It is a truth universally acknowledged that, overall, politicians score several sigma off the mean on numerous (um) personality traits. E.g., narcissism, psychopathy, machiavellianism…; you can look it up!
So Jim Geraghty's headline should be understood on a relative scale: Republicans’ Midterm Hopes Rest on the Insanity of Their Opponents. Or: "Republicans hope they're running against Democrats crazier than they are." Jim has entertaining examples:
- In Michigan’s seventh district, a swing district centered around Lansing, Democrats probably wish that they hadn’t nominated William Lawrence, who tweeted at former West Virginia Democrat Senator Joe Manchin “hurry up and die,” wanted to “f***” the nuclear family, to abolish the U.S. Senate, and promote “a world of free and open migration.” Republican Representative Tom Barrett gets the privilege of taking on Lawrence.
- In Iowa’s third district, covering the south-central part of the state, the Democrats have nominated Sarah Trone Garriott, the unusual kind of Lutheran minister whose first wedding she officiated as an intern pastor was for a pair of Satanists. Incumbent Republican Zach Nunn, a former combat aviator with the U.S. Air Force, has never done any work for a Satanist wedding.
- In Pennsylvania’s eighth district, Democratic nominee Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti is objecting to GOP ads that feature a photo of her at a 2025 Pride flag raising alongside a drag queen who performs under the name “Chlamydia Berns.” Incumbent Republican Rob Bresnahan touts his union endorsements, and as of this writing, none of the union leaders have a stage name that includes an STD.
- In Arizona’s sixth district, Democratic nominee JoAnna Mendoza admitted she wrongfully claimed an education-related property tax credit for years and has also faced questions about “sexually suggestive and witchcraft-focused social media accounts she has followed online, her weekslong marriage to a man in Syria, and a personal history that includes a DUI arrest in 2012.” By contrast, incumbent Republican Juan Ciscomani has six kids; no doubt he serves in Congress just to get some peace and quiet.
Alas, here in New Hampshire, our politicians are nuts in more "respectable" ways. In our primary yesterday:
Governor Ayotte (R) cruised to an easy win, and conventional wisdom says she'll probably win in November, beating Cinde Warmington (D).
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For the U.S. Senate seat that Jeanne Shaheen is vacating, both John E. Sununu (R) and (my current CongressCritter) Chris Pappas (D) scored pretty easy wins. Most polls score (sigh) Pappas as a slight favorite for November.
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The most interesting race was for the House seat Chris Pappas is leaving. Anthony DiLorenzo (R) beat his nearest opponent (Hollie Noveletsky) by 25 percentage points. But the D-side contest turned into a three way, with Jeanne Shaheen's daughter, Stefany, winning with only 37.3% of the vote, just 2.3 percentage points ahead of Maura Sullivan (35%). The leftiest candidate, Carleigh Beriont, gathered 21.8%.
Polls say Stefany has (probably) the better shot at being my next CongressCritter. I've long been a non-fan. My first look at her was an old-fashioned fisking of her 2023 pro-gun contol op-ed in my lousy local newspaper, Foster's Daily Democrat. At the time, she was (I am not making this up) chair of the Portsmouth Police Commission.
Among other actions, she advocated "Banning the sale of semi-automatic weapons" and a "mandatory assault weapon buyback program." You can click over if you want, to read my snarky rejoinders.
But that was then, reader. Gun control was vitally important to Stefany back in 2023. Now, in 2026, you can peruse her campaign website's "Priorities" page and discover … nothing at all about guns. (At least I can't find anything, and neither can Google. Let me know if you can.)
Hm. Into the memory hole! How… Machiavellian!
Some other Pun Salad history:
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My reaction to Stefany's entry to the race last year: Gun-grabbing Ditz Enters the Ring.
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I noted her "rambling, difficult to follow" answer to a query about guys on women's sports teams here.
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A little mother-vs-daughter dustup about the government shutdown-ending vote explored here.
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Her avoidance (via a pastry-wielding staffer) of answering questiions about Graham Platner here
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Her anti-semitic pander here.
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And her sudden discovery that she (a) supports Bernie's "Medicare for All" proposal, but (b) disfavors aid to Israel here
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