Turek. Turek ended up beating Wahls by 24.8 percentage points in the Iowa Democratic primary.
MAMDANI CALLS FOR PLATNER TO DROP OUT OF SENATE RACE: ‘APPROPRIATE RESPONSE’
The Massachusetts Sen. has a storied past when it comes to endorsements, as she earned an unprecedented half-endorsement for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination from the New York Times. The outlet’s editorial board issued a double endorsement for Warren and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in 2020 for the first time. Neither won the nomination, as Joe Biden ultimately became the Democratic nominee.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Warren’s office for comment.